Show your gratitude at work

Expressing gratitude at work makes for happier workers. This is the view of ManpowerGroup South Africa MD Lyndy van den Barselaar, who says companies can see the benefit of this practice on their bottom line.

“Expressing and receiving gratitude at work makes people feel happy, fulfilled, co-operative and motivated,” says Van den Barselaar. “However, many people never, or very rarely, express gratitude to their colleagues.” Becoming more grateful does not have to be difficult. Van den Barselaar has the following advice:

Develop a habit of starting your

● workday by writing down on a piece of paper what you are grateful for. It could be your mentor, the coffee, or an easy commute. At the end of the month, count all the pieces of paper to get a sense of what you like about your job;

Write “Thank you” messages to

● colleagues and stick them on their desks. “Not only will you be feeling grateful, but you will also be signalling your respect and acknowledgement for other people’s time and energy,” she says; and

Try to remember to say thank you to

● the people you work with each day. It will soon take root in your organisation and in you. – Margaret Harris