The Four Powers of Gratitude
The gift of young leaders is unhappiness. The tragedy of old leaders is contentment.
Unhappiness and discontent ignite passion for change.
Warning:
Slime pits of ingratitude lie just beyond unhappiness. Nothing de-motivates like churlish ungratefulness. On the other hand, gratitude provides rich feedback that motivates forward movement.
Gratitude expels.
- Hate shrivels when gratefulness comes to play.
- Worry lessens with thankfulness.
- Unhappiness cringes in the presence of gratitude.
- Anger softens with thank you.
The 4 powers of gratitude:
- Freedom from the past. Bitterness binds; gratitude releases.
- Freedom to celebrate. Do you celebrate enough? No!
- Freedom to perform. Ungratefulness beats down; gratitude builds up.
- Freedom to connect.
The connecting power of gratitude:
People run toward gratefulness and away from ingratitude.
Thankfulness feels like love.
Ungratefulness feels like hate.Gratitude invites.
Ingratitude repels.
Gratitude enhances impact.
Feeling or behavior:
Think of gratitude as a behavior not a feeling. Express it; don’t wait to feel it. Behave your way into the feeling. But, never lie.
Be thankful for:
- Challenges.
- Lessons learned.
- Progress.
- Consistency.
- Excellence.
- Opportunities.
Bonus: Be thankful for what you have.
Show me a leader who is ungrateful and I’ll show you a loser. Gratefulness answers the unhappiness leaders feel. Today’s challenge: tap into gratitude.
How has ungratefulness impacted you or your organization?
How has gratitude helped you?
Dan,
When you decide ahead of time to notice gratitudes, it helps you focus in on the positive things that are happening. Otherwise it is all too easy to fall into discontent.
When you make a commitment to writing short gratitude notes, it builds both the person for whom you are grateful and also yourself. It is a win/win. What we see in writing is twice as beneficial as words we hear that are fleeting.
When you consistently voice gratitude, then when you have another more difficult message to convey, people will be willing to “hear” you because you have already invested positively into the relationship or business.
Dauna
Once again your wisdom and experience shine through, Dauna.
I particularly like … “decide ahead of time…”
Thank you
Thank you Dan. Thankfulness sure does feel like love. Great post.
Thank yo indie. Here’s to a great week
I am curious that you bucket these mindsets into “old” and “young” leaders…?
Thanks for the inquire Karin.
If you are referring young leaders are unhappy with how things are and old leader content…The buckets are two general observation from my experience.
I spent 15 years in higher ed and found many older leaders who feared changed… who wanted things to remain the same.
I also see the discontent/unhappiness young leaders feel as a great gift to organizations.
short answer: In my experience, the observations are generalities. The one about young more frequently true than the one about older. But, both apply.
Did I respond to the appropriate topic?
yes, that’s the part I was referring to. I do think that can be true in generalities… but I have also seen the inverse.
me too… I’m old and discontent, for example 🙂
Dan, maybe you’re just young at heart? 🙂
Michelle, I’m taking that as a compliment
Thank you for the post. Let the emotional decision of gratitude be with us all!!
Cheers!
I like Bob Proctor’s take on this: ‘Always be happy, but never satisfied.’ This state of being allows gratitude for where we are and what we have, but doesn’t stop us from moving further forwards. 🙂
Great expression… happy but not satisfied. Thank you
Be grateful for your mistakes today for they will make you thankful tomorrow.
Brilliant! Thanks
Dear Dan,
A very thought provoking post. The post reflects the approach of two genre towards life. And in fact, they are different. I would connect your thoughts in this way that I believe is true. Ungrateful and unhappiness and contentment and happiness are connected. And one relates to new generation and other perhaps old generation. We can name it as Gen Y and Gen X. And organizations suffer due to this approach.Now impact of such approach depends upon the kind of mix of both kind the people. And it also depends upon the kind of business, organizations are. Whatever is the consequences of these different attributes on the organizations, one thing is very clear, new generation lag empathy and humility. And one strong reason is that they have not suffered or sacrificed. They neither want to sacrifice not have patience to wait. They need everything in a moment.
And that is perhaps major factor why organizations fail. And therefore, I strong believe that rules, policies should be there in place that every one need to follow.Leaders should take time to make is workable but any decision or judgement based on logic and individual feeling should be discouraged.
Dear Ajay, one of the things I enjoy about some of your comments is you take me in entirely new directions. Thank you for extending the conversation and adding your insights.
Hi Dan,
Being grateful releases us from our ‘karma’ with person/situation/organization and opens door for new learning of life…
Have always felt happy when some one expresses his/her gratitude and feel I need to pass the trend else its like a loan taken on which interest keep building…
And am grateful to you Dan for this wonderful brainstorm.;-)
Wishes
I see a challenge to pass it on. Thank you!
Change leaders, whether old or young, abhor complacency and have a sense of urgency that is felt throughout the organization. They don’t say “tomorrow” when there is still an hour left today. They don’t accept a “three month delivery” until it can be honed down to 11 weeks, with a critical path identified and monitored. Because they drive towards goals, engaged people followed, and disengaged either jump on the bandwagon or leave the organization.
Thankfulness has very little to do with urgency, but a lot to do with engagement, trust, and love. People agree to work hard for and with leaders because they believe in a common cause and want to be a part of it. Saying “thank you” in the most precise way possible in a timely manner and without hypocrisy helps people to feel they did contribute.
It’s not unusual for me to read a contribution that feels like an excellent stand alone post. Your’s is one.
I love the sentence: “Thankfulness has very little to do with urgency, but a lot to do with engagement…”
We were too loudly tooting our horn to an outside consultant/ advocate about a reduction in the number of negative events occurring, from 300 to 54 to 12. While not quite six sigma, it was a radically positive change.
The consultant expressed appreciation and gratitude while at the same time added a perspective, “I respect what you have done. That is truly great and amazing work and your customers must be much more happy with your service. I want to learn how you did it and yet…what about those 12? How do they feel about your service? We went from beaming to crestfallen to ‘yeah, you are absolutely right’ in a moment.
Part of the leader’s job is to bring hope, appreciation, & gratitude that are genuine and yet still maintain the long view of what can be. Gratitude with necessary discontent is a balancing act, with pace/ timing integral to success and with a core underpinning of unconditional respect.
Thank you Doc… my takeaway is: Gratitude with necessary discontent.
some places will work you to death, if you let them.
Dan,
I always enjoy your articles. This blog on gratitude is so true and relevant! Keep up the great work!
Thank you Tony.
Great post! Thanks for sharing. I love the act of being grateful. And, I agree with you. It is the key to happiness. I would like to offer these gratitude tips, and a link to where I have also written on the subject. http://toddliles.com/be-grateful-to-be-happy.html
1. Look to the Wisdom of the Lord
2. Recognize the Blessings you Have
3. Let Others Know What They Mean to You
4. Don’t Get Upset When Things Don’t Go Your Way
5. Learn to Number Your Days
Life is short and precious. Treat everyday as the gift it is.
Psalm 90:12 – Teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
I hope this adds value to the conversation.
Thank you for sharing your insights Todd.
Great to hear that a “dark past” can have a purpose…I believe that the best leaders or CEO’s are ones born out of poverty and destitution NOT “silver spoon” privelige.
You’re right on the money Dan! A wonderful gratitude tip comes from John Maxwell’s book, “25 Ways to Win With People” where he explains the power of edification -compliment people in front of others; therefore if gratitude is the thought process, verbal edification is a great example of an *action*