For many people, year-end is a mad dash to the finish line. (If you work somewhere where the pace legitimately slows down at the end of the year, count your blessings.) At work, you’re likely pushing to hit targets and other goals for the year, wrap-up key projects, write reviews for your team, and perhaps make compensation decisions.
On the personal front, you’re probably making the rounds at parties, doing your holiday shopping, going to holiday recitals (Silent Night, anyone?) and getting ready to spend time with family and friends. All of this can make a December a hectic month. Even so, make sure you build in time to do something that’s better than buying or receiving presents: saying thanks.
Expressing gratitude at work can do wonders for your colleagues and for the overall office vibe. Acknowledging the efforts of others makes the workplace a better, happier space. Think about the last time you were recognized for something you did at work. It felt pretty good, right? And your colleagues feel the same way.
Saying thanks is about so much more than just being polite. It’s about truly seeing how others are contributing and making sure they know you’ve noticed. Doing so makes them feel acknowledged and valued, and that’s something we all want to feel at work, irrespective of our role or level. It provides a boost, leaves the recipient ready to take on the next challenge, and creates a contagiously positive culture.
How you express gratitude doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. As they say, it’s the little things that count, and that could be a “thanks for your help” in a team meeting, a shout-out at an employee event, a lunch outside the office, or even a thank-you email or note.
Gratitude isn’t just for managers either. Don’t be shy about expressing thanks for the opportunities you’ve gotten, the lessons you’ve learned, and the support you’ve received. Your manager (or whoever) will undoubtedly appreciate that you took the time to acknowledge them. And take the time to thank your peers and others with whom you work closely as well. Let them know what you appreciate about them as colleagues and how they’ve helped you.
While year-end is an especially apt time to say thank you, find ways to make it a habit, whether that means having shout-outs as a standing agenda item in your team meetings or taking a few minutes each week to write a note of thanks the people who have been most helpful to you. Consistently saying thanks sets a positive tone that has a multiplicative effect relative to just saying the occasional words of gratitude. It regularly reinforces to people that you appreciate them and value their contributions.
By making gratitude a consistent practice, you’ll raise the mood of your workplace. If enough people follow your lead, you’ll create a culture where people are lifting up their colleagues and demonstrating that they value each other. And who wouldn’t want to work in a place like that?
So, before you sign off for the year, take the time to sprinkle a little gratitude around. And while we’re at it, let us take a moment to thank you for being part of our PathWise journey!
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