How Gratitude Could Benefit Every Workplace

Gratitude is a word that’s fallen out of favor, yet it remains a concept which is still relevant today. An important part of every personal relationship, gratitude also has a role to play in the workplace.

Although it may sound like it, gratitude isn’t about being subservient or passive but instead helps individuals to create a far more dynamic working environment. Here’s a closer look at how gratitude could benefit every workplace.

Counteract the Negativity

In an environment which is competitive and employees are disgruntled, a negative culture can quickly build up. This can lead to behaviors such as gossiping, exploitation, complaining, and a sense of entitlement.

Nobody wants to work in an atmosphere which is toxic, so it’s unsurprising that these kinds of workplaces have a high turnover, even if salaries are attractive.

Gratitude is one way to start to unravel the negativity, and it’s surprising just how powerful it can be. Studies have proven that gratitude can reduce aggression as well as making individuals more receptive to critical feedback. The same research also showed that actively practicing gratitude made workers more sensitive to the needs of others, creating a positive cycle which influenced the workplace in all the right ways.

Team Building

You can forget about going to a cringe-worthy workshop. To create a stronger bond within a team, you simply need to increase the amount of gratitude everyone shows to each other.

Gratitude serves a multitude of functions, taking the individual outside their own needs and forging connections with fellow workers which are enduring. Gratitude leads to reciprocity, with future actions influenced by past instances of being on the receiving end of gratitude.

Therefore, by making gratitude a currency of your workplace, you will be investing in the core relationships of each individual team member and creating a social and emotional connection.

The Great Motivator

Employers are always seeking to know what their staff are looking for and what they want in a job. Although the exact details may vary from one place to another, the one common theme which recurs is appreciation. Workers like to know that what they’ve done has been recognized and appreciated, both by their peers and the management team.

Therefore, making gratitude part of your culture can have a direct impact on job satisfaction. In addition, research has shown that staff members are willing to give far more to an employer who they feel values their contribution and appreciates their efforts. One study showed that gratitude was such an important factor that it could increase output by as much as 50 percent, a result worth serious consideration.

How to Achieve Gratitude

The benefits of gratitude are clear to see, but to reap the rewards, it has to be sincere and heartfelt. Shallow thanks handed out without due cause won’t up the work rate and won’t create the positive culture that everyone seeks. Workplaces can introduce formal recognition schemes, but the smaller gestures shouldn’t be discounted either. A simple “thanks” and acknowledgement of effort can have a very positive effect.