It doesn’t take long in a day to spot or experience something that our brains perceive as negative. The alarm squawks, and we immediately feel frustrated that we’ve been disrupted from a solid state of slumber. We roll out of bed, and maybe our knees, back, or neck feels an ache. We turn on the news and are bombarded with messages of alarm, concern, and warning. At work, we want to pursue goals, but it’s a continual fight to make progress as we try to avoid getting bogged down by workplace politics, confusion, or drama.
Negative thoughts and experiences can bombard and quickly compound our minds. Left unaddressed, negativity is cancerous and starts to grow in us. It becomes more natural for us to be negative, regardless of what’s happening around us. Negativity is like a virus. It spreads to others and disrupts organization functioning as it deteriorates organizational health. Many studies have shown 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 this week. We have found dozens of research papers showing the benefits of gratitude and its positive effects. Here are some of the most intriguing findings that we stumbled across:
- Gratitude improves work performance. Studies have found that practicing gratitude can reduce stress at work. There is also a link between showing appreciation to teammates and improving their motivation and engagement at work.
- Gratitude improves our physical health. Gratitude has a positive impact on our bodies. Regularly practicing gratitude can significantly improve our quality of sleep. According to numerous studies, building a habit of gratitude can even lower our blood pressure. Grateful people seem to be healthy people.
- Gratitude improves our relationships. Gratitude has many social benefits. According to research, gratitude expressed towards others helps us get the social support we need in difficult times, but it also lessens our need for social support. Scientists have 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 handwritten cards are going the way of the dinosaurs, but we don’t believe that. It’s always a good idea to express your appreciation in writing, especially if you share that writing with someone else! There is nothing as personal as a handwritten thank you card. In a stack of news, bills, and advertisements, a handwritten card is a treasure in a sealed packet, full of encouragement and potential. One quick aside: many leaders tell us they can’t do handwritten cards because they don’t have the materials available. One trip to the (virtual) store will ensure you have notecards that reflect your personality, a pen 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. When it feels like the world has turned against us (e.g., the bulk of 2020), a gratitude journal is a tangible reminder of the positive things we can cling to amid all of the negativity.
- Incorporate gratitude in organizational communication strategies. Why settle for only expressing gratitude on a personal level? A number of our clients highlight their employees’ good work and sacrifices 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.
Action Step: Identify three people 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.
