Gratitude in the workplace builds trust and encourages healthy relationships among your team. Doing your part to work with your peers and encourage gratitude will improve your overall workplace culture. It will also lead to an overall happier and healthier mindset while at work, for you and your co-workers. Check out our top seven tips for encouraging gratitude in your workplace, and how you can be a grateful team member!
Say thank you. Always take the time to say thank you to a co-worker or a boss, whether you are thanking them for helping you or just thanking them for their contribution to the team in general. It’s a simple act that can make a world of a difference. You can always send a thank-you email, but if you want to go above and beyond, thank them in person or write a handwritten thank-you letter!
Be grateful even in times of failure. It’s easy to show gratitude when celebrating successes, but it’s also important to show it in times of failure. Even when a team member fails at a goal or a task, you can still be grateful for their work. Thank them for their efforts, and let them know that you still appreciate them and their contributions to the team.
Keep a “gratitude list.” Keep a personal list of things that you are grateful for, and add to the list on a timely basis (daily, weekly, monthly.) Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or tired, you can refer to the list and be reminded of everything you are grateful for. Taking the time to stop and think about everything you have to be grateful for is a powerful activity.
Highlight small successes and efforts. When celebrating successes between you and your team members, celebrate the small victories, too! Oftentimes, the small successes go unnoticed, and showing gratitude in these moments can drastically improve relationships with your teammates. It will also emphasize how much you appreciate them as a teammate.
Practice mindfulness techniques. Whether it be different breathing exercises, yoga, or detaching from social media for a period of time, take the time to practice different mindfulness strategies. It helps you to be more aware of your feelings and your daily life, which allows you to better understand what you are grateful for. It also allows you to be more calm and open-minded on a daily basis.
Here are some easy techniques to help reduce work stress.
Actively help your teammates. If you ever find that one of your teammates is struggling with a task, do what you can to help! This fosters a team-based environment rather than a competitive environment, and your teammates will be thankful for you. This will also increase the chances of other team members helping you when you need it in the future.
Encourage “gratitude sharing.” Designate time slots during your team meetings where everyone shares one or two things that they are grateful for, work-related or not. This can allow you to learn more about your team and what they value, and encourage everyone to practice gratitude more frequently. It’s a simple and quick way to practice gratitude and build relationships among your team.
We can assure that if you start implementing these small but effective techniques into your workdays, you will notice a difference! For more tips on all things job search and professional development, check out our Employee Tips or contact us at mglenny@franklinprofessionals.com.
