The importance of showing and feeling gratitude in the workplace is of great consequence to ensuring the health and retention of team members. A study by the John Templeton Foundation surveying over 2,000 Americans showed that people tend not to feel or express gratitude in the workplace. This evidence is shocking since appreciation is linked to happiness, better physical and mental health, and healthy relationships.
As an employer or manager of a team, dispersing compliments or praise benefits both parties involved. It helps create patterns of gratefulness for team members’ actions and strengths. Showing gratitude also helps improve and refine communication skills, as not everyone is naturally talented at giving compliments.
Benefits of gratitude in the workplace can include increased connection amongst employees, a higher level of productivity, and less stress or sick days used when a culture of gratitude is present in the workplace.
Gratitude Is For Everyone
When it comes to showing your appreciation in the workplace, it shouldn’t be a necessarily formulated and automated experience. Just like everyone has different personalities, people will have different ways that they feel valued. Writing the same thank you card for every employee may speak to some, but others might appreciate a face-to-face interaction. When you intentionally provide various forms of gratitude to your team, you are more likely to ensure that the message of thankfulness is being delivered.
Gratitude Increases Connection
As you take time to appreciate or notice someone’s actions or behaviors, it makes people feel seen for what they are doing, not just what they are accomplishing. Being noticed in the workplace for efforts is more likely to leave employees feeling appreciated for their contributions.. The more employees feel appreciated the more likely they are to engage and connect to their work and with other team members in the workplace.
Gratitude Decreases Stress
There are studies that show that gratitude increases serotonin and dopamine levels, both of which are responsible for the feeling of happiness. When someone feels recognized and appreciated, it creates happiness, and they are more likely to feel gratitude, which will help build strong neural pathways, easing symptoms of stress. Less stress means healthier employees both mentally and physically.
Gratitude Creates Company Culture
When you take the time to say thank you to employees, you are building a better company culture that values stopping to appreciate the people on your team, not just the work being done. Gratitude increases employees’ motivation and the likelihood of creating team leaders who value gratitude. By implementing thankfulness, you are paying it forward for other future team members to be a part of a company that shows gratitude.
Gratitude is necessary for employees to feel valued and appreciated for their contributions. When leaders create a culture of appreciation, they increase productivity, decrease employee turnover, and create a happier work environment for everyone.
Helpful hint: September 21 is World Gratitude Day; consider taking some time out of your day to write a kind email to your team, a handwritten card, or stop by their desk to tell them that they are doing a great job. A little effort to show how much you appreciate the work your employees do will go a long way!