Create a daily habit of taking a moment of solitude to humbly express gratitude for the great many blessings of this life. Let others know why you’re grateful for them. Let thanksgiving be the narrative of your life.”
John Wooden
I had a friend growing up who never said thank you and it really pissed me off. Not only was it poor manners, but it made me uncomfortable when someone didn’t give thanks by offering a simple gesture of appreciation—and on the flip side, it made me equally uncomfortable when the provider didn’t receive thanks for their work.
“Thank you” is often thrown around in a busy work environment where teams are constantly completing tasks for each other in an effort to operate more productively and achieve their collective goal. Of course, certain situations and tasks call for a different degree of thanks. A simple “thank you” to a coworker in which you have developed a strong relationship with is usually sufficient—since you both have a mutual understanding of how much you appreciate each other. That being said, when someone goes above and beyond and delivers a substantial lift to your team, a special thanks is in order—whether it be a personal expression of gratitude or a public delivery of appreciation in front of teammates and other stakeholders.
Aside from integrity, the second most admirable trait I value in a leader is gratitude. Leaders have the ability to express their appreciation for their peers while simultaneously empowering them when giving thanks. As a young professional, receiving constructive feedback on projects/tasks is pivotal to personal and professional transformation. There is no better feeling when you exceed expectations on an assignment and receive recognition from your manager. What is even more empowering is when your manager provides you with a thoughtful expression of gratitude, outlining the specific impact your work has on the team's overall success.
Going beyond the typical “Thank you, great job—I really appreciate it” and sharing the substantial value of an individuals’ work further inspires your team to achieve more, recognizing that their tasks hold significant meaning. The team will likely invest more in future projects if they understand the importance of each task and exactly why it is appreciated by leadership.
As we bring a short week to a close and projects are put on a brief hiatus over the holiday break, I hope readers will take a moment of solitude, just as John Wooden suggests, to reflect on the many blessings in our lives and the value added by those around us—expressing gratitude to those who support us in and out of the workplace. Whether it is family and friends over the dinner table or your colleagues reconvening in the conference room next week, let them know why you are grateful for the role they play in your life. I guarantee they will leave the dinner table/conference room feeling inspired to continue bringing more value into your everyday.
John Wooden
I had a friend growing up who never said thank you and it really pissed me off. Not only was it poor manners, but it made me uncomfortable when someone didn’t give thanks by offering a simple gesture of appreciation—and on the flip side, it made me equally uncomfortable when the provider didn’t receive thanks for their work.
“Thank you” is often thrown around in a busy work environment where teams are constantly completing tasks for each other in an effort to operate more productively and achieve their collective goal. Of course, certain situations and tasks call for a different degree of thanks. A simple “thank you” to a coworker in which you have developed a strong relationship with is usually sufficient—since you both have a mutual understanding of how much you appreciate each other. That being said, when someone goes above and beyond and delivers a substantial lift to your team, a special thanks is in order—whether it be a personal expression of gratitude or a public delivery of appreciation in front of teammates and other stakeholders.
Aside from integrity, the second most admirable trait I value in a leader is gratitude. Leaders have the ability to express their appreciation for their peers while simultaneously empowering them when giving thanks. As a young professional, receiving constructive feedback on projects/tasks is pivotal to personal and professional transformation. There is no better feeling when you exceed expectations on an assignment and receive recognition from your manager. What is even more empowering is when your manager provides you with a thoughtful expression of gratitude, outlining the specific impact your work has on the team's overall success.
Going beyond the typical “Thank you, great job—I really appreciate it” and sharing the substantial value of an individuals’ work further inspires your team to achieve more, recognizing that their tasks hold significant meaning. The team will likely invest more in future projects if they understand the importance of each task and exactly why it is appreciated by leadership.
As we bring a short week to a close and projects are put on a brief hiatus over the holiday break, I hope readers will take a moment of solitude, just as John Wooden suggests, to reflect on the many blessings in our lives and the value added by those around us—expressing gratitude to those who support us in and out of the workplace. Whether it is family and friends over the dinner table or your colleagues reconvening in the conference room next week, let them know why you are grateful for the role they play in your life. I guarantee they will leave the dinner table/conference room feeling inspired to continue bringing more value into your everyday.
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