Spend a Moment Every Day Thinking of Someone to Thank

Take a minute daily to think of someone to express gratitude upon. In the high stake’s environment of steel manufacturing -- where deadlines are always tight, supply chains require constant navigation and operations with either national or global implications can be nothing but challenging, gratitude might not be your first thought. However, just a minute taking time to think about who deserves your gratitude can lead to positive self-reinforcing ripples that enhance relationships, improve productivity and propel business success.

Gratitude not as a nicety, but as a leadership tool, an authentic partnership approach and a team resilience hack. In the words of Louise Hay, “Gratitude gives us more to be grateful for. It raises self-awareness and improves the relationships you have”.

Let’s take a look at how you can start practicing this profound practice on a daily basis and reap its rewards in your work and personal life.

Gratitude in Motion — A Steel Industry Example

Let's say that this was a steel plant and the production order needed to be fulfilled, RIGHT NOW. A vendor delivers key elements ahead of schedule to keep operations flowing. Rather than just viewing this effort as part of the job, the plant manager reaches out to supplier and thanks them personally while also recognizing their contribution in a team meeting.

What happens next? ?This sends a message that you appreciate the effort, which your team would surely recognize as valuable and incentive to reward; this also encourages the supplier to consider your future needs a priority. This particular form of gratitude breeds loyalty and trust, as well as robust partnerships—and all are essential to a successful enterprise.

One of my favorite quotes from Tony Robbins: “Trade your expectations for appreciation, and you will instantly change your life.

Formal Ways of Practicing Thankfulness For Leaders In a Steel Plant

Here are ways to incorporate gratitude into your business as part of your daily operations without impacting how you work:

1. Open Team Meetings with Thanks: Take a couple of minutes to acknowledge team members for their efforts. It makes for a more positive start to your day.

2. A simple thank you email or a verbal appreciation during the calls go a long way in creating robust vendor relationships.

3. Maintain a Gratitude Journal: Writing down one thing you were grateful for at the end of each day—whether it was a negotiation that went well, the effort of a team member, praise of a vendor who came through with delivery on time.

4. Acknowledge Small Successes: When a project — or individual phases of a project — are more arduous than expected, celebrate success, articulate what has been achieved (no matter how small), and give credit to the team. Gratitude creates a culture of acknowledgement and enthusiasm.

5. Spread Gratitude stories — As part of a team, discuss how gratitude played a role in positive business outcomes like getting better deals or overcoming disputes.

Gratitude’s Business Edge

Gratitude is also not just ol what, it also helps in business for relationship. In negotiations, for example, appreciation for efforts by the other side can lead to goodwill which may influence them to cooperate positively. Appreciation gives rise to a positive atmosphere internally leading to lesser stress and greater productivity–a win-win for leaders as well as teams.

Practicing mindfulness, like building in time each day to reflect on your gratitude, gives you better control of focus and decision making so that when challenges arise, you approach them clearly and confidently.

Gratitude Partnership Growth

At Lalwani Ferro Alloys Limited, we believe in adding value beyond products you avail from us. Gratitude helps create partnerships based on respect and collaboration. If you want to learn more about how gratitude practices can support your leadership or improve the performance of your team, we can assist.

Take a moment today to consider thanking someone—it could be a vendor, an employee or even yourself for making it through that rough day. Just by showing appreciation could more than just lay the groundwork for stronger relationships and better business outcomes.

When you feel ready to include gratitude in your work life, get in touch with us. Join me in creating a recognition culture that may help your organization meet with success.

Gratitude is not a moment, it is a movement. Start yours today.