Three Simple Ways to Show Gratitude
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Bill (name is changed) held his semi-annual leadership conference last month, hosting the event for several hundred people in his division. I watched him show his gratitude in several ways. At dinner he gave an eloquent toast recognizing his team for their hard work. He mentioned being grateful to lead the team and be a part of an organization that believes growth of people is reflected in growth of the business. He talked without notes. That‘s communicating, not just talking. And finally, adding a jest here and there, he kept everyone engaged – listening to his every word. During the conference, I watched him interact with everyone, making each person feel he knew something about them…and likely he DID.



Now here is the cool thing. The content he chose to highlight for his leadership conference was personal branding linked with Emotional Intelligence; both lead to being a resonant leader. Here’s a link to the book, Resonant Leader.



Studies show that when leaders demonstrate their gratitude, the team members are more engaged, more willing to work extended hours when needed, and feel more compelled to express their ideas. Organizations benefit as this attitude fosters an entrepreneurial spirit that motivates employees toward common goals.



How does a lack of gratitude impact the workplace? According to Harvard Business Review, a study of over 1,700 employees conducted in 2012 by the American Psychological Association (APA) indicates that more than half of all employees searched for new jobs because they felt under-appreciated and undervalued.



Three Simple Ways to Show Gratitude:



1. Say thank you in detail. Instead of just saying thank you, talk about the difference your team members made. Say something like, “I appreciate your attention to detail and your persistence. It makes a difference and our clients are noticing.”



2. Acknowledge their effort. When team members go beyond what is expected, acknowledge those times when they worked from home, on weekends, or extra-long days. Let them know that they’re valued.



3. Take time. Take the time for employees when they reach out to you. Just as you’ve taken the time to listen, they’ve taken time away from their work to seek your thoughts.



As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy