Have you ever heard the saying: What you focus on, expands?

While December is the month for giving back and reflection, a strong case can be made for the act of gratitude being something we focus on every day of the year.

Expressions of gratitude are usually associated with personal relationships like friendships, partnerships, or family. You rarely hear the words “gratitude” and “business” in the same sentence, which is unfortunate, because gratitude often plays a crucial role in creating a healthy company culture and a productive working environment.

Even small acts of appreciation can solidify key professional relationships. It can create a connection that becomes the basis for a powerful alliance you never considered.

Over my years in business and the military, I’ve learned that expressing gratitude is a powerful thing. It yields results I couldn’t have predicted in a business meeting or client relations. Consider your various stakeholders: customers, clients, staff, vendors and alliance partners.

 

How can you incorporate more gratitude into your life and work, and encourage your team members to do the same?

 

• Never underestimate the power of “thank you.” Everyone wants to feel recognized and appreciated, so encourage employees to thank the people around them, including their colleagues, senior leaders, and employers, on a regular basis, year-round.

 

• Act on it. When gratitude strikes, get in the habit of acting on it. When it comes to your customers or clients, keep your antenna up and look for an opportunity to express gratitude in every interaction. Aim to be specific—instead of “Thank you for calling,” make it more personal with “Thank you for being a devoted customer since 2007!” or “Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about our new platform!”

 

• Give recognition to those who habitually recognize others. Rewarding the employees who express their gratitude often and to many people can inspire others to follow their lead. Create a culture of appreciation and gratitude, which starts with leadership. People often follow what you do, rather than what you say.

 

Now that we’ve discussed the “how,” what about the “why?” What benefits come from gratitude in business?

 

• In general, practicing gratitude at work with our fellow team members makes us happier, improves our moods, and makes us feel more connected to others.

 

• It can enhance the sense of belonging and respect at work, which is related to higher job performance, less sick days, and lower turnover.

 

• Expressing gratitude doesn’t only affect the internal relationships between colleagues and management. They can also improve the relationship between the business and its customers, or strengthen the trust between partners or investors.

 

• When we recognize one another, it makes us even more appreciative and inspires the person we’ve thanked to give that feeling to someone else, leading to a swell in happiness, well-being, morale, energy, and engagement–all of which directly influence performance, productivity, and retention.

 

In spirit of putting my money where my mouth is, here are some of the people I’d like to publicly express gratitude for:

Lloyd’s of London and L-Marks

We recently had the pleasure of participating in the reputable seventh cohort of Lloyd’s innovation accelerator, The Lloyd’s Lab, organized by Lloyd’s of London and L-Marks. Through the program, we were offered unparalleled access to top mentors and leading experts — presenting the opportunity to grow our network within global insurance and challenging us to continue moving the industry forward. We are pleased to thank all of our Lloyd’s Lab mentors for the time, commitment and knowledge that they have shared with us throughout the cohort.  We will be forever grateful and humbled by your time and belief in what we are building.

Our field adjuster team, especially our CAT leaders

With hurricane season coming to an end, our CAT (Catastrophe Team Leaders) team leaders took the time with their insured to listen and guide with compassion and patience. Our adjusters worked long hours, often in unpleasant conditions. They are the first line of contact for many after a terrible natural disaster, and they provide invaluable insight, background and data to our team at Brush Country Claims to be able to help policyholders quickly, efficiently and effectively. We greatly appreciate their efforts!

 

Remember: what you focus on, expands. In other words, if you focus on what you’re grateful for, it will multiply and increase.

I encourage you to make your own gratitude list or send a note of thanks to a colleague today. Watch how practicing gratefulness affects your business, both internally and externally, and you will be amazed.

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