Gratitude is becoming a real buzz word, and with good reason. Many studies have shown the benefits that practising gratitude can have on individual wellbeing such as; reducing the risk of depression and anxiety disorders, and lowering stress hormones. If employees were encouraged to have a practise of gratitude, this alone could have a dramatic effect.
Now more and more studies are also showing the impact that this practise can have on the overall workspace and on employee productivity, engagement, performance and turnover.
One study done by the American Psychological Association showed that an expression of gratitude from managers to employers led to a:
- 50% increase in the number of calls that the average fundraiser made in a week
- and that employees continued longer in their helping activities without being asked
- A Glassdoor survey revealed that 81% of employees were motivated to work harder if their manager showed appreciation
So how can you bring a practise of gratitude into the workspace?
Research has shown that the best way to show appreciation for someone is to make it genuine and personal. People thrive when they are appreciated, it is part of our make up to feel connected and to belong, so the simple act of saying thank you to a colleague or employee for the work they have done, or the way they are handling their situation right now can go a really long way.
Give your team the gift of gratitude
- Create a personalised email to each one of your team members (or split this up per department depending on team size).
- Include a reason why you are thankful for them.
- This could include a note of simple thanks for being part of the team and riding this storm together with you.
- Anything that says that you care and that you are thinking of them personally.
Organise a Gratitude Workshop
If you are keen to bring more gratitude into your workspace consider our Gratitude, the Simple Practise that can Change your Brain, Body & Life workshop.
To find out how you can bring these valuable practises to your teams contact me, Alex at hello@tulatherapies.com.