Showing Authentic Gratitude
Gratitude:
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
This past year has been anything but usual, so I’m inviting you to think differently about how you approach gratitude as a leader.
Here are three things for you to consider:
1. A culture of gratitude creates the kind of workplace where people want to stay.
Everyone wants to be appreciated, listened to, and respected. Period. And they want to experience that gratitude consistently, not just during particular times of a year or special events. Gratitude should be baked into how you operate and treat each other. Shifting your focus away from “event planning” and toward “cultural norming of gratitude” creates a place where people want to come to work and don’t want to leave. Gratitude should be near the top of your retention strategies, especially because it can prevent burnout.
This can look like handwritten cards to your teachers with specific examples of something they’ve done that you’re grateful for. Or even better: one on one conversations with staff as they celebrate the past year and look forward to the year to come. If you’re coming together for a final staff meeting, give people the chance to thank one another, such as a gratitude circle where we speak aloud all that people are grateful for in the past year.
2. Honoring the experiences of others is an expression of respect and gratitude.
Listening and honoring the experiences of others is another way to express your gratitude. For example, as staff leave for the summer, gather specific input from them about what worked and didn’t work this year in teaching and learning. Use their first-hand insights as you plan for next year, and circle back on how you’ve used their input. Educators will feel heard and respected.
3. Showing gratitude to others is actually really good for YOU.
Research shows that expressing gratitude makes us happier and less depressed. Another study found that people who are grateful “feel less pain, less stress, suffer insomnia less, have stronger immune systems, experience healthier relationships, and do better academically and professionally. Overall it can boost both your mental and your physical health.” So what’s stopping you?
So what are you doing to show gratitude?
I’d love to hear what you and your organization do to show authentic gratitude towards people. What’s working for you to bind people to each other and the organization? Let’s crowdsource our own Gratitude Menu!