A Leadership Thanksgiving

Being that Thanksgiving is coming here in the states in a few days I thought it would be fitting that we talk about a leadership thanksgiving. The more a leader can be thankful to his/her people the greater the success. Leaders need to express gratitude in 3 distinct ways: verbally, visually, and valiantly.

Verbally

There is a powerful force that comes from the spoken word. When leaders express their gratitude through one on one communication it means a great deal to someone. Whoever said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” wasn’t human, or at least never had interaction with others. They obviously have never experienced someone tearing them down. Words can hurt infinitely worse than sticks and stones ever could. But words can also be a great catalyst to lift others up. Choose your words wisely when you are appreciating an individual. Point out the great traits, qualities, skills, and gifts a person possesses and they will use them all the more. The most important thing a leader needs to remember is to be genuine in their appreciation towards others. Pick something out that you truly are grateful for and capitalize on it. Sometimes an uplifting word of thanks can change the course of someone’s day. Never assume that people know you are grateful for them. Make sure you use words and your voice to ensure they know you are appreciative without question. Be specific about what it is you are grateful for, don’t be vague.

Visually

People need to not only hear gratitude, but they also need to see it as well. This can come in the form of a letter, a note, or a gift you give them. Whatever you visually communicate will be a reminder to them of your gratefulness for who they are. Years ago I had a friend that went overseas on an extended mission trip. This had always been his dream and it took a lot of financial support and effort. Fortunately, I was able to help support him with many others to make his trip a reality. He and his team were able to make a significant impact on many lives and help build shelters for the natives. When he returned he brought me back a very meaningful gift with a handwritten letter expressing his gratitude for my support. I couldn’t believe that he took the time to think about me and purchase a small gift just to say thank you. I kept that gift on my desk for many years as a reminder of our friendship and his thoughtfulness. When you express gratitude think of things you can do to make it visual and tangible for others.

Valiantly

The word valiantly is defined as being marked by, exhibiting, or carrying something out with courage or determination. I chose this word because it describes the way that gratitude should be delivered. One must appreciate others with a courageous determination on a consistent basis. We cannot be wishy-washy or timid about honoring those around us. People are worth our effort. We cannot allow ourselves to become lazy or apathetic about gratitude. The moment things become “familiar” to us is the moment we start to take them for granted. Don’t let up when it comes to showing others their value. The higher the value you place on others the higher the value they’ll give back to you and your organization. Whatever you need to do to remind yourself of the importance of gratitude, do it. The other day while I was paying my property taxes, I saw a sign behind me for all of the office employees to see as they dealt with customers. It was a large calendar that only showed the current day and on top of it was a banner that permanently said, “Today is customer appreciation day!” As I looked at the calendar I realized that it made it appear as if every day was Customer Appreciation Day. Don’t be the kind of leader who puts off gratitude and whose sign would always read, “Tomorrow is appreciation day.”

If you want high morale within your organization makes respect part of the DNA of your leadership. The higher the respect a leader attains, the higher their capacity to influence others. Respect opens the door to influence and impact. The more respect you earn, the more others will listen and receive your coaching.