There’s no shortage of articles on gratitude this time of year. You can find a litany of tips about keeping gratitude journals or developing habits around recognizing the things you must be grateful for each day. You’ll read about your stress levels lowering and your overall peace and wellbeing growing. Before you shrug and brush it all off, thinking, “yeah, that’s a nice personal habit, but it has nothing to do with business,” take a moment to read this article. Good leaders are, after all, grateful leaders.
As noted above, there is the personal side of the coin: research has shown over and over that gratitude improves our overall well-being, reduces stress, and builds resilience. And that’s just the start of it. It can also improve your patience and help you sleep better at night.
Let’s be clear, these personal benefits will pay dividends in the office, but that’s not the only reason why gratitude matters. As a leader, your gratitude will have a positive impact on your team as well. A leader that expresses gratitude will see employee confidence and job satisfaction rise. It cultivates a spirit of teamwork and a shared vision. Isn’t that the sort of workplace culture you want to cultivate?
A study by the American Psychological Association found that 93% of employees are motivated and strive to do their best work when they feel recognized and appreciated. Similarly, 88% of those surveyed reported feeling engaged with their work and their employer when they felt appreciated. Digging further, the research also found positive impacts on employee retention.
Let’s break that down even more simply: Expressing gratitude at work leads to happier, more productive teams who stay with your company.
Convinced? Fantastic. Now how do we go about expressing our thanks in the workplace?
Expressing gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as saying, “Great job. I appreciate the work you put into this!” The verbal acknowledgement of a job well done can be impactful. Just make sure you give your gratitude a little teeth.
“Thank you” on its own can feel like a meaningless throwaway. Tell your team what you’re thankful for specifically and why, “Thank you for your work on this proposal. I think your research on the market and how it relates to the potential client is really going to make a positive difference in this pitch!”
Send a note. Sure, a handwritten note on a card would make a real impact. However, even a quick email can go a long way. Imagine popping open your inbox and finding a message that says, “Hey, just saw your email to the client. Well done. I appreciate your attention to detail and your quick response.” Even a short text like, “Wow! Just read your proposal. Nicely done,” can express your appreciation and impact your team.
As good as it is to tell your team you appreciate them, it’s even better to let others know you do, too. The key here is to find the balance between sincere appreciation and performative gushing. There doesn’t need to be a carved-out space during your weekly team meetings where you list off the good deeds of everyone around the table. However, it’s great to include a nod of appreciation that fits naturally into the conversation.
“Before we get started on debriefing last week’s client pitch, I want to say thank you to Joe and Kim for their work on the project.” Even better if you can highlight something specific about what Joe & Kim did.
Gratitude in the workplace isn’t just a vertical practice. Yes, as a leader, expressing appreciation to your team is important, but it’s also valuable as a peer. Tell your fellow teammates you appreciate their work and assistance. Tell their supervisors, too. Tell your vendors and their bosses.
Of course, nothing but praise isn’t helpful. The goal here isn’t just to lavish on the happy thoughts and appreciation. Gratitude should be part of a healthy, open line of communication that also includes constructive feedback.
Sometimes you need to say, “I know you worked hard on this project. Let’s debrief later today. There are a few things we might want to approach differently the next time.” Be careful to avoid any phrasing that comes across as “Thanks, but…” Your team values authenticity and opportunities for growth as much as they appreciate your gratitude.
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