Janice Kaplan, the author of the soon to be released The Gratitude Diaries, had a great article in today’s Wall Street Journal.
The article discusses the power of showing appreciation at the workplace.
She shares the results of some interesting surveys and research:
- In a 2013 survey of 2,000 Americans on gratitude sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation, some 80% agreed that receiving gratitude makes them work harder, but only 10% managed to express gratitude to others every day.
- Researchers at the London School of Economics analyzed more than 50 studies for a 2011 paper that looked at what gets people charged up at work. They concluded that we give our best effort if the work gets us interested and excited, if we feel that it’s providing meaning and purpose, and if others appreciate what we’re doing.
- Adam Grant, a professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, notes that ““A sense of appreciation is the single most sustainable motivator at work.”
Kaplan notes that the best way to show gratitude at work is to be specific about what someone has done and to give honest and sincere appreciation. I like that she points out that Dale Carnegie noted this in his still top-selling “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, written in 1936.
Proving once again that the keys to success are usually pretty simple, and have been around for along time.
We just need to be made aware of them, and then follow through.
Thank you Janice for sharing with us the value of expressing gratitude; it’s always helpful to be reminded of such timeless lessons.
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