Glimmers of kindness for every day

What if the smallest moments hold the greatest key to your true leadership?

Last Wednesday was World Kindness Day

I have been reflecting on two powerful ways to keep kindness at the forefront of our lives and leadership for every day.?

Gratitude and Glimmers.

As leaders, we often focus on the big wins and monumental goals….

Yet…..

Often, the smallest moments hold the greatest impact.?

This is where gratitude and glimmers come in…

Helping us to lead with compassion, clarity, and connection.

Why Gratitude and Glimmers Matter in Leadership

Gratitude is about more than saying "thank you”

It’s about acknowledging the small, sometimes unseen contributions that others make around us.?

Whether it’s:

A colleague going the extra mile

A team member offering support, or?

A personal achievement you once only dreamed of…..

Gratitude reminds us to value our journey and the people who make it worthwhile.

Glimmers is a concept coined by therapist Deb Dana,?

They are those fleeting moments of joy or calm that bring us back to the present.?

Think of the warmth of morning sunlight, a colleague’s encouraging words, or a laugh shared over coffee.?

These moments may be brief……

However they create a positive ripple effect, fueling us to handle challenges with a lighter heart.

And even more importantly….

We can’t feel overwhelmed by negative emotions such as frustration, anger, resentment, guilt and fear when we are feeling grateful.

??Gratitude is the greatest way to shift our energy from a negative disempowering one to a positive empowering one. ??

Practical Ways to Embrace Gratitude and Glimmers in Everyday Leadership

1. Start Meetings with Appreciation Before diving into the agenda, consider starting with a moment of appreciation. Ask each person to share one positive observation or something they’re grateful for or proud of that day. It can set a collaborative tone and remind everyone that their contributions matter.
2. Celebrate Small Wins Recognise the smaller successes and milestones, not just the end goals. Acknowledge a team member’s effort on a challenging project, even if the final result isn’t perfect shows that their dedication is valued. It will also give them the confidence to ask for help if they require it.
3. Encourage Glimmer Breaks Create space for “glimmer” moments. Encourage your team to take five minutes each day to step away, breathe, and find one small thing that brings them joy. This can improve focus, boost morale, and make your workplace a more positive environment.
4. Practice Personal Reflection Take a moment at the end of each day to jot down three things you’re grateful for and one thing that you are proud of that you have achieved that day, no matter how small. Reflect on the glimmers you noticed throughout the day. It might be the cup of tea that helped you recharge or a meaningful conversation with a colleague.

Leading with Kindness: Why It Matters

When we prioritise gratitude and glimmers, we model a leadership style that values well-being, boosts resilience, and fosters an environment of support.?

This approach not only improves relationships it rather strengthens our teams' ability to navigate challenges with resilience and creativity.

Let’s make sure World Kindness Day is every day, not just 1 day!

Let’s commit to making gratitude and glimmers part of our daily practice, helping our teams, ourselves, and our communities to thrive.

So…..

What’s one moment of gratitude or a recent “glimmer” that’s brought you joy??

Love your thoughts!

Take care

Lizzyx

#Leadership #Resilience #Confidence #Gratitude

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At Release Your Potential we help directors and aspiring leaders to embrace their resilience, confident leadership, own who they truly are so that they can communicate with impact, influence, power and purpose to build high performing teams. No body armour required! Let’s speak!