3 Simple Ways to Cultivate a Culture of Gratitude at Work

A simple “thank you” can go a long way. We know this to be true in our personal lives. When your friends or family members show gratitude for your efforts, it strengthens your relationship and deepens your connection with them. The same is true of showing gratitude in the workplace. 

And one of the best things about gratitude is that it’s free. In a time when budgets are strapped and businesses are still contending with economic headwinds, investing in a culture of appreciation can pay dividends that will ultimately help your teams perform better and achieve sustained success. It’s in getting back to the basics of our shared humanity that we can create workplace cultures that make people feel valued and supported in being their full selves while doing their best work.

What Are the Benefits of a Culture of Gratitude at Work?

According to Workhuman, employees who feel appreciated are half as likely to be looking for a new job, are 2x more likely to be highly engaged, and 3x more likely to see a path to growth at work. 

Not only that, but expressing gratitude increases prosocial behavior and the likelihood that people will continue to help those around them. Expressing thankfulness also has a whole host of health benefits, from improved sleep, increased motivation to exercise, and better positive recall that helps you see the good in life even when times are dark.

Cultivating gratitude also increases trust and can also positively impact levels of psychological safety on your teams.

How Can You Cultivate a Culture of Gratitude at Work?

Make It a Regular Practice

The best way to start your gratitude practice is to live by the mantra, “Catch someone doing something good.” If you see one of your team members going above and beyond for a colleague or client, let them know in the moment. 

Set a goal for yourself to thank someone a few times a day, every day, until it becomes second nature. It might take some time to get used to, so put a reminder in your phone or calendar as a nudge. But, you’ll likely soon find that expressing gratitude regularly makes you feel so good that you’ll want to keep doing it. This is because it releases dopamine and serotonin–our feel-good brain chemicals. Who doesn’t want more of that?

Take note of the ripple effects this has and how it impacts your team. You’ll likely see them pay it forward throughout your organization–and even in their personal lives. 

Formalize Programs for Appreciation

While informally thanking people on a regular basis is a wonderful practice, you’ll need formalized programs to truly cultivate a culture of gratitude. These programs should encompass your full organization and vary in size and scale. 

For example, at company-wide meetings, create a section where you recognize the top performers across your full company or celebrate people for their work anniversaries and significant contributions to the organization. At the team level, carve out time at the beginning of each meeting to share thanks to team members who have lived your core values or who have done exceptional work. 

Encourage all members of your organization to participate in your culture of gratitude by making it really easy for them to send thanks to their teammates. You can set up an online platform where people can share digital notes of gratitude that are posted for everyone to see. And make sure leaders set the tone by sharing notes of thanks on a regular basis.

Personalize How You Share Gratitude

People appreciate appreciation in different ways. When new team members come on board, ask them how they like to be thanked. For some, 1:1 gratitude is best, while others love a shout-out in a team meeting. There will be team members who like time off as a form of recognition, while others prefer a monetary reward. Certain people love a hand-written note and others love a Teams chat message. 

Getting to know how people prefer to be thanked is an integral part of creating connections with your team and giving gratitude in a way that will be received best by everyone you work with.

So, start today. There’s no time like the present to give the gift of gratitude–and it’s one that keeps on giving.

For more insights on how to support your people with flexible work arrangements, check out Make Work Healthy and my coaching solutions, or schedule a consulting call with me.