Author: Alex Carlton
One of the most impactful management tools is gratitude. Gratitude is amazingly powerful and not just at our holiday tables. As coaches, we see the most exceptional leaders practice gratitude and the thoughtful expression of gratitude in business for very good reasons.
Gratitude helps us focus on what’s working well for us personally and professionally. Typically, organizations spend too much time focusing on what isn’t working or what needs improvement. Gratitude helps us to see and focus on what is working and do more of that. Success usually leads to more success.
Gratitude provides a platform from which we can leap and takes risks. By acknowledging what you and your business have already accomplished and the strengths that exist, you will increase your confidence. You will see that you can afford to set bold goals because you recognize your previous achievements and can appreciate that future success is likely with your positive track record.
Gratitude allows us to acknowledge and see the talents in our teams and our employees. Sharing our gratitude for our employees creates astounding outcomes. Appreciation rarely causes someone to sit back and rest on their laurels. It most often motivates and inspires people to do and be their best.
Sharing your gratitude can feel uncomfortable enough to justify not doing it.
It takes both practice and courage to share this kind of sincere appreciation. Here are 5 tips to help you express your gratitude effectively:
Express your true feelings.
We can often get sidetracked worrying about our words and whether they are the “right ones”. The energy and the feeling behind your words are far more important than the perfection of the words themselves. Gratitude is always, always genuine.
Be thoughtful.
Think about what would create the most impact for the person you appreciate –from their perspective. The best appreciation we can give is that which captures something that the recipient truly values themselves.
Be specific.
Thanking someone for a job well-done is nice. Appreciating a specific action or attribute is powerful. (eg: “I really appreciate your creative thinking and persistence – when you presented that new option for our strategy, you made a big difference to the team and how we decided to move forward. Thank you.”)
Think about your delivery.
Expressing appreciation at the right time can make a huge difference in the way that person receives it. Some people value a private conversation, some more public praise, while others value a handwritten note that they can look at from time to time.
Learn how to take a compliment yourself.
The next time someone shares appreciation for something you’ve done, let it in. Tell the other person how much their appreciation means to you. We can all feel awkward at these moments and, under the guise of humility, will ward off a compliment. Recognize that you are being given a gift and receive it. By modeling this, you will also help your employees learn to receive, as well.
In the spirit of giving thanks, we’d like to express our gratitude.
To our clients – We appreciate how you have allowed us to share your accomplishment of powerful goals and for allowing us to serve you – thank you.
To our partners and colleagues – We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with you and learning from you – thank you.
To our vendors, our friends, and our families – We truly appreciate your support and your contribution to our success this year – thank you.
To the executives and business leaders who have yet to work with us – We appreciate the opportunities and possibilities that lay ahead – thank you.
(This article has been revised and was originally posted on SHIFTcc.com)