Four Tips to Improving Team Performance Through Gratitude
By Leanne Crain
In the last newsletter, we discussed our listening skills. Since we are all now effectively hearing what our teams are telling us - let us move on to the next step in empowering people. Gratitude.
When you take the time to express your gratitude to people, you make them feel important. While a general thank-you is always welcome, try taking time each day to thank someone on your team in a very specific way, regarding a specific task they have done. Make sure that this praise comes right after the task was completed. When your team members feel like they are appreciated, you will benefit from a lower turnover rate, higher job satisfaction, and a more loyal team that is willing to "go the extra mile" for you. While you're at it, encourage those on your team to do the same - take time everyday to give a heartfelt thank-you to someone. Encourage your team to adopt an "attitude of gratitude."
After you've mastered thanking people in your workplace, take it outside too! Have your team do the same. Thank your family, thank the people your company deals with, and thank people you come in contact with while doing everyday things. You and your team will start to feel better about yourselves. Imagine how good your day would have started today if you had come in and sat down to an email thanking you for something you did yesterday, or a hand written note or card on your desk expressing gratitude for something you have done. Now imagine how your team will feel when you express your gratitude to them. Imagine how they will feel when you start acknowledging what they are doing right, and not just pointing out what they need to improve.
A few ideas for implementing this further:
- Create a "gratitude team" in your office. These people will spend some time every week finding someone in the office to recognize.
- Create a "gratitude box" and place it somewhere in the office. People can write a quick note about something that has been done for them this week and drop it in, and you can take a couple minutes at your morning stand-up meeting to read them.
- Give each member of the team a blank thank-you card at the beginning of every week. This can be used for someone within the office, or perhaps for a customer that has recently done business with you, or someone who has made a presentation in your company.
- Start keeping a gratitude journal, encourage your team to do this also. Each evening write down things you are thankful for - don't stop until you have 5. Not only will this leave your day on a positive note, you now will be able to see who you can thank tomorrow if you haven't already.
Why wait, get started right now! You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
By the way, thank you for being loyal BizXcel readers! We appreciate it. :)
To learn more about building teams that reach high levels of performance, contact Gary Gzik at 613.342.2200 ext. 108 or at ggzik@bizxcel.com.
Preparing for Greatness provides tips in order to improve your health and wellness at work and at home.
Leanne Crain is a Marketing and Administrative Assistant for BizXcel. Her background is marketing and tourism, and she has over 12 years experience in the sales and marketing field.
