Gratitude and Leadership Development

When you're leading a team, it's easy to get so caught up in big-picture goals, quarterly targets, and operational challenges that you overlook the seemingly small things. But here’s the secret great leaders know: small things are never actually small. They are the very foundation of meaningful leadership and team dynamics. One of the most powerful yet overlooked acts of leadership is taking a moment to genuinely thank your employees as they leave at the end of a workday. It sounds simple, right? Yet, its impact is profound. It signals to your team members that you see their contributions, value their presence, and appreciate the energy they invest each day. Think about this: how often does an employee go home feeling unseen, unappreciated, or overlooked? That small expression of gratitude as they leave can completely transform their perspective, uplifting their morale and reinforcing their sense of belonging. Over time, these simple acknowledgments accumulate, transforming a workplace culture from ordinary to extraordinary. Remember, an appreciated employee doesn't just clock out at five; they leave feeling motivated, inspired, and ready to contribute even more tomorrow. Have you worked in a culture where appreciation was a priority?

Showing gratitude as a leader is an essential aspect of creating a positive and supportive work environment. Here are some ideas of how to show gratitude to your team: ❤️ Sincere Recognition: Take the time to acknowledge your team members' efforts and achievements genuinely and specifically. Highlight their contributions and the positive impact they've had on the team or the organization. ❤️ Personalized Thank-You Notes: I love to write personalized thank-you notes or emails to team members. Mention specific instances where their work made a difference and express your appreciation for their dedication. ❤️ One-on-One Meetings: Use one-on-one meetings to express gratitude individually. Ask about their work, inquire about their well-being, and acknowledge their contributions. This shows that you value them as individuals. ❤️Gifts or Tokens of Appreciation: Consider giving small gifts or tokens of appreciation. I am a fan of small notebooks with beautiful covers :-) or a book, or other personalized item. These gestures can show that you've put thought into expressing your gratitude. ❤️ Provide Development Opportunities: Show gratitude by investing in your team members' growth. Offer them opportunities for skill development, training, or additional responsibilities that align with their goals. ❤️ Provide Autonomy and Trust: Express gratitude by demonstrating trust in your team members' abilities. Give them autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their projects. This I think is the most essential part. I strongly believe that people are willing and able to contribute and make decisions. Just let them! ❤️ Regular Check-Ins: Regularly check in with your team members to understand how they're feeling and to express your gratitude for their consistent efforts. Remember that authentic and consistent expressions of gratitude are most meaningful. Tailor your approach to the preferences and personalities of your team members. By making gratitude a core part of your leadership style, you can contribute to a more positive, motivated, and engaged team.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 '𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂' 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆? In 26 years at P&G and Danaher, I've learned that 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 is one of the most powerful leadership tools: - If someone asks for help - 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢. - If someone gives you feedback to help you improve - 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢. - A colleague of mine stopped one of largest ever product launches in 2014 just weeks before the planned launch date due to a quality issue - 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢. Three challenges we face as C-level leaders: ⚠ Our corporate cultures often punish problem identification rather than rewarding it ⚠ Employees are reluctant to call for help as they fear the potential negative impact ⚠ We struggle to build psychological safety in the office as just one incident of "shooting the messenger" can wipe out years of good practice The Andon is a method at Toyota where any worker can call for help when they detect a defect, empowering everyone to prevent problems from progressing further. Its true power lies not just in the physical mechanism to halt processes, but in the leadership culture that responds with genuine gratitude - 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 - when someone has the courage to pull the cord. DJ Kim has created this wonderful cartoon to explain Andon - 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 🙏 This matters because leaders who master the "Andon mindset" see remarkable results in their processes: ✅ Reduction in Downtime ✅ Increased Productivity ✅ Reduction in Defect Rates What might change if you thanked the next person who brought you bad news? Here's where to start: 👉 When someone identifies a problem, respond first with "thank you" before diving into solutions 👉 Create opportunities to publicly recognise those who stop processes to prevent quality issues 👉 Measure and reward employees who highlight problems early ❗️𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁. ▶ Please follow me for practical learning about continuous improvement from real life. 📄 Join my free monthly newsletter to help you improve by 1% each day, every day: https://bit.ly/ob-news2 🔁 Please repost if you want to 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 with 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 🙏 P.S. This is post 2 of 5 on psychological safety this week.

