Lead With Gratitude
“Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival, to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated.”?
— Steven Covey
Research shows that 60% of employees report never having a boss who truly appreciated them. Overwhelming, busy schedules and stress are often the reasons leaders give for not expressing gratitude. Yet, the benefits of appreciation in the workplace are clear. Feeling appreciated at work improves well-being, reduces stress, builds resilience, reduces workplace mistreatment and increases productivity. Finding ways to express gratitude is essential for leaders. Here are tips for how to add gratitude to your regular leadership practice.
Practice it.?Research shows that leaders with the most responsibility and power often forget to express gratitude regularly. To practice, set aside time each week to write thank-you notes for your staff or spend time each day verbally expressing appreciation to your employees.?
Communicate gratitude regularly.?Employees want to feel they are contributing to their organization's larger mission and vision. Make appreciation part of your regular one-on-one meetings with staff. Make it a standing agenda item for team meetings. ?
Invest in professional development.?Invest in an employees’ career development by providing training, coaching, or learning resources boosts their appreciation for the business.?
Give credit often.?The most effective leaders recognize that they only succeed when their team is empowered. When your team has succeeded, express it!
Be specific with your praise.?Appreciation falls flat when it is vague and general. Ask yourself, what are the behaviors, characteristics and values that your staff demonstrate that you want to praise? When writing or speaking to employees, describe why you are grateful. Also, consider how your employees feel appreciated. Some prefer public acknowledgment, while others prefer private conversations.
Be a model of showing gratitude.?As a leader, you have an opportunity to personify how to express appreciation in front of your team. Encourage a culture of gratitude by mentioning an employee’s contributions or accomplishments at in team- or organization-wide meetings. ?
Use creative ideas to express appreciation.?For private conversations, provide handwritten notes or incentives. To express gratitude publicly, use kudos. In on-site offices, create a visible kudos boards and hang notes of appreciation for staff to read. Some teams host kudos meetings where the whole purpose of the gathering is to express appreciation to team members. ?
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If you want to explore more ways to practice gratitude, leader coaching may be an excellent option for you! Call us at 800-968-8143 to learn more.
Do your employees feel valued? Recognition drives engagement and retention. Join us on?December 10?to learn how to boost your workplace culture.?Save your seat today!