Taking an Attitude of Gratitude

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of representing IBM on stage at the Women of the Channel Leadership Summit in New York, with over 750 amazing women in technology. I was asked to talk about something inspirational, so what better time, as we’re in the holiday season, to reflect on the fact that we have so much to be thankful for. Don’t you agree? We all know it, but are we really living it?

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that in order to achieve happiness, one should “cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously.”

Emerson was ahead of his time, as recent studies show that being grateful is not only good for your relationships but also good for your health. It lowers stress and reduces depression, it increases sleep and boosts the immune system, and it even reduces the effect of aging on the brain. In fact, a recent study by the University of California San Diego’s School of Medicine found that people who are grateful actually had better heart health, with less inflammation and healthier heart rhythms. Further, studies show that people who keep a gratitude journal have a reduced dietary fat intake – as much as 25% lower! A little hard to believe, but good to know as we start thinking about New Year's resolutions!

Further, according to Harvard Business Review, studies have shown that when employees feel valued, they have higher job satisfaction, are willing to work longer hours, engage in productive relationships with colleagues and managers, are motivated to do their best, and work towards achieving the company’s goals.  And the opposite is true as well, a study of over 1700 employees conducted by the American Psychological Associated (APA) indicated that more than half of all employees intended to search of new jobs because they felt underappreciated and undervalued. A recent IBM Smarter Workforce study with Globoforce linked gratitude to employee achievements in productivity, profitability, quality, loyalty, safety, lack of absenteeism and overall strong performance metrics.

Why does it work? It’s because gratitude is a way of perceiving and interpreting things in our lives and it frames the way that we look at all the events in our lives. Dr. Robert Emmons, gratitude researcher and psychology professor at the University of California, Davis says, "Life is a series of problems that have to be solved — and a lot of times those problems cause stress. Gratitude can be that stress buster." Research shows that when we think about what we appreciate, the parasympathetic or calming part of the nervous system is triggered and that can have protective benefits on the body or brain.

So how do we take an approach of gratitude?

1.     First of all, get in the habit of thanking people in your life – for things little and big – in your personal life and at work. Thankful people know they didn’t get to where they are by themselves. “Gratitude really helps us connect to other people,” Emmons says. “It actually strengthens relationships and relationships are the strongest predictors of happiness and coping with stress.” You’ll find that it’s a habit and that while it makes the recipient feel appreciated it, will make you feel good, too.

2.    Secondly, many find benefit in taking time out of each day to recognize ways to be thankful, such as through keeping a gratitude journal – taking 5-10 minutes each day to write down all the things you are thankful for – whether it’s when you first wake up, as a break in your busy day or before you go to bed at night This instills a habit of gratitude and enables you to track your progress of having thankfulness as a habit.

3.    Thirdly, help others develop their careers. The APA study I cited earlier indicates that 70% of employees feel valued at work when they have opportunities for growth and development. All of us have had people in our lives that have helped us at work, so it’s important that we do the same for our teams and others around us. Help others see their own potential, strive to be their best and encourage them to be grateful, too. 

4.    Finally, create a culture of camaraderie and collegiality. Studies show that camaraderie in the workplace can lead to greater job satisfaction and commitment to the organization. Leaders should foster a strong team orientation and eliminate toxic and dysfunctional behaviors. I personally have worked in both team-oriented and toxic/competitive environments and there is a dramatic difference in productivity between the two. Create and look for opportunities to enable your team or you to work on cross-team projects.

So I challenge my friends, colleagues, and business connections to take an attitude of gratitude this season and into the new year. Take a moment to appreciate. Take a moment to thank others - it will make both of you feel great!