Thanksgiving is a more important holiday than we generally understand. Science has proven that developing a genuinely grateful attitude makes us happier, healthier, more productive, and improves our relationships. Moreover, a sincerely grateful attitude also improves our business.
In The 31 Benefits of Gratitude You Didn’t Know About, the authors list five categories of our lives improved and enhanced by choosing to reflect on that for which we are grateful: health, emotion, social, personality, and career. Below is an infograph that summarizes ‘how’ gratefulness improves each category, taken from their review of 26 studies.
THE IMPACT OF GRATEFULNESS ON BUSINESS
Business, too, is improved by an environment of gratefulness. The Gallup organization conducted a study of 10,000 organizations in their report The Power of Praise and Recognition. Said Gallup:
Our latest analysis, which includes more than 10,000 business units and more than 30 industries, has found that individuals who receive regular recognition and praise:
- increase their individual productivity
- increase engagement among their colleagues
- are more likely to stay with their organization
- receive higher loyalty and satisfaction scores from customers
- have better safety records and fewer accidents on the job . . .
So, on this Thanksgiving, we encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect – to even consider a daily 5-minute practice of writing down those things for which you are grateful – it may be one of the greatest investments you ever make in your own life, and in your business.
Happy Thanksgiving!
