Gratitude in the workplace
Research from the Happiness Institute is that one of the greatest contributors to overall happiness in your life is how much gratitude you feel yourself and demonstrate to others. And the research also showed that those who were the least happy experienced the biggest jump in happiness when they expressed gratitude.
So how is this relevant in the workplace? Just that expressing gratitude to the people we work with is not only great for the person you are speaking to, it also makes you feel great. It’s a win-win.
One way to think about this as a manager is the next time you are promoting the work of someone in your team, or meeting a deadline, or being thanked for the work of your team, or speaking about how great your team is – set yourself a reminder to go back to that individual or team and let them know too. Express your gratitude to them.
How can we show gratitude – particularly to people who we may not be particularly close to on an emotional or personal level? Many of us are very uncomfortable with this idea. It may be seen as ‘weak’ and it certainly requires a certain level of vulnerability.
The most simple way to show gratitude is to say ‘thank you’ – and the more specific the thank you, the better. So ‘thank you for…’ Take that another step if you want to – ‘thank you for…. - it helped me because…’ or ‘it made me feel….’
It can be done face to face, but if not possible, an email or a text message can work equally well. Should it be done in front of others? Well it does role model the behaviour that you’d like others to do.
Recently in a team meeting, we went around the room and talked about one thing we feel grateful for. It was pretty easy for everyone to think of something – it did not matter what it was, but it was a lovely way to share with others and very heart warming and positively affirming for all of us. Particularly when there are lots of bad things going on in our lives (and in our communities and globally), it helps to focus on what there is to be grateful for. Even if it’s just having a good coffee, or noticing that your technology is working today!
Check out this heart-warming experiment by the Science of Happiness that demonstrates the impact of expressing gratitude can have on others. Worth seven minutes of your time! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHv6vTKD6lg