At the end of a recent coaching call a client shared with me a brief yet beautiful moment he had with his 18-month-old daughter.
After a long day at the office he climbed the stairs of his home to where his little girl stood waiting for him. As soon as she saw her father, her entire being lit up with joy and she smiled from ear to ear! For my client that brief moment of connection was a gift and I could hear in his voice a deep undercurrent of gratitude.
Gratitude is a powerful emotion. It makes us feel good, and it makes those around us feel good too.
But gratitude is more than a feel-good emotion. It is a powerful talent that enables us to be better leaders, managers and parents.
Gratitude enables us to be better
leaders, managers and parents
And it is a talent that can be cultivated.
If you already excel at gratitude and its’ corollary, thanking, give yourself an A plus!
If you are like the rest of us and could use a little improvement in the gratitude department, read on to see just how important this talent is to both your health and you leadership.
Gratitude, like all human emotions and moods, predisposes us to certain actions and behaviors. When we bring a spirit of gratitude to our relationships, we see more clearly the contributions of our employees, colleagues and family members. We awaken to the fact that our success is as much a product of their contributions as it is a result of our own individual efforts. And having seen this, we are more likely to express our heart-felt appreciation to them.
This can make all the difference.
A recent study by the Gallup organization shows that only about 25% of U.S. workers are deeply engaged by their leaders. Employees not feeling appreciated or valued by their managers was the reason most often cited for their lack of engagement.
Only about 25% of U.S. workers are
deeply engaged by their leaders
It turns out that being appreciated is a fundamental human need. Too often it goes unmet at work and...