Grateful Leaders are Successful Leaders

Grateful leaders are often successful leaders. Here are two thoughts on gratitude for leaders this Thanksgiving week: 

1. “Not what we say about our blessing, but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”  W.T. Purkiser

Many times we claim to be thankful but often our actions demonstrate otherwise. For example, if I’m thankful for my job, I will work hard at it and not spend my time complaining or just doing the minimum to get by. 

If I’m truly thankful for my team, I will spend time with them, listen to them, and strive to always treat them with kindness and respect. 

If I’m truly grateful for my life, I will use my time wisely and not indulge in things that waste it and destroy it. 

It is easy to profess we are thankful. It is much harder to show it. Though saying it is important, the true magic of gratitude is realized through our actions.

2. “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” Epictetus

Gratitude is as much about perspective as it is about anything else.  Each of us can choose to be grateful or not.  We can choose to think “this pandemic is ruining my life” or “this pandemic is giving me an opportunity to learn and grow.” We can choose to believe “my team isn’t good enough” or “I know they have potential; I just have to find a way to bring it out.”  

In the end, being grateful is really about our perspective and actions. Leaders who prove they are grateful through action and find reasons to be thankful rather than discouraged will be happier and much more likely to succeed. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Learn step by step how you can build a high-performing culture.   Check out our new course, 90-Days to a High-Performing Company Culture.