Gratitude

 

A colleague once advised me to begin each week with gratitude. I was skeptical… didn’t it make more sense to end the week with gratitude? It seemed a better idea to end on a high note to counter the more challenging aspects of a long work week.

As I thought about it more, I realized I was wrong – I’d had the whole thing backwards. Focusing on starting with gratitude can then set a more positive tone for the entire week. It can be challenging to get motivated on a Monday morning, no matter how much you may enjoy your job.

This is where gratitude comes in play.

Too often, my Monday’s have been beginning with meetings first thing in the morning. I can’t possibly be fully prepared unless I work over the weekend to keep the topic fresh in my mind, but that tactic just distracts from the rejuvenating power of taking two days away from your desk.

Once Monday kicks off with a meeting, more meetings follow it. Then a to-do list carried over from the previous Friday, more meetings, and any new challenges that arise throughout the day.

By the time I’m leaving the office, I’m exhausted! And it’s only been one day.

How about another approach? In an effort to begin each week with gratitude, I block 30 min each Monday morning. Sometimes that means I need to come in 30 minutes earlier, but it has always been worth the time.

During this time, I think about the previous week – not my lengthy to-do list, but instead I think about the people who went above and beyond. I write up a brief ‘thank you’ note, citing the specific action or behavior that I appreciated enough to call out. It only takes a few minutes per person, but if I have too many for my 30 minute block I can always set up more time. What a great problem to have – to have too many people to thank!

My organization has a couple of peer-to-peer recognition programs, so I deliver my notes throughout the day (digitally or in person, depending on my choice). When appropriate, I also make sure to tell the manager of each individual as well.

You can still share your gratitude in person, via email, or just a quick hand-written note, even if you don’t have a formal peer-to-peer recognition program in your workplace. Or better yet, start one.

The effect is astounding:

• I feel great as I kick off my week because I began it with positivity, gratitude, and uplifting conversations.
• Each recipient feels good because they know their actions are noticed and appreciated. It’s human nature to feel positive and renewed when we help others, and they know that their managers are aware of the good work.
• The managers of the recipients feel good to know that their team members are taking positive action… not to mention that these small notes of gratitude pile up and help build into great feedback at performance review time.

Once your week has kicked off on a high note, it's easier to maintain that positive attitide all week. These acts of renewal serve to strengthen us in the face of a lengthy to-do list and a heap of new challenges. 

Just imagine walking in to work each Monday with a positive attitude and spreading it around first thing. You’ll see the impact on your teams and colleagues, and you may even receive a few ‘thank you’s yourself.

How do you show gratitude in your workplace?