Managing Mondays: Leveraging Gratitude

It’s not difficult to allow the stress of your workday put you in a “fowl” mood. We often get wrapped up in the timelines, projects, heavy work load, snippy remarks and lack of appreciation presented during our day. More and more, it piles up like mashed potatoes on Uncle Ted’s Thanksgiving plate.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 65% of people say they don’t feel appreciated at work. The lack of appreciation takes its toll and leads to:

• Low morale
• Pervasive negativity
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Lack of teamwork
• Decreased productivity
• Increased turnover

“There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” – Author Unknown

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It is time to scrape that plate clean and think of all the wonderful things you should be thankful for. Take a minute and clear your mind of all the minutia, take a deep breathe and focus in on the positives. Think of all the little things in the work place that make you happy. The blessings are right there in front of you, you just need to take the time to see them. Be thankful for the:

• Customer service person who helped you without question and thanked you for calling.
• Person who helped find information needed to complete a presentation you were working on.
• IT team who keep your computers and systems up and running 99.9% percent of the time.
• Finance person who provides your pricing, terms and agreements without complaint.
• Colleague who can make it happen time and again.
• Cheerful person you can count on for a positive comment or a good laugh.
• Bowl of candy on your assistant’s desk.
• Manager who believes in you enough to keep challenging you day after day.

Be thankful for all the wonderful things your workplace has to offer.

MKS&H informally polled a group of their professional colleagues on “Thanksgiving in the Workplace.” Below are some of the small blessings they shared:

• I’m thankful for the quick response and smile I get whenever I ask for help.
• I can always rely on my team for backup if they have experience with something I don’t. We rely on each other. They’re always there for me.
• My manager always has time for me when I have questions – even repeat questions!
• Our company trusts us to do the right thing – that means a lot to me.
• I’m thankful for the dedication of our employees – I see it over and over again. You can’t teach that. It’s part of who they are.
• I’m thankful that my work is treated as an important contribution. I can see that my work is important to others.
• I’m thankful our organization understands the importance of technology and is committed to providing employees with the right tools.
• I’m thankful for the supportive relationships of my coworkers. They believe in me and my capabilities.
• I appreciate the support and assistance I have received since joining our company. I feel welcome here.
• I’m very grateful for our professional administrative staff. They have a positive, can-do attitude and are creative problems solvers!
• I’m thankful for my coworkers who delight in spreading good news – rather than dwelling on the negative.
• I’m thankful for colleagues who return my calls promptly, as if I were their most important customer.
• I’m thankful for a group of coworkers who may choose to disagree strongly on certain issues, but have the ability to put differences aside and remain teammates at the end of the day.

The people who share our workplace make up the corporate culture and work environment we all experience on a daily basis. Each one of them contributes to the whole. Some in public ways. Some in quiet ways. The small blessings they provide are all around us. We need only take the time to look – and listen.

For what are you thankful in your workplace?

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” ~ William Blake

Now ask yourself, “Are your colleagues thankful for you?” If so, what is it about you they are thankful for? If not, is it time to make some subtle changes in you character and turn this “turkey” around? Why not! You can start by appreciating people for the little things, or big things for that matter, they contribute to the workplace. As you begin to display appreciation toward others, you will find your gratitude is contagious. It is the little things you can do to make a difference like:

• Being respectful of others
• Using manners, as simple as saying “please” and “thank you”
• Taking the high road, avoiding conflict with colleagues
• Showing a genuine interest in people
• Keeping an open line of communication
• Helping people to realize what they do is important
• Recognizing someone for a job well done

You will soon see, by applying a few simple constructive character traits you will get further with people, you will have more respect from others and you will be sought after for the burst of positive energy you infuse into an otherwise thankless world. Take the negatives you encounter each day, turn them into positives and apply them to your own character.

“Be thankful for hard times in your life. Try not to look at them as bad things, but as opportunities to grow and learn” – artsy_T

What are some adjustments you have made or seen other people make in their character?

You are so fortunate, you have much to be appreciative of, put your mind to it and BE THANKFUL!

For a little boost of gratitude check out what other people are thankful for at: Gratitude Stream

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Jason Christensen is National Accounts Manager for The Stanley Works.
He can be reached at [email protected]

Image Sources: paulmayers.blogs.com, kyria.com, thetravelingteam.org