Why Leading With Gratitude Is More Important Than Ever

Photo by alleksana on Pexels.com

Gratitude is not a strategy. It is a way of life. It is how you see the world around you. It is how you see yourself. It is how you do your work. It is how you treat people. It is how you face challenges. Above all, gratitude is a way of saying, ‘Life is great, no matter what!’

According to Adrian and Chester, ‘A lack of gratitude is a form of stupidity. It leaves on the table an enormously powerful tool not only to inspire people to reach their potential, but to actually better understand the true nature of their contributions.’

Developing genuine gratitude involves carefully observing what employees are doing, walking in their shoes, developing greater empathy, and sincerely trying to understand the challenges they face.’

‘Developing respect is about helping others grow and supporting people who make honest mistakes. It includes sharing the credit and absorbing blame when needed.’

‘When the right behaviors are in place, there is little time spent in fear.’

… gratitude provides clarity about whether the work they are doing is correct, valued by the boss or others, and making a significant contribution to the business.’

‘Expressing authentic gratitude is about much more than what a leader says, or even how she says it- it’s about why she says it.’

‘If employees are afraid of punitive actions, they are more likely to try to cover up problems.’

‘Leaders who develop empathy for others are great enablers of authentic gratitude.’

‘Creativity requires trust. Cultures of low trust, where managers react badly to failure, create too negative an environment for productivity and innovation to flow.’

‘Avoid the over-ask- especting too much from employees by asking for ideas that are out of their purview or asking too many questions at once.’

Source:

Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton (2020). Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results

Quotes To Help You Discover Your Unique Place In The World

Question: ‘What is it like for you to grow up in the land of giants?’

‘Advancing, ascending. or mounting is the purpose of taking the quest.’

Ask yourself, ‘Who am I outside the bubble?’

‘Never measuring up- that is the pain of growing up in a storied family.’

Stepping outside of the shadow is an active and intensely personal process.’

‘Those who never learn to have faith in others will likely remain stuck.’

‘Life is meaningful when you make it so, if you take ownership and control. A life of meaning requires you to set aside criticism of others as well as your self-doubt.’

Legitimacy is an internal transformation that manifests externally. It is the path to ownership of your destiny.’

Being different stems from wanting to live our lives differently and open ourselves to possibilities we never imagined possible.’

Taking ownership of one’s life means gaining a sense of self-respect, purpose, and legitimacy. It’s not so much about where one ends up. It’s about taking control of one’s life and contributing to the world in way unique to the vision and values developed over time.’

‘Often it is what is under the storyline that explains motivations.’

‘Exploration is a time of coming into ownership of your life.’

Never see yourself as less than!’

Giants are powerful, they’re visible, they tower above us and we live in their shadows.’

Too many people feel their lives are less than those around them.’

Freeing yourself from the myth that giants will always be giants– and you can never be one- disrupts unhealthy patterns. When you break through the false grandeur that says you will always be small, you begin to understand that you can stand to shoulder to shoulder with giants.’

‘Until you die, it is never too late to reveal your humanity. … Reconnecting is possible. Beware of those who are overconfident. Those who own their lives do not feel a need to convince others. Cockiness is a way to mask insecurity.’

Coming to terms with unresolved wounds doesn’t happen through some form of magic. It needs to be a conscious choice.’

Understanding comes from a deep appreciation of one’s own strengths and weaknesses.’

The bridge you take should always lead to a spot where you feel most legitimate.’

‘On your journey, you approach a bridge. You catch a glimpse of what is beyond the bridge. … If you look far beyond the bridge, you see yourself entering old age, never embracing who you were meant to be.’

Growing means being able to see accurately who the other person is and what is behind their reactions.’

These quotes are for you. Use them to advance your life forward. Remember, reading is not enough. If you want them to work, you must apply them.

As always, you are more, not less!

Source: Jamie Weiner (2022). The Quest for Legitimacy: How Children of Prominent Families Discover Their Unique Place in the World