It’s November, the month of giving thanks, and we’re here to remind you not to overlook some of the most important people in your life: your employees. You may be tempted to think that just because you continue to give your team paychecks, they should know how important they are to you and your business. Or maybe you feel like you can check the gratitude box because you say thank you whenever team members submit deliverables. 

Tossing out genuine thank you’s is a solid start (we’ve all had bosses/coworkers/team leaders who didn’t even give us that courtesy), but let’s consider how you can take your gratitude game up a notch—just in time for Thanksgiving!

Why gratitude? For one, it boosts workplace morale.

The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley points to a bunch of research suggesting a culture of gratitude in the workplace can have some incredible impacts, ranging from less overall stress and fewer sick days to higher job satisfaction and a greater sense of teamwork and individual social worth. This study delving into the impacts of positive psychology demonstrates that programs designed to boost employees’ wellbeing, such as exercises in gratitude, do indeed boost participants’ wellbeing, with the added bonus of also reducing the time they spend out of work due to illness.

The connection between gratitude and physical health isn’t random. In addition to benefiting employees’ mental wellbeing, being part of a culture of gratitude can affect physical health as well. In fact, the same benefits extend to you as a consistent practitioner of gratitude. 

P.S., Gratitude helps you, too. 

Did you know that negative emotions are associated with poorer health? A constant flood of negative emotions can trigger an immune response in your body that can lead to inflammation, which can lead to chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression. On the flip side, studies show that positive emotions like joy, contentment, pride, and awe are associated with lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines, which play a role in your body’s inflammatory responses. 

So, gratitude is good for your team, AND it’s good for you. We can assume that if the last statement is true, then gratitude is also good for your business. Ready to invest in a culture of gratitude?

Here are three ways you can show your team gratitude, not just at Thanksgiving, but all year around:

1. Give Praise: What exactly do you appreciate about each team member? Think about it, then tell each person. Be specific in your praise. Call out a particular personality trait, a project she completed, or a sale she closed, and then show her you notice her great work by calling out these specifics. 
2. Get Feedback: Find out what your team needs from YOU. By asking what team members need from you, you’re opening the door for honest discussions. These discussions + follow through are a great way to show team members you appreciate and value them.  
3. Be Interested: Take an interest in team members’ personal lives. Does a team member have an upcoming birthday? Is a team member getting married or having a baby? Caring about your team members’ lives outside of the workplace helps build a culture of social connectedness and makes it more natural to practice gratitude on a daily basis.  

That’s it! Three basic ways to start building a culture of gratitude in your business. From here, there are lots of ways you can take it to the next level. There’s really no wrong way to show gratitude to your team. Be creative with it!

And while we’re on the subject … THANK YOU for being here.

If you would like help strategically growing your team, book a call with us!