Gratitude: The Secret Sauce of Leadership

Thank you note and pen on a wooden table.
 

When most people think of leadership, they think of character traits like vision, confidence, strength, passion, and persuasiveness. One trait that doesn’t often make the list is gratitude. 

When you hear “gratitude,” it doesn’t exactly sound all that leader-like. Gratitude? I mean, yeah, it’s great, but not really crucial for a leader.

Yet, the fact is, research has demonstrated that gratitude expressed can be one of the greatest assets for a leader to possess.  Indeed, you might call it the secret sauce of leadership.

Why gratitude? And specifically, why would it make the list of leadership traits?  Here are a few reasons:

1.  A leader who expresses gratitude towards his team gains their respect.

Because gratitude is a virtue, we tend to respect those who exemplify it. When a busy leader cultivates this virtue and employs it regularly, his stature rises exponentially.

By the same token, when it’s not exemplified, respect is lowered no matter what other leadership traits are shown. It’s that important.

2.  A leader who expresses gratitude towards her team increases job satisfaction.

Want a happier team? Lea Waters at Melbourne Graduate School of Education found that employees who are part of a workplace culture that promotes gratitude experience greater job satisfaction and overall well-being.


Employees who are part of a workplace culture that promotes gratitude experience greater job satisfaction and overall well-being.  


Cary Nieuwhof notes, “I’ve known people who have taken pay cuts because they would rather work for someone who was grateful than for an ungrateful leader.”

3.  A leader who expresses gratitude toward his team gains their effort.

“Thanks, that event was awesome! You totally rocked it.”

That kind of grateful language is encouraging because it’s a reward for effort. When we’re rewarded for our effort in such a way, we want to give even more effort.

4.  A leader who expresses gratitude toward her team gains their appreciation.

It’s all too easy to fail to express gratitude because we conclude, “They signed up for this! This is their responsibility!” This is especially true if the individual is paid-staff. This is their job, after all!

But when a leader expresses gratitude anyway, the sense of appreciation goes well beyond a paycheck. Gratitude is in effect, the greatest currency with which a leader can pay a team.

5.  A leader who expresses gratitude to his team increases his own joy.

While gratitude is a valuable gift to give your employees, it’s also a wonderful gift to give yourself.  Studies in brain science have shown that appreciation is good for you!  It helps grow joy, and joy actually makes the brain work better. It’s the fuel your brain runs on. Think of it this way: you’re actually smarter when you engage in thanksgiving!

Make the Most of Your Gratitude

Sam Walton, the brilliant and beloved founder of Wal-Mart said it incredibly well: “Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise.”


“Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise.” – Sam Walton


So, how can we make the most of our words of gratitude and appreciation?  Gratitude is best received when it is:

  • Specific. There are occasions when thanking a large group is appropriate, but it is much more effective when you praise specific individuals for specific actions. Specific actions recognized lead to specific actions repeated.

  • Timely. It is always best to give thanks in a timely way. Write the note, express what impressed you, thank them as close to the event as possible. A “thank you” received months later is nice but loses its power.

  • Unexpected. This one may be a surprise on the list but think about it. If you get a thank you note from a newlywed couple for the gift you gave, it’s rather expected. But if someone surprises you with a thank you, it’s a whole different thing. When the leader offers an unexpected “Great job! Thanks for the effort!” that can have an incredible impact.

  • Duplicatable. When a leader shows gratitude for specific actions, it encourages others to duplicate those actions. In this way, a culture of gratitude can be developed.

  • Personalized. Individualized gratitude is the skill of a refined leader. That means knowing the person. Some people may truly not enjoy public praise. Others relish in it. Targeted gratitude is knowing what works best for the individual.

Grateful leaders make the best leaders. Make it your practice this year to express gratitude well beyond this season of Thanksgiving and watch your leadership potential expand.


Grateful leaders make the best leaders.


 
 
 

 

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