When is the last time you received a hand-written thank you note that made you feel really good? When is the last time you sent one? How about a time when you received praise and appreciation for a job well done that was made public in your workplace?
Giving and receiving thanks improves our mental and physical health. It is the best cure for a negative mindset that can oftentimes come from uncertainty and stress.
It should also be a daily practice at work.
Job Seekers: After every interview, it is good practice to follow up with a written thank you note. This can be by email or hand-written and sent via snail mail. It demonstrates your good manners and appreciation for the interviewer’s time and interest. It is also an opportunity to show off your writing skills, and to bring up a notable moment from the interview to highlight your interest or simply be top of mind.
Employers: Are you fostering a culture of gratitude? Are your supervisors coached to intentionally praise and give thanks for good work? Does leadership make it a point to say “thank you” and highlight praise from colleagues or customers? It doesn’t hurt the budget too much to spring for lunch for a job well done or hand-write thank you notes with gift cards for coffee, gas or groceries.
Grateful workers are more efficient, more productive and more responsible. Employees who practice expressing gratitude at work are more likely to volunteer for more assignments, willing to take an extra step to accomplish their tasks, and happily work as a part of the team. Also, managers and supervisors who feel grateful and remember to convey the same, have a stronger group cohesiveness and better productivity.
Gratitude makes a leader compassionate, considerate, empathetic, and loved among others.
According to the Neuroscientific Research into Gratitude, when we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. This enhances our mood immediately and makes us feel happy from the inside. With daily practice, gratitude can be a ‘natural antidepressant.’
Here are just a few of the benefits of gratitude:
• Enhanced Mood
• Positive emotions and thoughts
• Stronger immune system
• Less aches & pains
• More empathy
• Stronger interpersonal relationships
Looking for inspiration towards gratitude? Here are the 34 Best TED Talks dealing with gratitude, from PositivePsychology.com.
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