“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them,” John F. Kennedy once said. Around the holiday season, many people become more grateful for the things in their lives: family, friends, health, career. The idea of gratitude is easy to lose sight of when facing the challenges each day; however, great leaders center gratitude in everything they do. Here are five ways that highly-effective leaders show their gratitude:
- Say Thank You: When someone completes a task or supports you in some way, always find a way to say thank you. Everyone enjoys hearing thank you and feeling like their work matters or made a difference. In a culture where thank you is the norm, people feel valued and cared about. One of the ways great employees become burnout is by rarely feeling appreciated. How often do you show gratitude by saying thank you?
- Write a Note: A handwritten note often shows a deep level of gratitude toward people. When someone is willing to take the time to write a note, it certainly shows that they care in an above and beyond way. Great leaders often write notes to their people, customers, players, or students, and it helps show that you notice their hard work and effort. How often do you write a note of gratitude?
- Take Action: One of the most important items a leader can do to show gratitude is to take action. By taking action and doing what’s needed, great leaders take items away from people and free up their time and energy. Taking action is an act of service, and it truly shows people that we’re grateful for their work and effort. We’re so grateful for them that we’re willing to do extra work to support them. How often do you take action to show gratitude?
- Public Praise: While saying thank you shows gratitude, a public shout out takes it to another level. Great leaders always focus on praising in public and criticizing in private. Their ability to make people feel appreciated publicly is the reason why they’re highly-effective leaders. Public affirmation really makes people develop their purpose, feel motivated, and give strong effort. How often do you give public praise?
- Authentic Affirmations: Highly-effective leaders truly understand the power of authentic, personal affirmations. “Thank you,” “I appreciate you,” “I’m so grateful for you,” “I believe in you,” “You’re so hard working,” among many others. The power of giving authentic affirmations cannot be quantified in leadership. These affirmations develop deep confidence in people and show them how much you care. How often do you provide authentic affirmations?
Showing a deep sense of gratitude is a critical leadership skill in guiding people to their purpose. Highly-effective leaders say thank you, give public praise, and provide authentic affirmations. Great leadership is all about building up people and helping them do their best work each day. Every day is an opportunity to show gratitude towards others.
How do you practice gratitude as a leader?