In the 1960s a new concept in leadership, known as "servant leadership," began with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead.
Creating the next wave of vision, inspiration, workability and success in leadership that will turn many current ideas and philosophies of leadership upside down is "grateful leadership." By definition, grateful leaders are those who see, recognise and express appreciation and gratitude for their employees' and other stakeholders' contributions and for their passionate engagement, on an ongoing basis.
Acknowledgment is the heartfelt and authentic communication that lets people know their value to their business or to their team and the importance of the contribution they make.
You can start being a grateful leader by practicing acknowledgment skills on those in your workplace whom you don't know well or even at all - relative strangers who surpass your expectations. As you practice these skills, you will begin making the workplace a happier, more productive environment.
Look carefully and you will find those unsung people who deserve acknowledgment.
Why focus on relative strangers or people we see from time-to-time at work but don't know well? Because doing a good job of delivering a whole-heart-ed acknowledgment of someone can be harder than it sounds. It makes sense to try it out on people who aren't as close to you as the people you work side-by-side with. Relative strangers will be pleasantly surprised, and they are not likely to waste time worrying about your motives. And when you make someone's day, you make your own, and everyone benefits.
When we are willing to speak committedly, generously and gratefully from our hearts, we can all help others experience the true meaning of their service. It is your privilege and challenge as a grateful leader to make sure that your people know how valuable their contribution is.
With a simple, caring act of appreciation and acknowledgment, we simply have no idea of the contribution we make to someone who talks to thousands of people.
Source: Judith W. Umlas: “Grateful Leadership: Using the Power of Acknowledgement to Engage all People and Achieve Superior Results.”
