Sincere Appreciations Stem from a Genuine Feeling of Gratitude

Think of the last time someone gave you an appreciation for a quality or characteristic you have or an action you took.  Many people feel a sense of well-being, fulfillment, or elation when they are appreciated.  Employees tend to become more engaged, productive, and committed to the organization’s success when they receive appreciations in the workplace.  Individuals who are valued tend to carry the positive feelings they get from being acknowledged to other relationships.  There are tremendous benefits to giving appreciations. Our relationships would almost certainly be stronger if we shared what we appreciate about each other more frequently.  Wouldn’t it be incredibly powerful if the people associated with your organization were fully engaged and invested in the organization’s success and enjoyed doing business with you?

The key to offering sincere appreciations is a feeling of gratitude. How do we develop an attitude of gratitude?  We begin by being aware of the things that add value to our lives. You might feel relief and satisfaction that a project was completed successfully, or you might be energized by an enlightening conversation with a co-worker that sparked a new idea, or delighted by the friendly and warm interactions your employees have with clients.  Observe the behavior and the positive impact it had on you or others.  Pay attention to people who offer support and help you and your company succeed.  Watch for both the tangible work product and the soft skills (dependability, conscientiousness, communication, and interaction skills) that are equally important in the workplace.  Once you get in the habit of identifying the qualities or behaviors that you feel grateful for, it becomes much easier to sincerely appreciate and acknowledge them.

While we recognize the importance of appreciating others, we may tell ourselves, “I’m too busy.” Many of us become so busy solving problems, dealing with deadlines, and maintaining the status quo that we don’t pay attention to what is special right in front of us.  We focus so intently on the challenges in our day-to-day lives that we often miss noticing the wonderful people and things around us.  But we choose where we allocate our attention and energy.  We can choose to spend more time paying attention to the things we’re grateful for. That change in focus can be powerful.

There may be people who have qualities or characteristics that you find annoying or difficult to be around.  These same people may be offering value in other ways.  Instead of focusing on what’s not working, you might pay attention to what is working.  I’m not suggesting ignoring behavior that interferes or is not productive, but I am suggesting that by focusing on and acknowledging positive qualities and characteristics, you may see more of those and less of what you find difficult.

Even amidst hardship and challenges, there are reasons to be grateful.  The opportunities for gratitude are often overlooked when facing difficult times.  Looking for aspects of a situation where we feel grateful, even in the most challenging of circumstances, can help us identify new opportunities and can strengthen relationships.

Over time, being grateful can become a habit. Just as with any other new skill, we improve by first gaining awareness.  Developing an attitude of gratitude can be a very rewarding and beneficial habit.  I encourage you to start today! What and who are you grateful for?  I bet those people would love to hear your appreciation.

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