Thanking your Team: Why Gratitude Makes a Difference
Imagine this scenario:
You are working on a team and doing a job that you love. You are putting in 110%. You are proud of your work. You work late because you are excited about your work and want the company to succeed. Your company or organization is seeing excellent results from the work you are doing. You are overcome with pride and fulfillment...but your team? Your boss? No one recognizes your hard work. Your boss gives you another assignment without showing any gratitude for helping grow the company. No one acknowledges your extra hours and effort.
While reading that scenario you were probably thinking, this is not the kind of company I want to work for. Have you ever been on a team or in a job where nothing you do is recognized or appreciated? It is hard when you give your all to the work and your boss or team don’t seem to notice. If we are all completely honest, we want to be appreciated for the work we do.
It starts with you
That being said, ask yourself how often you show gratitude for others in your own life. Think about ways you have shown gratitude towards your boss, teammates, parents, friends, or coworkers.
Gratitude starts with you. If we all take the time to show gratitude to those around us, the more likely we are to receive it in return.
Showing gratitude all year long
Showing gratitude towards your teammates and staff boosts morale. If your team feels underappreciated and overworked, it can lead to increased stress, negative attitudes, lower productivity, and tension within your team. Rather than waiting for employees or teammates to appear outwardly stressed, show them gratitude all year long.
If you see someone doing an awesome job at a task, tell them!
If a teammate helped you on something they weren’t required to, write them a thank you note.
Is your team going above and beyond on a certain project? Take everyone out for a team lunch or bring in a treat to share.
Showing gratitude doesn’t need to be over the top or costly. When it comes to gratitude, it is truly the thought that counts. Make an effort to pay attention to the work that the other members of your team are doing. It’s easy to be self-focused but taking a moment to look at the efforts of our teammates will help us genuinely appreciate the work they are doing.
How gratitude is proven to make our lives better
At work and on a team, it is important to remember that we aren’t robots or machines. Does that seem obvious? It is an obvious fact, but culturally we try to keep things “professional” and sometimes gratitude can be pushed aside. “Evidence suggests that gratitude and appreciation contribute to the kind of workplace environments where employees actually want to come to work and don’t feel like cogs in a machine.” (How Gratitude Can Transform the Workplace)
Put it into action
Go back to the very beginning of this post. In that scenario, would you feel motivated to participate on that team? If you want to be a strong leader, show gratitude towards the people around you. Don’t ignore the work they do. If you are a team member, show gratitude towards your boss and to your teammates. You will create a more positive environment, your teammates will feel affirmed by you, and they will be more likely to show you gratitude in return.
Don’t wait for others to create the environment you want—lead by example!