The power of gratitude
This week, I was talking to an employee who has had to work long hours over several weeks to complete his job. In actuality, “to complete his job” is an overstatement. He has worked long hours just to “stay afloat.” He has several less experienced employees who need his support, open positions for which there are few applicants, and new projects being given to him. Through all of this, there has mostly been silence from his supervisors at the levels above him. As I have checked in with him over the past few weeks, he has had a few positive moments, but the tone has primarily been exhaustion, frustration, and dissatisfaction.
Then something simple happened. His boss said, “I value you. I know it’s hard right now. Thank you for the work you are doing.”
His problems were not solved by this conversation, but something changed in him. He overtly recognized it, and said, “this may be silly, because my workload hasn’t changed, but just hearing that makes moving forward easier.”
Of course it does.
We want to be valued and appreciated. Over the long term, the current work climate is not sustainable for this person; however, over the short term, knowing his work matters provides the fuel he needs to push through this season.
What amazes me is how hard it is for some leaders to say, “thank you.”
According to Janet Linly in The Importance of Saying Thank You In the Workplace, there are many benefits of expressing our appreciation. Simply put, “gratitude is good for your brain.” Linly states, “the more you appreciate and are thankful for, the more attuned you are to your feelings of well-being and gratefulness...The more frequently we give and practice application, the more it becomes a habit and way of living.” As leaders, we benefit by expressing gratitude.
More importantly, our employees benefit. Expressing gratitude is “motivating and encouraging, and it creates job satisfaction, thus resulting in better performance and less turnover. It builds trust and promotes employee engagement.” We can express our gratitude verbally, through handwritten notes, or with small tokens of appreciation. Linly provides a variety of ideas on how to build a culture of gratitude within your office or organization.
Non-profit organizations often rely on volunteers, and expressing gratefulness for their contributions is vital for organizational success. Donorbox.org provides 30 volunteer appreciation ideas that can be implemented through special events or on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis. From celebrating birthdays to recognizing a “volunteer of the month” to hosting virtual events, there are countless ways to express gratitude to volunteers and employees.
Good work should be rewarded through increases in salaries, bonuses, or improved benefits. However, these rewards tend to occur annually (or simply less frequently). Gratitude can be expressed as frequently as you desire, and everyone benefits.
Consider a leadership coach to help you build your organizational culture. Contact ABL Wise Consulting today.
Sources: The Importance of Saying Thank You in the Workplace by Linly and 30 Volunteer Appreciation Ideas
