Don’t forget to be grateful: Five ways leaders can practice gratitude

Many people consider Thanksgiving a favorite holiday—from the simple menu and family time to the reflections of gratitude, it’s a warm-hearted time.

It’s also an excellent reminder for businesses to check in on how they’re practicing the art (and science) of gratitude in their workplaces.

Why? Because the people who share their talents and time—and contribute to your bottom line—are undoubtedly worthy of thanks, encouragement, and gratitude.

The proven benefits of showing gratitude at work

Consider these facts:

• A national survey on gratitude commissioned by the John Templeton Foundation revealed that people were least likely to express gratitude toward coworkers—even though they themselves wanted to feel more appreciated at work. 

• Forbes argues that executives and managers may be more likely to offer praise if it is framed as part of a larger relationship-building process, rather than as feedback. “Gratitude is a powerful concept. It goes beyond praise and beyond positive reinforcement. Gratitude is a recognition of our interdependence, of the fact that success is the result of a team effort,” the article says. “Showing gratitude, therefore, involves showing vulnerability. It is not easy to acknowledge that we need someone, but doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness.” 

• And the Harvard Business Review found that leaders vastly underestimate the power of positive reinforcement and greatly overestimate the value of negative or corrective feedback, writing, “Giving only negative feedback diminishes a leader’s effectiveness in the eyes of others and does not have the effect they believe it has.” 

• A Glassdoor report stated that four in five employees are motivated to work harder when their boss expresses gratitude for their work. In contrast, only 38% of employees say they’re motivated to work harder when their boss is demanding. This demonstrates how regular acts of gratitude, not just relegating them to a line item at the annual meeting, significantly increase employee productivity, engagement, and retention. 

How each of our leaders practices gratitude in the workplace

• Chris, SVP, Operations + Growth: Make it easy for everyone to share their gratitude. From shoutouts in our weekly operations meetings to annual awards for those who embody our values, we aim to thank and honor our individuals, teams, and accomplishments. Of course, there is nothing like a handwritten note—on a birthday, a work anniversary, or any other milestone. We have a stock of stamps in each office, so our people can use them regularly (both for internal and external correspondence). At Lunne, we also use Ignite, a Facebook-like application that encourages employee feedback and recognition. Points accumulate and can be redeemed for merchandise or gift cards.

• Megan, VP, Creative Services: Be specific. When celebrating a team member, we ensure that we are specific about what they do, how they do it, and why it contributes to moving the company forward. Whether one-on-one or with the team, call out their particular actions, behaviors, or attitudes, even the small things that might be easy to overlook. 

• Shannon, VP, Client Services: Celebrate publicly. While it’s not always necessary, recognizing someone in front of their team can be a big morale boost. Recognizing employee achievements during our weekly operations calls is a powerful way to share appreciation and recognition.

• Beth, VP, Finance, Admin + Workflow: Make it a habit. Gratitude compounds. Cultivating a culture of gratitude, rather than a forced “atta boy” now and then, yields returns like no other. 

• Doug, President: Create a culture of giving back. At Lunne, one of our five values is to help others. Of course, this includes our internal people, our clients, and the communities in which we operate. In fact, we have always given annually to non-profits we believe in and continue to do so. We also share our talents and energy with a variety of organizations by providing time to support their missions. 

How will you share gratitude today and every day in the office?