Leading with Gratitude
Book

Leading with Gratitude

Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results

Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton
HarperBusiness, 2020
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9

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The “Gurus of Gratitude,” best-selling authors Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton of All In and The Carrot Principle, contend that the best way to boost morale, increase productivity and create a positive work environment is to show your employees that you’re grateful for them. Fulfilling people’s desire for recognition and appreciation brings about amazing results. Yet, many leaders fall victim to what Gostick and Elton call “Ingratitude Myths,” which prevent them from harnessing this powerful tool. The authors provide eight transformative strategies for “leading with gratitude” to help you create a workplace culture populated by upbeat, motivated and productive employees.

Summary

Express gratitude so your employees feel appreciated and motivated.

Showing your authentic gratitude to your employees for their endeavors helps keep them motivated, committed and feeling positive about their jobs and their contributions to the company. Yet, most managers do not put gratitude high on their list of priorities, thus bypassing one of the most effective ways to boost morale, performance and productivity. Even when managers believe they are showing gratitude, employees often feel undervalued and unacknowledged.

Statistics show that an overwhelming majority of workers would apply themselves more if they believed leaders appreciated their efforts. This “gratitude gap” is the chasm between knowing the positive effects of expressing gratitude and failing to act on that knowledge. Genuine gratitude results from tuning in to your employees’ activities and showing empathy for their challenges and joy in their accomplishments.

Be present to catch positive outcomes as they happen so you can respond with sincere appreciation. You’ll develop closer relationships with the members of your team and gain an understanding of how they...

About the Authors

Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton co-founded the consulting group, The Culture Works, and co-wrote the business bestsellers All In, The Best Team Wins and The Carrot Principle. Their website is GostickandElton.com.

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