Expressing gratitude and appreciation shows you care about your employees, job, clients, and boss. It’s an intelligent way to keep morale up and motivate people through tough challenges.
When bosses and leaders are grateful for their employees, these employees will be 50% more productive. (Wharton School of Business study)
Expressing your gratitude can be done both verbally and in writing. Remember, your words and actions make a big difference in keeping talent and building a positive workplace culture.
How to Express Gratitude
Be Authentic. It’s a must! When expressing gratitude, it must be sincere to develop trust and increase job satisfaction. Set aside your ego. Learn to acknowledge others for each and every effort, even if it’s part of their everyday job.
Brag! Bragging about your employees sets an example for them to brag about each other, themselves, and their wins. Include the small victories as well as the bigger ones!
Be Specific. Vague feedback or compliments are meaningless. Talk straight about an employee or boss’s specific behavior or action when expressing gratitude. It will encourage repeat behaviors, attitudes, and actions! For example, say to an employee, “Thank you for taking the extra time to work with the client. They expressed to me their appreciation for your patience.”
Set an Example. Be humble and acknowledge specific roles people played in helping you and your team achieve their goals. For example, “Thank you for your great ideas during our brainstorming session. Because of your willingness to think outside the box, we nailed the issue and successfully completed our project on time and within budget.”
Be Positive. Being grateful is not a one-time expression. It’s being thankful, even in the face of challenges. For example, when an employee hands in an assignment late, start the conversation positively by expressing appreciation. “Thank you for getting this assignment done. And, in the future, what must we do to have these tasks done on time?”
Say Please & Thank You! These two powerful phrases still express much gratitude when said with authenticity and sincerity. Use frequently for best results!
So here we go … Thank you for reading this post! You are appreciated. (Come on! Admit it! It felt good, didn’t it?)
Remember, develop gratitude by practicing it repeatedly (daily) until it becomes a natural part of who you are as a boss and leader!
©Jeannette Seibly, 2019-2023 All Rights Reserved
Jeannette Seibly is a Talent Advisor/Leadership Results Coach with over 31 years of experience guiding leaders and bosses to improve their hiring, coaching, and managing practices and produce amazing results! And yes, it always starts with having the right people in the right jobs! She has been an Authorized PXT Select Partner for over 31 years. Contact Jeannette to learn more about this state-of-the-art job-fit assessment tool or how to coach and manage your people to achieve amazing results.
A note from Jeannette about expressing gratitude: We’ve all read about expressing gratitude. But reading about it and doing it are two different things. Unfortunately, many of us are stingy with the appreciation and praise! Make 2024 the year to express your gratitude, praise, and appreciation. You’ll be amazed by the increases in performance! I’m available if you need a sounding board. Contact me for a confidential conversation.
It’s time to get honest and real! Are there days you dread managing people, projects, and your team’s financial performance? You’re not alone! Everyone has their blind spots! NOW is the time to get the guidance you need to make the right changes for 2024. I have extensive experience and wisdom guiding bosses and leaders to hire, coach, and manage their teams successfully. The bonus … they achieve unprecedented results. Contact me to learn more about my in-depth, one-on-one, customized coaching programs.