Lean Quote: Gratitude Can Transform Your Workplace

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."   —  Melody Beattie

Researchers define appreciation as the act of acknowledging the goodness in life—in other words, seeing the positives in events, experiences, or other people (like our colleagues). Gratitude goes a step further: It recognizes how the positive things in our lives—like a success at work—are often due to forces outside of ourselves, particularly the efforts of other people. But this kind of thinking can seem countercultural in the realm of hierarchies and promotions, where everyone is trying to get ahead and may be reluctant to acknowledge their reliance on—or express emotions to—their co-workers.

Yet evidence suggests that gratitude and appreciation contribute to the kind of workplace environments where employees actually want to come to work and don’t feel like cogs in a machine.

Expressing and receiving gratitude at work is crucial to creating a positive employee experience because it provides an atmosphere of care, warmth and empathy. It also helps individuals exchange expressions of gratitude — and people feel more engaged with their work after receiving expressions of gratitude for helping others. Here is a list of ways to express gratitude at work that are sure to help you create a positive employee experience.

1. Build a culture of trust

Trust plays a significant role in employees having gratitude at work. Employees need to know the organization has their best interests in mind. A supportive, honest and safe work environment is directly linked to the level of respect and loyalty employees have for their peers and the company.

2. Spark innovation

The best ideas are cultivated in an open, collaborative and meaningful exchange. Create a workplace environment that makes sharing new ideas not only accepted, but also encouraged and supported. Showing employees that their opinions and ideas are valued instills courage and confidence that opens doors to creative thinking, expressing new ideas and exploring curiosities.

3. Inspire and motivate

Creating support networks and connecting employees across business groups gives them a way to maintain motivation in the workplace.  Employee Resource Groups help them find like-minded people they can turn to when they need a jolt of support or inspiration, and tools like the Limeade platform create a digital space for employees to cheer each other on and show gratitude for one another.

4. Help prevent burnout

Expressions of gratitude at work — such as implementing “no meeting” days, encouraging employees to take breaks throughout the day and helping them to better understand their purpose at work — improve employee engagement. It also helps them manage stress without succumbing to symptoms of workplace burnout. When employees have high well-being and feel supported by their organization, it’s a win for everyone.