Lean Quote: It’s Not Joy That Makes Us Grateful, It’s Gratitude That Makes Us Joyful

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.

"It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful."  —  Brené Brown

According to Brown, people who have the capacity to lean fully into joy have one variable in common: They practice gratitude. But beyond just thinking about what you're grateful for, they act. They make sure they are doing something tangible and observable. “It’s not an attitude of gratitude,” Brown writes in Dare to Lead, it’s “an actual practice. They keep a journal, or make a note of what they are grateful for on their phone, or share it with their family members. Ask yourself: How can I act on my gratitude this holiday season?

Gratitude is a key factor for living a life filled with positivity. Practicing gratitude in the workplace brings about many positive effects. Feeling valued and appreciated is a fundamental human need of employees. Appreciated employees tend to be more loyal, productive, and satisfied in their roles.

Promoting gratitude in the workplace can be a bit of a challenge. It’s hard for employees to remember to practice gratitude – especially during a rough day at the office. The easiest way for you to help employees feel and express gratitude is by leading by example. Here are a few ways to cultivate gratitude at your company:

Look for opportunities to celebrate success. This could be a newsletter shout-out to an employee who contributed to their team or throwing an appreciation party for employees to celebrate their tenure. Be sure to look out for small successes that will make employees feel special.

Support peer-to-peer recognition. Encourage employees to create shout-outs or thankyou notes for their colleagues. Provide employees with printouts that they can fill out and give to one another. Ask employees to give out at least one thank-you note a week.

Get employees involved in community service projects. Volunteering is a powerful way to promote gratitude. Provide employees with information on local organizations that are looking for volunteers. If you are able to, coordinate a team outing for employees to volunteer together.

Offer education about benefits of gratitude. Send out blog posts, articles, and research studies on the benefits of gratitude. Employees will be more inclined to practice gratitude once they understand its benefits.

Reinforce random acts of kindness at work. Recognize employees who go out of their way to help a co-worker or make someone smile. Kindness is contagious!

Although gratitude might sound like a cheesy topic, research has proved that it can truly impact a person’s mental and physical wellbeing, as well as their work performance. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude releases dopamine in the brain, which in turn boosts feelings of wellbeing, increases optimism, and improves physical health. 

Employees who feel appreciated by their employers and colleagues tend to be happier and more enthusiastic with their work. They are motivated to do a better job and contribute to the success of their company.