Cultivating a culture of gratitude in the workplace changes everything... it’s the key to turning an ordinary workplace environment into one where employees thrive and feel valued.
“I appreciate the work you do... thank you!” Wouldn’t that be nice to hear? When was the last time someone said this to you? Imagine working for a company that places cultivating gratitude as a top priority.
Expressing gratitude not only fosters employee engagement but also gives companies a competitive edge in attracting and retaining top talent.
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” - William Arthur Ward, American motivational writer
The choice to express appreciation within the workforce has a long-lasting, positive impact on work environments. At any given moment, employees are dealing with a variety of emotions. These emotions will affect the quality of their work. A little gratitude from a co-worker or manager can go a long way to relieve stress, nurture positive emotions, and increase employee satisfaction.
Why Express Gratitude?
According to research conducted by psychologist Adam Grant and behavioral scientist, Francesca Gino for the American Psychological Association, a little thanks does indeed go a long way. They found that gratitude encourages perceptions of social worth and feeling socially valued. All are very important for success in the business world.
Companies and employees have a mutually dependent relationship. Businesses need employees to run operations and employees need the job, paycheck, and benefits to take care of their families. We all need each other, so why not make an effort to foster a culture of gratitude, build strong relationships, and express appreciation?
Modern neuroscience shows that the cultivation of gratitude also helps us to become more mindful of the life around us and what circumstances we’re in. Think about this in terms of safety in the workplace. If employees are mindful of their surroundings, wear their PPE, and follow safety protocols, you should have fewer safety incidents and accidents. HSI’s resource on the costs of not training goes into more detail.
The benefits of gratitude in the workplace extend beyond the bottom line. In most cases, we spend more time with our co-workers than with our families. Why wouldn’t we want to express appreciation to each other and say good things? It’s a lesson we learn as young children.
A heartfelt expression of gratitude makes all involved feel good. Whether it's a simple act, like a thank you email or text message, or a call out in a staff meeting, employees will feel the benefits of gratitude.
The white paper, The Science of Gratitude, prepared for the John Templeton Foundation, discusses how people with higher levels of gratitude have better psychological health, including higher levels of perceived social support and lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. In other words, they feel good!
“Gratitude increases self-esteem, enhances willpower, strengthens relationships, deepens spirituality, boosts creativity, and improves athletic and academic performance. Gratitude is referred to as the quintessential positive trait, the amplifier of goodness in oneself and others, and as having the unity ability to heal, energize and change lives.” - Psychologist Robert Emmons, author, widely regarded as the world’s foremost expert in the study of gratitude
What Type of Workplace Culture Do You Want to Cultivate?
What are your company's core values? What impression do you want to make as an employer? Do you want to promote high levels of job satisfaction and employee engagement? Your answers will dictate how you treat your employees and how they will treat each other.
Some employers believe that simply having a job is enough. Employees should be grateful for their paychecks and benefits and that’s all they need. Other employers believe that when employees are genuinely appreciated, they will go above and beyond their call of duty. These employers treat employees as human beings, not just as an asset.
Regardless of the state of the job market, companies should continually reinvest in their organizational culture to appeal to job candidates. Company culture should go beyond just meeting the basic expectations; it must prioritize the mental health and physical health of all team members.
Employees treated with gratitude put in the extra effort to do a better job and contribute more. They will be loyal and stay with the company longer, leading to lower turnover.
Creating a Culture of Gratitude Starts with Leadership
If your culture doesn’t place a high value on the benefits of gratitude, this may be challenging to raise with senior leadership. The underlying message is to recognize how much companies rely on their employees and ensure they feel valued and appreciated. Expressions of gratitude can occur in various ways.
Consider giving a project update to senior management and afterward, the CEO says “Thanks, good job.” That moment can easily mean the world to the employee even though it was casual and informal. It came from the top and it was in front of senior management. This speaks to the company culture and sets an example for others.
Gratitude from leadership may also play out through formal employee recognition programs. It’s common to thank employees for their years of service. Whether an award is given or not, managers should always thank employees for their hard work and loyalty to the company. A spot recognition award, such as a gift card or small gift, is a way to recognize and thank employees. Go the extra mile and give employees handwritten notes. According to a recent study by Professors Nicholas Epley and Amit Kumar, handwritten notes boost positive emotions and well-being for both the letter writer and the recipient.
Leaders and managers can express gratitude during their daily routines. Recognizing employees’ accomplishments in team meetings or an internal newsletter or communication channel can also be an important part of the company’s gratitude mix.
Tips for Cultivating a Culture of Gratitude in the Workplace
Here are tips companies can use to cultivate gratitude and instill a positive work environment.
- Top-down thankfulness. This is where the power of gratitude starts. Leaders shape the company’s culture, creating a ripple effect that influences the entire company. This will be especially important when employees are taking on additional responsibilities. Employees will rally during busy times, but leadership needs to take the time to recognize the fact that team members are carrying a heavier load. Saying “thank you” goes a long way!
- Open communication. Maintaining transparency with employees is a sign of respect. Communicating the true state of the business within legal restrictions is an important way to make employees feel like they are not only a vital part of the organization but also have a stake in how the business fares.
- Positive reinforcement. It’s easy for managers to notice when something goes wrong or when a mistake is made. Take the time to acknowledge a job well done or to celebrate accomplishments. Thank the person who steps up to do that “unwanted administrative task.”
- Offering personal development training. Investing in the personal growth of employees is a mutually beneficial way to show the company cares. Be sure to offer training topics that are meaningful to the employee. You might also subsidize memberships to professional organizations to allow the employee to network with industry peers, secure speaking engagements, and build their professional brand and reputation.
- Supporting volunteer activities. Host company-wide charitable activities to help foster a spirit of togetherness and teamwork among your employees. It also helps them feel as if they are contributing to meaningful work.
“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou, an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist
HSI Can Help
Building a culture of gratitude transforms companies into much more enjoyable and rewarding places to work. Employees will be happier and more connected, which encourages them to go the extra mile in their work. Employees will be more inclined to proactively look for the best ways to improve operations, save on expenses, or create new ideas for company growth.
Fostering a culture of appreciation where employees feel valued every single day for their efforts makes a significant difference. Training is a powerful tool in helping to build a culture of gratitude.
HSI has an array of both video and content-based courses around creating a culture of gratitude:
- How to Build Resilience
- The Benefits of Gratitude
- Servant-Based Leadership
- Giving, Thanks, & Gratitude
- Coming Full Circle: Closing the Gratitude Loop
HSI offers microlearning solutions to help companies of all sizes deliver award-winning curriculums through flexible integration options to build high-performing teams.
To learn more, please contact us for a consultation.
