Growing Appreciation
I’ve written often in this blog about the importance of showing gratitude as leaders; its importance in cultivating a team culture that is respectful; how it can drive more productivity; retain good employees and the list goes on. I personally try and encourage others to grow in gratitude.
Recently I came across a quote from Dolly Parton and my views on grateful leadership grew a bit more. She said:
“I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life, because I learned early that if you don’t, you get disappointed a lot. If you do, you might be pleasantly surprised quite often. I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. I re-read passages from my favorite books. I hold the little treasures that somebody special gave me. By keeping my eyes open for unexpected joys, I find the world gives back more than we sometimes think.”
This got me thinking about the difference between appreciation and gratitude. While they’re often used interchangeably, there is a distinction.
When we appreciate someone, we recognize and acknowledge their positive qualities, things like skill, attitude, humor, humility, work ethic, and so much more. The list could go on for pages. Appreciation is about noticing and valuing these traits in others, beyond the roles they play in our lives. Much like Dolly appreciates the fresh air after a hard rain, we can be intentional in appreciating the qualities of those around us. We can find joy in the presence of someone’s humor, skill, or kindness.
Gratitude, on the other hand, is the feeling that stems from appreciation. It’s a deeper emotional response, where we feel connected to and value the impact others have on our lives or work. As I’ve discussed before, expressing gratitude as a leader is essential, recognizing when a team member has gone above and beyond, or when someone has made a sacrifice for the collective good of the team or organization.
We can authentically feel gratitude IF we first are present and intentional in seeing the qualities of each individual and appreciate what they bring to the table. If we grow our ability to appreciate, we grow in our ability to express our gratitude – a win for you and a win for your team.
So, find the “unexpected joy” of appreciating others. You will be grateful you did.
Jeff
