Why Leading With Gratitude Is More Important Than Ever

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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

What ‘Experimental Leaders’ Know About Leadership

The experimental leader is a new kind of boss, one that observes, tests, and adjusts according to the outcomes.’

‘… experimental leaders … create stability in an unstable world. They open the doors for change so innovation can emerge.’

Being curious about small improvements and small observations is what being an experimental leader is about. It isn’t about throwing the whole business or process out and starting over again.’

Neutrality and curiosity are at the heart of becoming an experimental leader.’

Become inquisitive about how you lead now, and picture the kind of leader you want to grow into.’

The experimental mindset requires you to hold on to an end-of-state as your goal, experiment in incremental ways, and assess your success, adjusting as you go.’

‘The experimental leadership is action-based, so it is essential that you act before you necessarily understand.’

Pay attention. Over time, you will see small changes become profound shifts.’

‘Intents describe what will be accomplished. Your people determine how the work will be done.’

Know the work of your team. Help them track progress. Engage them in questions to spark new discoveries. Above all, foster curiosity.’

Create an atmosphere in which your team knows and feels it’s good for you to see their work, especially the imperfections.’

What can you do today to move forward by tomorrow?’

Source:

Melannie Parish (2020). The Experimental Leader: Be a New Kind of Boss to Cultivate and Organization of Innovators