Practicing gratitude in our personal lives with our family and regarding our health has become more common and well known in the last few years. However, taking this simple act of being grateful has yet become familiar practice in the workplace when the effects of it can actually be very beneficial. Listing things that you are grateful for or saying them out loud can significantly reframe your own perspective into a more positive mindset and way of thinking. A regular practice of gratefulness can also have a beneficial effect on employees and customers, ultimately helping a business’s overall success.
When you lead by example and show your employees how grateful you are for their hard work and commitment, it can have a powerful effect. Studies have shown that teams who are either shown gratitude by upper management or they themselves practice it, are more motivated and focused, which leads to more efficient time management and better results. These employees have a better relationship with their boss and feel a sense of belonging and a deeper respect for the company they work for and their co-workers. In addition, practicing gratitude in the workplace increases retention levels.
So, how do you practice this at work on a daily basis? It’s actually very simple. The goal is to tell others thank you and let them know that you appreciate them and their efforts. Here are three actions you can take to start.
- At the beginning or end of each day, you can point out one thing that someone else did that made you grateful that day.
- Keep a gratitude journal where you write down things that you see your employees do that you are grateful for.
- Encourage practicing gratefulness at team settings such as in weekly meetings. You can take turns saying positive affirmations or one thing they are grateful for in the workplace.
Not only will you improve the success of your business when you include employees in practicing gratefulness. You can also shift your customers’ behaviors and perspective as well. When you show your customers that you are grateful for their visit, purchase or loyalty they feel appreciated are more likely to purchase and are more likely to return to your business. With the simple act of welcoming a customer in with a smile, saying thank you, writing them a hand written note to check on them and reminding them of how grateful you are of their business, you can increase your sales numbers.
Although practicing gratefulness in the workplace may seem strange and maybe a bit uncomfortable when you first begin, the benefits greatly outweigh these feelings. You can start small and eventually; this behavior will become second nature, not only for you but for all the employees within your company. Create a culture of gratefulness!
