I’ve always found, for the most part, that there are two types of workers: those who are passionate about what they do, and those who are not. I believe there are a lot of people who fell into a track and stayed there because it paid the bills, but they haven’t found what they are passionate about. They work because they have to and that’s okay, for now. If this is you, I’ll get with you at a later time. On the other hand, if you are happy where you are and want to perform well, I invite you to work with gratitude. There are studies that link gratitude to employee well-being, less stress, and higher satisfaction. Working with gratitude is achieved through a series of constant small actions. It’s not difficult to be grateful, but it will take work if you’re not used to it.
Today I want to share with you what I do to work with gratitude:
1) Say Thank You
It all starts with this. This simple two-word phrase when used effectively, can be very powerful. I learned the value of saying “thank you” when I realized I couldn’t do everything by myself. I used to think that I could do every task at the same time, and it didn’t take me long to find out that this was simply not possible. I had a hard time trusting others, but little by little I started finding ways to trust and verify that what I needed was still getting done. This mindset change from “lone wolf” to “collaborator” led me to gratitude.
Being grateful helps you be content and the more you express it, the more you feel it. Saying thank you constantly alienates negative feelings and makes the giver feel appreciated. In this case, expressing your gratitude towards your peers has the power to change your attitude and performance. When you express gratitude, you motivate your peers to foster an environment of value and trust. This environment can support feedback that can lead to continued performance improvement.
2) Follow Up
I learned this the day I wrote down an important date for one of my peers. They were going through a special event and I wanted to make sure they knew I valued them. I wrote down the date down in my calendar and when that day came, I called them. At first, they couldn’t believe I actually remembered that special day for them, and they continued to thank me for doing so. This spoke volumes to me. How one simple note can make such a big difference in a person’s life.
I invite you to follow-up with your team, with your supervisors, and with your peers. Let them know that you remembered and that you care for them. Sometimes the smallest details can mean the most to some people. The same concept applies the other way around, be grateful when others remember your special days and when they follow-up with you. Following up will help you build a stronger relationship and improve your ability to collaborate on tasks with others.
3) Be Genuine
Just the other day I heard an interesting story about this. The story went about an influential manager that hit all the right buttons but still came short at the end. This manager would take the time to complement everybody for their clothes, appearance, and attitude. He struck me as the person who would also use gratitude to share the value that others gave to his life. He was great with one exception: he said the same things to everybody. He would use the same complements through the room. Once the storyteller realized this, the manager’s actions fell flat and had no effect anymore. The manager just wasn’t genuine. Do you know anybody like this?
This story brings me to you. Following up with the two points above (see what I did there?), being genuine will separate you from the rest. Being genuine marks the difference between using gratitude effectively and falsely. You can be authentic by sharing different forms of gratitude with different people. You can complement one person, encourage another, and simply care for their life. It can be as simple as “keep working hard”, or deep as “I’m here to talk about that issue you’re having”. No matter how deep you go, make sure you are honest in your interactions. Being genuine builds trust in your organization and creates a lasting impact with your peers.
To bring it home, remember to keep a thoughtful disposition and a positive attitude. Being genuine comes from the honest interest in others and their well-being. It’s time to start using gratitude in your workplace and start seeing how your performance will increase.