While some leaders are encouraged to lead with fear or to improve work through criticism alone, the truth is that is not effective. Leading from a place of gratitude is proven to create unparalleled success. Here are four reasons why bosses should regularly thank their employees.
Build Trust
Thanking your staff members is a great way to develop trust in the workplace. To some degree, all work tasks are carried out based on the level of confidence between an employee and their boss. Workers expect that their efforts will be rewarded. That is why Kent J Thiry former DaVita’s executive CEO paid special attention to gratitude in the workplace. By fostering thankfulness and trust in the workplace, Thiry knew he wasn’t abandoning performance. On the contrary, his efforts helped grow DaVita’s market value by more than 9 billion dollars.
Improve Performance
There is a good reason why Thiry’s approach cultivated DaVita’s growth: praise is scientifically proven to raise performance levels. Studies show when people are reminded of and thanked for their best work their creativity and problem-solving skills increase. Not only does it boost workers’ abilities, but it bolsters engagement in the workplace. More people will volunteer for tasks and projects if they feel that they are capable of doing good work, and who can legitimately tell them they are if not their boss? From anyone else, it can be dismissed as empty lip service.
Foster Happiness
Although money establishes the necessity of work, the majority of people polled explain that praise and regular thanks are key motivators in the office. Workers want to know they are doing a good job. When appreciation dries up, laborers can become depressed and leave. Nearly 80% of staff members that quit did so because they felt unvalued, but when people are sincerely appreciated at the office, happiness can bloom. Far from being a saccharine proverb, studies back this up. Happiness at work increases well-being in employees’ homes and health, and healthy, happy employees result in fewer unexcused absences and sick days and a more agreeable workplace.
Share the Joy
Bosses who sew gratitude in the workplace are often rewarded with the same appreciative spirit. If you create an atmosphere of trust and thankfulness, your staff knows they are improving the company successfully. This makes them feel like they are a part of the team and results in workers seeing managers as true leaders that help them move toward a more fulfilling work life. When employees view their bosses as authentic, capable leaders, they are less likely to harbor negative feelings toward them and more likely to review them favorably.
Leaders already have so many tasks to maintain that it may seem counterintuitive to add another to-do in the hopes of making the office run more smoothly. Still, the facts remain that fostering gratitude and recognition in the workplace creates lasting happiness in employees, leading them to trust their abilities and to esteem their leaders. When a workplace is manned by fulfilled workers, their success is reflected in the boss that took the time to see the best in them.
