Leadership Gratitude Day | What Are You Thankful For As A Leader?

Ask Yourself These Leadership Gratitude Questions This Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving has been a national holiday in the U.S. since Abraham Lincoln declared it so in 1863, I have longed wished it was a global one instead. Wouldn’t it be nice if the whole world would stop once a year from economic activity so that all 7.9 billion of us could reflect on the things, people, and joys for which we are grateful?

So, with this in mind, why don’t we initiate a Leadership Gratitude Day for today, as a way to kick-start the long Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S.

Here are five questions to ponder as a supervisor, team leader, manager, leader, or executive:

What are the 2-3 things about your team you are most grateful for?

What are the 2-3 things about your organization you are most grateful for?

What are the 2-3 things about your colleagues you are most grateful for?

How can you better express your gratitude to your team members and colleagues?

How would an enhanced focus on gratitude make you a better leader? A better person?

That’s it. Five simple questions, with potentially five deep and meaningful answers. Your personal responses will undoubtedly enhance your leadership mindset and modify your current leadership behaviors.

Expressing Gratitude 

Here’s another thing about gratitude, best summed up in this quote by William Arthur Ward:

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

So often I hear leaders say they do not take the time to express gratitude to their team members or colleagues for the simple reason that “they are paid well to do a good job.”

Yet, reinforcement feedback has been proven time and time again to be one of the most motivating ways to improve employee engagement and productivity. In a landmark 10-year study by the O.C. Tanner Group, the lack of appreciation was cited by 79% of employees who quit their jobs as a key reason or leaving (and this was well before the Great Resignation of 2021).

That same study also revealed that 65% of those surveyed in North America were not recognized even once by their leaders or supervisors during the previous year. This is totally unacceptable.

So, as you plan how to improve your leadership skills – and your results – in 2022, adding the expression of gratitude is one definite way to increase and expand both. Along with employee engagement, productivity, and a better workplace environment.

And hopefully your team members and colleagues with express their gratitude to you for doing so.

Thank you for sharing these ideas on Leadership Gratitude Day with your colleagues, friends, and others.