Thanksgiving, Gratitude + Business

As we enter Thanksgiving week, for those who celebrate, it’s a time for gratitude and giving thanks.

I was reading an article on Positive Psychology on the benefits of gratitude with a scientific backing and here are a few points I wanted to pull out that relate so well to business. 

A study in Emotion found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. 

The more relationships we build in business, the greater opportunity shows up. A simple thank you card, email or phone call could give you an extra edge. Plus, it’s an easy thing to do and makes such a difference in the world of the person receiving it. 

A study in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being stated that spending just 15 minutes a day writing in a gratitude journal can help you sleep better and longer. 

Who doesn’t need some more sleep?! When we wake up refreshed, we benefit from a feeling of clarity as we start our day. I personally journal and write down things I am grateful for at least a few times weekly and seeing it on paper is an excellent way to truly connect with the feeling of gratitude. 

Gratitude and giving praise to employees and team has also been linked to better employee communication and company culture. The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania did a study I found very interesting: 

“Researchers randomly divided university fund-raisers into two groups. One group made phone calls to solicit alumni donations in the same way they always had. The second group—assigned to work on a different day—received a pep talk from the director of annual giving, who told the fund-raisers she was grateful for their efforts. During the following week, the university employees who heard her message of gratitude made 50% more fund-raising calls than those who did not.”

When employees feel valued, it helps in so many areas of the business, from their job fulfillment to how they work with others to their motivation level. 

On the flip side, a study of over 1,700 employees by the American Psychological Association found that more than half of all employees intended to search for new jobs because they felt underappreciated and undervalued. 

Thinking about what I can do as a leader to show/spread more gratitude to and from my organization is one goal I always have on my list. 

Something we do every December on the podcast is to feature non-profits and other organizations doing wonderful work in the world. It’s our way of giving thanks to these amazing causes, bringing awareness to their mission and giving them another place to share their voice.  

I learn so much every year by interviewing these leaders and hearing their stories. If you have a platform, think about how you can use it for good this year.

Giving back doesn’t always mean financially. You can give of your time and expertise, donate products, hold a free class or workshop. No effort is too small. 

Now, more than ever, as we interact so much via screens, finding ways we can personally connect and give thanks is vital to our wellbeing. 

When we are grateful for what we have and also do our best to help spread joy and kindness to others, there is a ripple effect in the world. 

For Thanksgiving, I am grateful that Michael and I will have both our adult kids and their significant others home. You know I love to cook and sitting around the table with those I love the most and sharing a meal is such a blessing.

We will also get to spend time with my sister’s family, my daughter’s husband's family and we have lots of fun plans in place like going to a golf simulator, getting massages, taking walks (if the weather allows) and of course, playing some pickleball.

Share below what you are grateful for both in your business life and personal life and let’s flood the comments with happiness and good! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.