Expressing Gratitude
A little bit of gratitude goes a long way
Written by Kelly Beard
At Penmarc, showing or giving gratitude toward your co-workers and clients is extremely important and should be done daily, both in the office and at every project or installation.
“The grass is greener where you water it,” a favorite quote of mine by Wolfgang Puck, doesn’t immediately scream gratitude.
My initial thoughts about it were, "Where I put my efforts and intentions will be where I see results."
But the more I've thought about it, the more it speaks of gratitude to me. I believe we find the good in people when we look for it — just like if we look for the bad in people, we’ll find that too.
For me, gratitude means finding even the smallest thing to be grateful for in any given situation. Since we spend more time at work than we do with our families, I believe it’s especially important to find ways to show gratitude to your co-workers.
Below are some ways I've come up with to show gratitude at work:
Get to know the people you work with
- Take a minute to ask them how their day is. Try asking, "How was your weekend?" or "How is the weather where you are?"
- Try to remember something about them or something they like. Ask them about their family.
- Try to understand what a day is like for them. Empathy goes a long way in showing gratitude.
Build bonds with your co-workers
- Building a bond will help remind you that they are human, not just a machine or a robot on the other end of the phone. By doing so, you can assume the best about them.
- Remember that everyone wants to do the right thing and be successful.
- Give people grace when they make a mistake.
Find something to be grateful for
- Be thankful to people for just “doing their job.” Even if it’s part of their daily routine — show gratitude for getting it done consistently with a smile!
- Show gratitude right back when someone is being kind.
- Go ahead and laugh. Laughing is a great way to uplift your mood. Laughing can be contagious to those around you!
Don't forget to be grateful for your co-workers
If an installer picks up a job you know will be tough, let them know how thankful you are for them and their work.
If a coordinator calls a customer and gets them to move their appointment time to help you out with your schedule, let them know how much they are appreciated.
If your boss takes the time to check in on you, mentor you, or try to help you grow, give thanks right back and show them how much you care.
Once you start looking for ways to be grateful and show gratitude, you’ll realize they are everywhere and happen throughout your day!
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