During the holiday season, one word is kicked around more than any other. No, it’s not “sale,” it’s “Gratitude.”
If you’re like most individuals, you understand (though don’t entirely embrace) the concept of gratitude. You know being grateful and counting your blessings has innumerable benefits… but it’s so much easier to complain!
This doesn’t just show up on a personal level. When we look at gratitude as part of work culture, we’re even less likely to see people embracing the concept and reaping the benefits. However, if your goal is to create a thriving, successful business with happy employees aka band members, and happy customers, gratitude is the secret fuel that drives performance. If that’s not your goal… perhaps it’s time to reevaluate why you went into business. Remember when you have a strong enough “why” the how automatically shows up.
Picture this: A band has just been called up to the podium at an award’s show to accept their accolades for album of the year. The lead singer gets up there, grabs the mic, and says, “Yes! I knew I deserved this award. This is the best album I’ve ever made!”
In the meantime, his bandmates watch on as horror as he heads back to his seat with the trophy in hand. That lead singer took his bandmates for granted (Not to mention EVERYONE ELSE involved with production).
Even with all of the boatloads of money, fame, and glitz that being in a band can provide, those individuals aren’t likely to stick around for the long haul. Why? Because they aren’t appreciated.
Their contributions aren’t being recognized. Their value as a member of the band isn’t being communicated. Steve Jobs of Apple used The Beatles as his business model for this very reason. He said.” My motto for business is the Beatles. They were for young guys who kept each other’s negative tendencies and check and the total was greater than the sum of their parts.”
Well, most corporate jobs don’t come with fame, few come with boatloads of money, and if you’ve found one that’s glitzy… please let me know. Without gratitude for your employees (and your customers), your business will never succeed.
Let’s take a look at how you can develop an attitude of gratitude in your business and incorporate it into your day-to-day culture.
Do you remember the last time someone said, “Thank you? I really appreciate you.”?
Hopefully, someone has said that to you in the past, and hopefully, you felt a ton of warm fuzzies for being recognized. This is a gift that you can (and should) give to your employees on a daily basis.
Employee Benefit
Even when they are in the thick of it, doing those daily, tedious tasks that make you want to pull your hair out, or putting out the inevitable fires that sprout up, showing gratitude will show employees that their work has meaning and that their tasks contribute to the ongoing success of the company. That they are part of the band or team. That they matter and are part of something greater than just a job. This is rocket fuel you can’t buy my friends. And it’s free.
Thanking your team members for a job well done is positive reinforcement at its best. Employees receive this feedback and it drives them to perform well in the future. That’s what a Rock Star Mindset is performing at a higher level every day. That’s one of the key strategies we teach in our Opportunity Rocks Keynote In Las Vegas and around the world.
When employees are happy, engagement increases, and turnover decreases. Profits and productivity increase exponentially.
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Leadership Benefit
In the sales world, you often hear that “people do business with people they know, like, and trust.” While this is true in sales, it actually applies to every aspect of life. Wouldn’t it be great to work with (and for) people you know, like, and trust?
When you, as a leader, incorporate gratitude into your leadership style, you become more likable, and more trusted as a leader and as a person. This encourages your employees to be more open and honest with you and creates an internal desire to perform better. Plus… they’ll be grateful for you and follow you into battle or on stage every time.
Personal Benefit
Little known fact (unless you’ve ever given someone a gift) … gratitude feels great! Being cranky, finding fault with everything and everyone, and having people duck around corners when you walk into a room, doesn’t bring joy or happiness to anyone. It is a very bad vibe.
Show people that you appreciate them and all of their hard work. You’ll actually feel better about yourself in the process. Gratitude, attitude, and excitement are contagious.
Customer Benefit
With gratitude, the trickle-down effect is amazing! When you’re grateful for your employees, they’ll be grateful for their jobs and their customers. The best part, they’ll treat them better. Happy customers or raving fans mean a happy bottom line.
There are so many benefits to gratitude, and thankfully, it’s easy to get started! And it is free.
You now understand how important gratitude is… but how do you utilize it? While feeling grateful in your heart and when you speak to your higher power is important, it’s not enough. Here are a few ways that you can incorporate gratitude into your everyday activities.
Even if you think you’re showing appreciation for your employees, take some time to reflect on how you could show more. Gratitude is the Rock-It fuel that will drive your business forward and bring out the inner rock star in every one of your employees. So the more, the better.
No matter how you look at it, Gratitude is good for your band, your fans, and your business. Think of it this way, if you don’t take control of your environment, your environment will take control of you.
Gratitude will make your band rock and set yourself apart from your competition. That’s what true business rock stars do.