Thankfulness

Since it’s the week of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, I have to write about the role of being thankful in leadership. Leaders need to demonstrate how much they appreciate their followers. In the workplace, that translates into showing gratitude to your direct reports for their hard work and performance. Brain research shows that people want to be treated with respect and fairness and will respond positively to sincere positive reinforcement. Showing your employees and team members that you value them and their efforts reinforces their motivation and loyalty. Your demonstration of thanks through recognition and appreciation creates a reinforcing loop that leads to higher performance and happier people. So thank your people this week, but make sure you mean it!