Showing Gratitude in the Workplace Matters
I have made a decision this year about the kinds of business organizations with which I will work. These companies need to embrace some characteristics that I believe are integral in building a healthy and prosperous business. Characteristics include showing gratitude, respect, and trust. A successful organization cannot survive without them.
Recently, I was involved with an organization doing some volunteer work with one of my business partners, Beretta, a Great Dane therapy dog. For two years, I have been including him in my business training seminars in which we address ways to improve positive employee engagement. I volunteer with Beretta at several local organizations, providing emotional support for the residents.
However, with one organization in particular, the administrative staff has walked by Beretta and me in the hallways on several occasions, never acknowledging our presence and never uttering a word of greeting or a work of appreciation. No thank yous offered.
It got me thinking about the types of organizations with which I contract. My work is primarily in building business operations plans for small to medium-sized companies, and I rely heavily on creating a strong, positive employee culture in which respect, trust, and gratitude are core values.
Showing gratitude in the workplace
So now, I ask myself, “Why should I work for a company where the administrators don’t show gratitude or respect for what I do?” Especially when I am volunteering my time.
Showing gratitude is important in the workplace. Smart leaders know this. By taking time to acknowledge employee effort, a workplace culture can be transformed. When gratitude is practiced in the workplace positive relationships are nurtured, complaining is minimized, and employee satisfaction levels skyrocket.
More articles from AllBusiness.com:
- The Business Benefits of Showing Gratitude to Customers, Clients, and Colleagues
- Customer Appreciation: 10 Ways Businesses Can Show Their Gratitude
- Gratitude Should Be a Year-Long Habit for Your Small Business
- 10 Daily Habits of Great Leaders
Showing gratitude is a form of showing respect. In the workplace, no one person can implement all aspects of the work performance. It takes help from others. Teamwork. When leaders take time to acknowledge the quality performance of others, to thank people for their efforts, to show gratitude for those going the extra mile—employees are more willing to try harder, and produce better results. The whole workplace mood is uplifted.
Besides, showing gratitude is just common decency. It is the opposite of complaining and making excuses. Showing gratitude puts smiles on faces. It helps people have the resilience to try again when things have been going off the rails with their assignments. Showing gratitude encourages trust as leaders from the top of the organization down to the bottom rung of the ladder know that employees are respected for their efforts and that what they are doing matters.
A leader showing gratitude implies that he or she believes the employees are capable of doing quality work and trusts their abilities.
Show gratitude at work today
Have you said “Thank you” today? People try to do well at their jobs and appreciate it when they are noticed.
Showing gratitude is an important start in improving positive employee engagement.
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