Share Your Workplace Gratitude Like an Olympian

Gratitude was a powerful theme throughout this year’s Olympics, demonstrating why sharing your gratitude is important in any workplace, no matter if it’s a ski hill, ice rink, office or factory.
What’s the first thing athletes say when they’ve finished competing, whether they win or lose? Thank you. They express gratitude to the people who believed in them and supported them through the years, emotionally and materially. And often they expand their remarks beyond their immediate family and coaches by sending out thank you’s to their home country and host country.
Imagine doing this in “real life” at your workplace. Your team just completed a big project. You stand up, beaming ear to ear, and announce your gratitude to everyone involved for supporting you and the team throughout the process of bringing the project to completion, from mentors, to the guys in the plant, to administration assistants, to your coworkers. Perhaps you send a shout out to the company at large or to the competition for inspiring you to work harder.
Does that scenario strike you as a little ridiculous or overblown? It shouldn’t.  Yet, “Americans are less likely to say ‘thanks’ on the job than anywhere else, which hurts productivity and happiness. That needs to change,” says Jeremy Adams Smith of Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.
Gold medals probably don’t get handed out in your workplace, but expressing gratitude in a big way is always appropriate. When people do their best work and reflect on it, they are grateful to those who supported them along the way. Not only does saying “thank you” demonstrate good sportsmanship, it shows good character. Take a cue from Olympic athletes and find ways to practice gratitude with your employees and coworkers.
Here are six quick reasons why workplace gratitude matters:

• It builds community.
• It expands the sense of accomplishment.
• It feels good.
• It increases happiness.
• It inspires hard work.
• It improves retention.

Need more inspiration? Check out Procter & Gamble’s popular “Thank You Mom” series of ads honoring athletes’ mothers. Dubbing itself a “proud sponsor of Moms,” P&G created the series using old and new film footage of children growing into Olympic athletes, from their first wobbly steps as toddlers to winning their first medal. Through it all, their moms hold their hands, wipe away their tears and cheer them on.
Amid uplifting music, one ad flashes this message: “Before the world saw them as Olympians, Mom saw their potential. This year, as we celebrate the world’s Olympic athletes, let’s not forget the person who got them there.”
After watching the ad, think about how it relates to your own work. Who helped you get where you are? How can you express gratitude to them? How would you help others achieve the same goals?
To learn more about building gratitude in your workplace, download our free guide to “Workplace Gratitude” and start sharing your gratitude today!

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
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