Everything!
Emotionally intelligent leaders use genuine gratitude to inspire others and help themselves. So why are leaders not showing enough gratitude? Well it is easy to show gratitude and thankfulness when things are going smoothly and life just handed us a blessing. But faced with the daily demands and challenges of work and life it is easy for us to get lost and wallow in our own misery.
Being a leader is hard work. There are lots of ups and downs in the job and pressures to achieve results, hit the numbers, and do more with less. As a leader we have a choice to either let the pressure get to us and become angry, frustrated or constantly worry that we are not doing enough to produce the results we want. Or we can accept our position with gratitude that we have the opportunity despite the ebb and flow, to make a positive contribution and difference to your team, customers, and shareholders.
What are you choosing to consistently demonstrate at work? If it is the latter, I suggest you you find a way to deal with your anger, frustration and worry and start practicing gratitude. That is right. I said start practicing. Practice makes perfect!It will only cost you your ego, a stamp and maybe some extra time.
Here are 4 easy ways to start practicing:
#1. Start saying thank you. Do it every time someone does something for you no matter how big or small. Do it in person or over the phone. Do it immediately and be specific.
#2. Write thank you notes. In this 24/7 work environment we become far too dependent on our phones or Blackberries to send a text thank you message. I am talking about sending a hand written note. When was the last time you received a hand written thank you note? When you did, I bet you opened it right away. It is memorable, different, and special to receive these messages. It will cost you a stamp and the ROI is huge.
#3. Start a gratitude journal. Start or end each day writing down 3-5 things or people you are grateful for. Regularly writing down what you are thankful for will help you increase your own level of gratitude towards others.
#4. Pay it Forward. This was a classic movie staring Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt in 2000. Spacey plays a teacher and he gives his class an assignment to devise and put into action a plan that will change the world. One of his students, Trevor ( Helen Hunt’s son ) conjures a plan of paying a favor not back but forward. Repaying good deeds not without payback, but with good deeds done to 3 new people; and so on and so on. Random acts of kindness and gratitude that changed many in the film. If you have not seen it, I recommend it. It could have a powerful impact on your feelings about gratitude.
As leaders the benefits we receive when we genuinely practice random acts of gratitude include enabling you to shift your awareness of looking at your situation with a more positive perspective than a negative one. You start becoming more humble. Your life will improve, you will be easier to please ( not a push over ) and you will generally feel more calm and at peace. Those you demonstrate your gratitude to will end up feeling appreciated, valued and more inspired. All of which will help you and your team become stronger, positive and more engaged.
Isn’t that what leadership is all about…Inspiring others to excel.
What are you grateful for?