I was out to lunch with coworkers last week, and everyone was telling funny work-related stories. Someone told one about how her boss had left his work bag on the train, and when they by some miracle found it- she sent a dozen roses to the person who did. I couldn’t help but be proud that this was my coworker, but also ashamed at myself at the same time. I would never have thought to do this! Then I started thinking, about how many people that have helped me, and in return I had only given them a quick “thank you.”
This incident wasn’t the first time I had thought about how my gratitude meter at work (and outside of work) needed a boost. Since I’ve started working at my new job two weeks ago, I’ve learned many many things, but the biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of encouraging and thanking the people you work with. We have this online tool, where you send “love” to anyone who deserves it- whether that is going out of their way to help you with something, making improvements, or doing a great job on a project. You might think this sounds odd, but really what it is- is taking one step further than a quick “thank you” to show people how appreciative you are- which sadly, we don’t often do. In fact the word “thank you” has become so common place that it has about the same weight as “sorry”. It’s better than saying nothing, but the word alone isn’t enough when people go out of their way to be a great friend, family member or coworker.
If you take 5 minutes each day- literally just 5 minutes, and send a thank you email or text or flowers or card basically any form of thank you to anyone that helps you, it will drastically improve relationships. Honestly, when was the last time you thanked the IT guy or girl at your work for helping fix your computer, your Dad for reminding you to get an oil change on your car, your coworker for getting you lunch, or your friends for just being awesome? Chances are, (if you are like me) it’s been awhile. And it doesn’t have to be in written form- picking up an extra coffee for your coworker in the morning, or grabbing a reeses for your friend if they are having a bad day- are all easy ways of showing gratitude. Is this the same as kissing as*? Nope unless you are doing it with expectations of something in return which shouldn’t be the case. All you need in return, is knowing that you are showing people what it means to be a good coworker, or friend and they’ll pass that on to someone else who needs it.
As Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
Tags: career, family, friends, gratitude, inspiration, life, thanks, work
This is so true and I thank you for the reminder. Just recently I’ve been thinking about all the people I do not show appreciation to, but who help me out so much. I know I like it when people tell me that I mean something to them, so I think I should start being more intentional about showing gratitude to friends and coworkers.
Ashley,
Great post! Showing gratitude is extremely important and we too often forget to do it. Maybe also we are afraid that it is a sign of weakness? Or we are afraid of sounding too brown-nosey? Either way, I always try to tell the people who I am enjoying talking to or working with how much I am enjoying that. It sounds weird at first, but people really do appreciate it.
Great post. I worked as an intern at a game company one summer and made something similar to the online tool you mentioned. It was an internal online game that let you show your appreciation for good deeds that other people had done. I didn’t get to stick around long enough to see if the game ever caught on within the company, but my team had fun testing it out while I was still there.
I just found your blog by searching on google for images of happiness (to use in a post I’m currently working on) and your thoughts are really inspiring! Just do it, and appreciate others! Seemingly simple, but hard to make into habits, and sometimes life’s little reminders are the best ways to motivate us to get it together
I’ll definitely check back to see what else you post going forward. (No pressure haha.)
luvly,gratitude is just the way forward.really got inspired.(the surest way to always be happy is to always be gratefull) got dis.