We think we can all agree that 2020 has been a tough year. It’s been a year often marked by frustration, challenges, and exhaustion, and in seasons like this, most of us have a typical response—we complain. Despite popular opinion, we think complaining has some value in organizations. Research indicates that complaining can be a useful tool in bonding with others and processing emotions like stress and frustration (this year, we’ve had plenty of that).
But complaining can quickly become habitual and unhealthy. Studies show that repeated behavior, like complaining, rewires our brain to make future complaining more likely. Over time, we find it’s more natural to be negative than positive, regardless of what’s happening around us. There are plenty of studies that show the benefits of positive leadership, but good luck finding the long-term benefits of being a negative leader.
This is why the spirit of Thanksgiving is essential for us to embrace, savor, and practice beyond last week’s holiday. We have found dozens of research papers showing the benefits of gratitude, and here are some of the most intriguing findings:
- Gratitude increases our work performance. Appreciation has been shown to make us better at managing our performance by enhancing our ability to motivate and praise others. Studies also found that it can reduce stress at work by helping us protect ourselves from the adverse side effects of a demanding job.
- Gratitude boosts our physical health. Gratitude has a positive impact on our bodies. Practicing gratitude can significantly improve our quality of sleep. Building a habit of gratitude can even lower our blood pressure, according to numerous studies. Grateful people seem to be healthy people.
- Gratitude improves our relationships. Gratitude also has many social benefits. According to research, gratitude not only helps us get the social support we need in difficult times, but it also lessens our need for social support in the first place. Scientists have also discovered that gratitude positively impacts work relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships.
How to Incorporate Gratitude into Your Life
Practicing gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are three simple ways to practice gratitude in your life.
- Write thank you cards. Some people think that handwritten cards are going the way of the dinosaurs, but we don’t believe that. We believe it is always a good idea to express your appreciation in writing, especially if you’re sharing that writing with someone else! There is simply nothing as personal as a handwritten thank you card. In a stack of news, bills, and advertisements, a hand-written card is a treasure in a sealed packet, full of encouragement and potential. One quick aside: many leaders tell us that they can’t do handwritten cards because they don’t have the materials readily available. We believe one trip to the (virtual) store will ensure you have notecards that reflect your personality, a pen that you enjoy using, an address book, and even stamps!
- Journal. As we noted above, it’s always a good approach to capture your gratitude in writing. One of the reasons we like this practice is that when it feels like the world has turned against us (e.g., the bulk of 2020), we have a tangible reminder of the positive things we can cling to amid all the negativity.
- Incorporate gratitude in organizational communication strategies. Why settle for only expressing gratitude on a personal level? A number of our clients highlight the good work and sacrifices of their employees through company newsletters, CEO updates, and team emails. We’ve heard it said, “what gets recognized gets repeated; what gets celebrated becomes a habit.” Acknowledge people’s good work, thank them for making your team/organization better in a specific way, and watch to see if others respond with similar praise-worthy behavior.
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Action Step: Identify three people that you are thankful for and write them a personal card this week. Express your gratitude for who they are, the work they do, and/or the value they bring to your team and/or your life.