Yesterday, I had the honor of leading an offsite for an extraordinary team. For the first time since publishing, I incorporated quotes from my book, "Gratitude Through Hard Times," to emphasize the key learnings we discussed. It was powerful to see how these insights resonated with the team and deepened our discussions. Here are the four key points I left them with: •Connect at the Person to Elevate the Professional: True collaboration starts with human connection. When we take the time to know who our colleagues are beyond their titles, we build trust, empathy, and a sense of belonging that naturally fuels professional success. "True connection doesn’t come from pretending our lives are perfect. True connection comes from reaching out to others during our greatest time of need." (p. 18) •Inquisitive Empathy Unlocks the Power of Quiet Voices: I’ve always believed that the quietest voices often hold the most profound insights. By teaching them inquisitive empathy, we gave them tools to create a space where everyone feels valued and heard. "True, deep meaningful human connection is like a diamond... it lasts forever. Cultivating it, though, is hard. It requires courage, bravery, and unyielding vulnerability." (p. 21) It’s about asking the right questions with genuine curiosity, transforming simple conversations into meaningful connections that shape our work. •Gratitude Is Not Just for the Good Times: Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but that’s where gratitude truly shines. "The struggle ends when gratitude begins." (p. 37) The real power of gratitude lies in finding silver linings during life’s storms. It’s a tool for resilience and growth, helping us uncover hidden benefits in every challenge. •To Secure Our Future, We Must Cultivate Our Teams Today: The future isn’t something that just happens—it’s something we actively create. "Gratitude not only creates lasting structural change within the brain and body, it also fundamentally changes behavior." (p. 41) By empowering individuals, fostering creativity, and strengthening partnerships, we ensure that our future is as strong as our past. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this journey with such an incredible group of people that impact tens of millions of children across our country on a yearly basis. Thanks to all who organized. Pictured with PK Agarwal, CTO of California and Dean of UCSC Silicon Valley, after his inspiring session on the power of gratitude. Next stop, New York City to kick off my birthday weekend.

The most powerful leadership tool isn't what you think — It's gratitude. Most leaders search for complex solutions. Yet sometimes, the simplest practices create the deepest impact. Here's what 25+ years of being an executive coach has taught me: Gratitude isn't just feel-good psychology. It's a strategic advantage. Why? → It enhances problem-solving → Boosts creative thinking → Builds resilient teams → Transforms organizational culture But here's the challenge for technical leaders — Critical thinking is your strength. Perfectionism is your habit. Gratitude feels... counterintuitive. Especially when: - Facing complex problems - Managing team conflicts - Dealing with setbacks - Pursuing ambitious goals The breakthrough comes when you realize: Gratitude before solutions opens pathways your analytical mind can't see. Before tackling your next challenge, pause. Find one aspect to be grateful for. Watch how it shifts your perspective. Notice how it changes your approach. Through the Personal Presence® method, leaders learn: Gratitude isn't weakness.It's a tool for strength. Ready to transform your leadership presence through the power of gratitude?

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Like many, it was a time to pause and reflect on what we're thankful for. But why stop there? Why not make gratitude a staple in our work lives too? In our Executive Leadership Meetings, we've started a tradition. Every Friday, we go around the room, sharing one thing we're grateful for. It's more than a ritual; it's a gateway to deeper connections. Through this practice, I've learned about my colleagues' families, their personal challenges, and what truly matters to them. It's about creating a space where vulnerability is not just accepted but appreciated. It fosters empathy and understanding, strengthening our team bond. So, my advice? Don't confine gratitude to a single day or season. Embed it into your team's culture. Start each meeting with a moment of thankfulness and watch the transformative impact on your workplace dynamics. Gratitude isn't just about feeling good. It's about building a culture where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. And in doing so, we not only enhance our work environment but also elevate our collective performance. Let's not limit gratitude to Thanksgiving. #GratitudeInLeadership #EmpathyAtWork #CulturalTransformation #Thanksgiving

In 2018, as an Executive Director of a senior living community, I introduced a Gratitude Box—a simple way for residents and families to share appreciation with our team members. Team members would light up when they read handwritten notes of appreciation, realizing the impact of their work on residents’ lives. It wasn’t just about the words—it was about feeling seen, valued, and inspired to keep making a difference. Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good exercise. It’s a strategic leadership tool. When employees feel appreciated: ✔ Engagement increases ✔ Retention improves ✔ Teamwork strengthens ✔ Customer satisfaction rises But gratitude shouldn’t be passive—it should be an active, embedded part of our workplace. If you’re looking to level up how you show appreciation, here are a few ways: Make It Public – Recognize great work in meetings, newsletters, and social platforms. Make It Personal – A handwritten note or a heartfelt conversation can leave a lasting impact. Make It Meaningful – Go beyond “thank you”—share the why behind your appreciation. Make It a Habit – Integrate gratitude into daily standups, check-ins, and leadership routines. Gratitude is a cultural investment, not just a one-time initiative. Now, leading at the organizational level, I see an even greater opportunity to scale gratitude across teams and locations. What’s one way you intentionally express gratitude in your workplace? #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Gratitude #EmployeeEngagement