People who excel at work don’t wait for good things to happen BEFORE they are grateful; they are thankful BECAUSE of their work. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the job, the boss, or the commute that makes or breaks your workday – it’s you. No matter what is going on, you have a choice. You can choose to whine, moan, and complain to everyone within listening distance, or you can try to find the good.
In challenging times such as these, with staffing shortages, supply chain issues, a current of rudeness and frustration that seems to be permeating society, and the fear and uncertainty that goes along with a worldwide pandemic, it takes a bit of focus to remain positive – at least most of the time.
Here are four ways to get yourself on the gratitude track at work.
Keep track of good things. At the end of each workday, write down three positive things that happened. Even if you had a horrible day, you could always find something good. Leave this list on your desk to start your next morning off on a positive note. As a bonus, you can also start your morning off at home with a gratitude journal and set a positive expectation for the day.
Recognize the good works of others. It’s easy to get wrapped up in our own “stuff” and not take the time to acknowledge your colleagues’ efforts. Pay attention and catch your coworkers in the act of doing their job well – and sincerely praise them for it. Let them know specifically what they did to make a difference and thank them early and often – and in a variety of ways: thank you note, food, verbal expression, etc.
Put it in writing. When you send a thank you note or a few words on a post-it note, you give your coworkers tangible evidence of a job well done. It will make their day – and yours. When you tell someone, you appreciate them, you create a beautiful memory. When you write it down, you create a treasure.
Keep a file. When you receive complimentary emails, letters, or notes, keep them in a file you can easily access. These notes will undoubtedly come in handy on days when you need a boost. You may want to print out emails of sincere appreciation and congratulations.
Letting people know that you appreciate them takes a little time and a little thought, but it’s worth it. No matter what your role is in your organization, you can change the culture, one “thank you” at a time.
