November 27, 2024
Mindful Leaders… Practice Gratitude
By Ken Giglio, Principal of Mindful Leadership
Thanksgiving, like all national holidays, has a complicated history. Be aware not all are giving thanks this time of year, and honor all Indigenous Peoples.
The holidays are a time when we become hyper-aware of the “spirit of giving.” We are constantly reminded to be grateful and to give to others. Our giving spirit can be confused with the rush to buy stuff, and practicing gratitude is more than buying gift cards for employees, though gift cards are always appreciated.
Leaders who practice gratitude cultivate psychological safety and facilitate accountability. These are the mindful leaders who look for opportunities to show appreciation for effort and risk-taking. They don’t wait for the results of high performance before showing gratitude. They recognize well planned work and give feedback for collaborative approaches to projects, which increases engagement.
Mindful leaders set a high bar and yet give latitude for missteps. And, they help others to focus their attention on what matters most and praise them even when their work falls short of its goals. This approach inspires greater ownership and increased responsibility, the core ingredients of accountability.
Mindful Leaders know practicing gratitude is always in season, and the science backs this up, because the benefits and impact are both immediately evident and continue to ripple long after the grateful gesture.
Leaders who practice gratitude build resilient teams and cultures. Studies have shown being grateful brings many benefits to our health and well-being, personally and across groups of people. The positive energy generated from thankfulness creates resonance and a solid foundation for teams and organizations as they face into challenging times.
Though it can be difficult, practicing gratitude when things don’t go as planned or when tragedy hits is essential for maintaining a broader perspective and stabilizing our emotions and mind. We engage in this practice not by being grateful for things falling apart, but for being grateful for our inner resourcefulness in addressing problems. We are grateful for all those who come to our side to help us through our most troubling times. Gratitude builds resilience and creates stronger relationships, which cultivates well-being
Please keep in mind the thankful atmosphere of holidays can have the opposite effect on those with mental health issues, addiction, and/or family estrangement. We can never know the pain others carry. The mindful leader is welcoming and kind to all, even the Scrooges among us.
I will close by sharing three gratitude practices (feel free to make up your own) and by expressing my gratitude for all in my life who keep me mindful and connected. Thanks a lot.
Three Gratitude Practices:
- In team meetings or any gathering, before getting to business, ask each person to finish succinctly the sentence – “I am grateful for …” without the why they are grateful or any explanation. You can also finish the sentence – “I appreciate ….” I recommend also experimenting with dropping the “I” and simply saying to yourself and with others “Grateful for …” or “Appreciative for…”
- When you wake up as your brain engages and your mind starts to focus, say to yourself – “I am grateful for …” Do the same as you settle for sleep.
- Practice gratitude by thanking the trees, grass, birds, and all of nature. They’ll appreciate the attention and return the gesture.
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Mindful Leaders… is a new series of posts intended to illustrate what Mindful Leaders think, do, say, and practice to be, well, mindful. The practice of leading mindfully means building a continuity of awareness to strengthen our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the enterprises (systems) in which we work and live. (See our signature Tri-Lens Mindful Reflection Model.)