I recently read a newsletter from Jon Gordon, author of the Energy Bus and other books on positivity and leadership. In the article, he said, “It’s impossible to be stressed and grateful at the same time.” Before I read the piece, I had already been thinking about gratitude and how I should practice it more often. But this simple statement from Jon really made me take pause.
The Research?
Research from Harvard, the American Psychological Association and other esteemed institutions have proven time and time again the many benefits to practicing gratitude. Gratitude reduces stress, increases emotional well-being and social well-being, and keeps us in a place that allows us to celebrate and engage in the present. A great friend of mine is the founder of a non-profit called the Mindfulness and Positivity Project, where they help people (largely kids) tune in to the positive in their lives and truly be mindful of themselves and what they can control. My friend, Meg, is one of the most positive people I’ve ever met, never shaken by the “small stuff.” She truly lives in gratitude and teaches everyone around her lessons in it every day.
Reflecting on Gratitude
Why do I tell you all of this? Because I wonder if you’ve been mindful of gratitude daily not only in your life but also in your business. I know this time of year, we all have gratitude on our minds and it’s in the forefront with Thanksgiving and the holidays. But truly, where are you practicing it daily besides November, and how is it showing up in your business?
At one of the last schools where I taught, I went to the principal and asked if at our monthly staff meetings, we could put a Kudos moment into our meetings where staff could recognize other staff for what they were doing in their classrooms and around the campus. We instituted it and it was incredible watching how it changed the attitudes of everyone during the meetings. Recognition and gratitude can alter how we view and interact with most everyone and everything.
The same is true in business. Gratitude and recognition allow us to deepen human connections, make us feel noticed, and raise our magnetism and confidence. This is true not only for the receiver of gratitude but also for the giver. At JMD Productivity Training, my business, we talk a lot about the Circle of Control. Expressing gratitude keeps you in the Circle of Control and out of what I call the Circle of Worry. Gratitude helps us be authentic, keeps us moving forward, and helps our clients/customers, and teammates know that they are doing good things and are valued. Not only that, but the giver of gratitude knows she has deepened the connection with those around her and shown that she sees how she’s not doing business alone.
Think about how you are already showing gratitude and what you might do to raise the bar in the coming months.
Here are some examples of how to show gratitude:
1. Tell your team, employees, and/or contractors thank you for any small thing they do and when they go above and beyond.
Give them gifts and cards throughout the year and when you do get to see them in person, hug them and tell them how much they are appreciated.
2. Make your gratitude public.
Recognize people in social posts, in a speech, or at an event. There’s nothing like being publicly recognized for being awesome.
3. Send a personal note—NOT an email.
Send something out that’s handwritten to your clients, your team, your support system. Save the ones you receive and periodically read through them.
Take time to think about what YOU are grateful for each day, and then for your business, let others know in meaningful ways how they are making you and the business better. In the end, remember that gratitude and stress cannot co-exist. Be grateful. Be positive. Make your business and others’ lives better.
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Let’s start 2024 by being more productive, efficient and present in your business and personal life.
Here is a great article from Forbes on the importance of gratitude.
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