The Power of Gratitude and Appreciation in the Workplace

In a world where we often forget to express our gratitude, there stands a tree that serves as a constant reminder. Its leaves, made of thank-you notes and appreciation messages, dance in the breeze, a beautiful symbol of growth and thankfulness in the workplace. Something’s been on my mind lately: the incredible power of gratitude and appreciation in the workplace.

Now, some of my dear readers might be thinking – “Andy, we’re all busy trying to meet deadlines and put out fires. Who has time for warm fuzzies?”

But stick with me here, because I want to share why taking a moment to appreciate your colleagues could be just what your team needs.

We want the energy cost of virtue to be less than that of sin. (Dave Snowden) Share on X

Gratitude vs. Appreciation: What’s the Difference?

First, let’s unpack what I mean by gratitude and appreciation.

Gratitude is an inner feeling – that sensation of thankfulness.
Appreciation, on the other hand, is how we express that gratitude. It’s the act of acknowledging the good stuff – the efforts, the impacts, the qualities that make our teammates awesome.

I like to think of the combo as a virtuous cycle. The more grateful you feel, the more likely you are to express appreciation. And the more you express appreciation, the more gratitude you cultivate in yourself and others. It’s a positive feedback loop for good vibes!

But Does Appreciation Really Matter at Work?

Short answer? Heck yes! And I’ve got some data to back up my beliefs.

You know those brain scans you’ve seen where certain areas light up? Those fMRI studies show that receiving genuine appreciation lights up the reward centers in our brains. It’s like a little fireworks show in your head every time someone says “thanks” and really means it.

But it’s not just about feeling good. A Gallup study found that the number one reason people leave their jobs is a lack of appreciation. Let that sink in for a moment. It’s not about money or benefits – it’s about feeling valued.

And if that’s not enough to convince you, how about this: Harvard’s Human Resource program found tangible links between appreciation and employee retention, as well as value creation for the organization. In other words, by regularly giving timely, context-specific appreciation you will have a positive (although lagging) impact on your org’s bottom line.

The Neuroscience of Gratitude and Appreciation

Image showing the neurochemical dopamine, endorphin, oxytocin, and serotonin, associated with gratitude and appreciation When you receive a genuine, contextualized thank you, your brain gets a nice cocktail of feel-good chemicals. Serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin levels go up! And there’s research that shows positive impacts on our immune systems.

Mark Twain once wrote, “I could live two months on a good compliment.” While I’m not sure about the exact half-life of a compliment, I do know that when I’m appreciated for my contributions and progress, it gives me a hefty dose of happiness. And that feeling is contagious (See The Ripple Effect)

Creating a Culture of Gratitude and Appreciation in the Workplace

So, how do we make appreciation a regular part of our work lives? It takes more than just a quick “thanks, team” at the end of a meeting (although that’s a start!). Here are a few practices I’ve found helpful:

Shift your mindset: Start viewing appreciation not as a nice-to-have, but as essential for unlocking motivation and high performance.
Journal it: Make a habit of noting down things you’re grateful for. Use this to fuel spontaneous expressions of appreciation to your teammates.
Learn appreciation languages: Just like love languages, people have different preferences for how they receive appreciation. Learn what resonates with your teammates.
Create appreciation rituals: This is especially important for remote teams. Create dedicated spaces for kudos, whether it’s in meetings, on Slack, or on a physical gratitude wall.
Make it sustainable: Focus on making appreciation easy, real, public, and habitual. Build a culture where celebrating each other’s greatness is the norm. As Dave Snowden said, “We want the energy cost of virtue to be less than that of sin.”

The Ripple Effect

Here’s the cool thing about gratitude – it doesn’t just impact the giver and receiver. Observers also get a boost in their neurotransmitters and hormones associated with pleasure, connection, and trust, creating a ripple effect that can transform your entire team culture.

When people feel understood and valued as human beings (not just as “resources”), they show up as their authentic selves. They’re more engaged, more motivated, and more likely to stick around.

Don’t just take my word for it. The OC Tanner Global Culture Report shows that when recognition is done well, employees are:

5 times more likely to see a path to grow in their organization
4 times more likely to be engaged
5 times more likely to feel connected to their company culture

Your 5-Second Challenge

Stop watch showing 5 seconds You’ve got 86,400 seconds in a day. I appreciate you using a few hundred of them to read this post. Now, I challenge you to use 5 of those seconds to appreciate someone on your team. Give a shout-out for something they’ve done that made a difference. It doesn’t have to be huge – often it’s the little things that end up being the big things.

Remember, as we cultivate gratitude and appreciation, we naturally enhance other crucial values like courage, resilience, and empathy. It’s all interconnected, creating a stronger, more supportive work environment.

So, what are you waiting for? Go spread some appreciation! Your brain, your team, and your organization will thank you for it.