Gratitude is Good for Us, and Good for Business

Gratitude has one of the strongest links to mental health and satisfaction with life of any personality trait—more so than even optimism, hope, or compassion. Grateful people experience higher levels of positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, love, happiness, and optimism, and gratitude as a discipline protects us from the destructive impulses of envy, resentment, greed, and bitterness. People who experience gratitude can cope more effectively with everyday stress, show increased resilience in the face of trauma-induced stress, recover more quickly from illness, and enjoy more robust physical health.

—Dr. Robert Emmons, Ph.D.,
World’s Leading Scientific Expert On Gratitude

The word ‘gratitude’ gets thrown around a lot this time of the year. We are suddenly more aware of the blessings in our lives, and take the time to express appreciation for them. But, great leaders know that gratitude is an engrained trait of daily leadership, no matter the time of year.

Grateful leaders are inspired by a profound sense of gratitude for all stakeholders – employees, customers, and members of the community. They are grateful to have the opportunity to lead others and help them thrive personally and professionally.

Do the following signs of a grateful leader describe you?

You Serve and Support – You see your leadership role as an opportunity to serve the people in your organization that work hard to bring your organization’s vision to life. You know that you are successful only because of the contributions of the people around you. You put the needs of others before your own, and frequently ask what you can do to help your followers be successful.

You Care and Show Concern – You truly care about employees and customers and take time to build relationships with them. You’re available and accessible to your stakeholders. You empathize with and personally get to know people in your sphere of influence. You strive to build a culture of caring that breeds kindness and gratitude for others.

You Recognize and Reward – You’re aware of how an attitude of appreciation positively affects everyone around you. You create an inspiring environment where team members find it easy to be motivated. You energize and validate people in your sphere of influence with acknowledgment. You regularly recognize, reward and express appreciation for your coworkers and customers.

You Engage and Empower – You respect your team members and trust them with important information. You delegate responsibility and give followers new responsibilities. You believe in your employees and view mistakes as opportunities to learn. You provide valuable resources and training to enable those around you to succeed. You foster excellence in communication and teamwork.

Gratitude is good for business

Expressing gratitude is one of the simplest ways to strengthen the relationships that are critical to organizational success. This success is a result of increased business performance and optimized value for all stake holders. Gratitude for the opportunity to serve your employees and customers increases their loyalty and commitment. This gratitude results in significantly increased employee morale, as well as a reduction in absenteeism and employee turnover.

Gratitude gives people a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Without it, people lose sight of their purpose. When people lose purpose, organizations lose revenue. People work harder when they know they are acknowledged and important.

Grateful leaders are acutely aware of the value of every person in their organization. The people you lead deserve to receive an overflowing of your gratitude. Take the opportunity this holiday season to let the people in your life know how grateful you are for them. But, don’t forget to commit to showing gratitude for your blessings all year around.