Most of us know about the gratitude advantage. Research
shows that expressing thanks leads to lower stress, better relationships,
improved health, and more. But there’s one place we’re unlikely to express
gratitude—work.
That lack of gratitude is more common than you might think.
In fact, a study by a scholar shows that work is the last place we experience
any sort of gratitude.
This is a big problem. Practically speaking, most of us
spend more waking time at the office than anywhere else. That means if we
expect to use the gratitude advantage to our benefit, work is actually the best
place to do it.
It may be an uphill climb, but these six tactics can help
you power your success by expressing thanks:
Recognize the value.
About half of HR managers say that workplace gratitude improves profitability.
The truth is the number is probably a lot higher, and the reason is simple. “We
don’t just work for money. We also work for respect, for a sense of
accomplishment, for a feeling of purpose.” Gratitude engages more of what
motivates us.
Commit to it.
Most of us know we should express thanks, but the Templeton study found only
about one in ten of us actually does on any given day. In fact, about a third
are afraid to do so. We need to step outside our comfort zones and commit to
changing that statistic today.
Share the love.
None of us can do it alone. Even solopreneurs need a team. When you experience
success, look for ways to acknowledge the contributions of your fans, friends,
colleagues, clients—anyone who played a role. It doesn’t make less of your
success; it makes more of how you scored.
Highlight specifics.
The more detailed you can be the better. When you are specific about the
benefits of a person, action, or thing, it increases your own appreciation—and
it tells a person that you are paying attention, rather than just going through
the motions.”
Use implementation
intentions. Thinking through probable scenarios and formulating
your response ahead of time helps turn intention into reality. These are called
implementation intentions, and they are shown to increase the likelihood we’ll
follow through on what we intend. Here are some
examples:
If Susan finalizes the
deal today, then I will congratulate her and thank her for her contribution to
the team.
When John gets me the
report, I will remember to swing by his desk and thank him in person.
If we hit the annual
goals, then I will bring champagne to business reviews and toast the division
leaders.
Lead from where you
are. Experts (and employees) recognize that it’s best when
leaders go first. But leadership is not position; it’s influence. That means
you can start wherever you are in your organization and have in an impact in your
own life and your company.
People will only go so far in the performance of a duty. And
they will underperform when they feel unappreciated.
Gratitude is the most effective currency for helping people
perform at their best.
If you want people’s very best, you have to have their
hearts. You can’t demand this or even buy it with a paycheck. Gratitude is the
most effective currency for keeping people engaged and performing at their
best. That’s true for you and the people you lead.
Question: How often do you feel or express gratitude at work?
Comments
Post a Comment