7 Powerful Ways to Elevate Leadership with Gratitude
You see what you look for and defend what you see.
- If you assume the worst, you find fault.
- If you look for problems, you find obstacles.
- If you look for progress, you find gratitude.
5 ways to be stingy with gratitude:
- Don’t express gratitude because you anticipate future failure. People failed in the past. They will undoubtedly fail in the future. So don’t say, “Thank you.”
- Don’t be grateful for people who aren’t as “great” as you.
- Don’t express gratitude because employees are only doing what they’re paid to do.
- Don’t say, “Thank you.” It just takes too long. You don’t have time.
- Don’t express gratitude unless results are perfect. You can’t express gratitude for imperfection.
7 ways to elevate leadership with gratitude:
“Un” ruins you. UN-grateful leaders become unkind, unhelpful, un-hopeful, and unconnected.
Ungratefulness says performance and effort don’t matter.
7 gratitude tips:
- Put a gratitude list on your desk or bulletin board. Add one new item a day for a month.
- Say, “Thank you,” for small things.
- Write a thank you email.
- Take a gratitude walk-about. Put it on your calendar. Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
- Before the meeting, write one thing you appreciate about each person who will attend.
- Before composing an email, think of one thing you appreciate about the recipient.
- Don’t say, “But,” after expressing gratitude.
Bonus: Name a person at the table and ask others to complete the sentence, “I’m thankful for Wilma because … .”
The Boston Consulting Group reports that the number one factor in employee happiness is appreciation for their work.
Unexpressed gratitude is ungratefulness. But expressing gratitude elevates everyone, including you.
Which gratitude tip could you put into practice?
What prevents leaders from expressing gratitude?
In my organization there is a process to nominate someone against the company values. So aligned with my team to have in the goals 2 nominations per year. This takes a bit of time because you need to justify with a story, but it is giving the time to the team as “mandatory” to think and appreciate the people they work with.
It is funny, because I listen them talking about that in the hall, and this is in my opinion a step forward in the culture.
The simple things you posted are all very appreciated.
Thanks
Ana
Excellent points. Thanks for these pointers. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for your insights. To show gratitude can take a bit of vulnerability. i wish more leaders would embrace all of their potential and be open to showing a bit of vulnerability. You are so right, gratitude is a simulator of success in so many ways. People want to work for leaders who care about what they put in and if you don’t tell them when they are living the company values and doing a good job they will leave wondering!
Most great leaders practice gratitude as a ritual daily. This impacts their people, their results and their happiness.
Rebecca
Thank you for your insights. To show gratitude can take a bit of vulnerability. i wish more leaders would embrace all of their potential and be open to showing a bit of vulnerability. You are so right, gratitude is a stimulator of success in so many ways. People want to work for leaders who care about what they put in and if you don’t tell them when they are living the company values and doing a good job they will leave wondering!
Most great leaders practice gratitude as a ritual daily. This impacts their people, their results and their happiness.
Rebecca
Happy Thanksgiving, we truly appreciate your insights Dan! Have a great day with your family!
In regards to the post ” Give credit when credit is deserved! No need to sugar coat everything!
A negative work culture could prevent leaders from expressing gratitude. Thank you Dan for taking your time to educate us through your posts.