Leadership and Gratitude: The Power of Appreciation

I had an interesting conversation with a leader today who was concerned by what they described as a 'very demotivated' team. We spent time talking about all that was not working and then turned the discussion onto what was going well. This naturally led to the importance and benefit of having and expressing gratitude.

Leadership is not just about taking charge and making decisions. It’s also about creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and appreciated. One way to do that is by expressing gratitude.

Gratitude is the act of acknowledging and being thankful for the good things in life. In a work setting, expressing gratitude can boost morale, increase job satisfaction, and improve productivity. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work.

As a leader, expressing gratitude can take many forms. It can be as simple as saying “thank you” or acknowledging a job well done. It can also involve providing opportunities for growth and development, recognising accomplishments, and offering support during difficult times.

Leaders who practice gratitude create a culture of appreciation that can have a profound impact on the organisation. When employees feel valued, they are more likely to go above and beyond their job duties and work collaboratively with their colleagues.

In addition to benefiting the organisation, expressing gratitude can also have a positive impact on the leader. Leaders who practice gratitude are more likely to have better relationships with their employees, experience less stress, and feel more fulfilled in their work.

The take-away message for us all is that leadership and gratitude go hand in hand. By expressing gratitude, leaders can create a positive work environment that benefits both the organisation and the leader. So, take the time to appreciate your employees and see the difference it can make.

www.cross-house.ie

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The being busy trap

Today’s walk along the road was achieved by careful timing and watching the clouds to avoid the rain. I found myself wondering about a conversation I had last week about the language we use in work situations relating to how busy we all are. I caught myself saying that I had ‘back to back meetings all day’ not sure if I was looking for admiration or pity. The fact that I could feel the uncomfortableness of the fact, combined with an annoyance with myself for getting into this situation collided and I adopted a resigned to accept it outlook. With the time to reflect today – I wonder how often I willingly allow myself to get into the too busy being busy mode. The day goes so quickly – for sure ! Some around may marvel at my revolving office door and the constant foot fall …. When I reflect on what I achieved during my day of meetings it is clear little or any of it could truly be called ‘deep work’ – in contrast to what is described as ‘shallow work’ – those non-productive meetings

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A walk along the road : my reflective blog

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