Happy Thanksgiving!
This week, at many tables across the country, families will be sharing their thoughts on what they are thankful for. For some, this is the only time of year they open up and verbally communicate their appreciation to those closest to them. This is why many of us enjoy this holiday more than any other. It's not about presents, shopping or checking things off a to-do list. Instead, it is based upon taking time to be still and really count our blessings. Don't forget to take time to be thankful for your work family. Whether it is your employees, co-workers, manager, vendors or clients, chances are you spend more time with them than your relatives. Why not take the time to share a kind word or note of appreciation? One of the most common reasons employees leave an organization is because they do not feel appreciated. Let this time of year be a reminder of how far a kind word or gesture can go. What better time than now to set some goals for showing your gratitude for your work family throughout this holiday season? I count myself lucky because I have had several bosses who couldn’t be more appreciative of me and the work I was doing. As a result, I felt valued, cared for and that I mattered. That led me to be motivated to go above and beyond in my work wherever I could. In one case, I even stayed on to continue working after my boss had tragically passed away, knowing there was no money in the business to pay my salary. As I was mourning her loss, I found a bunch of old work assignments, post-it notes, and letters. Each and every one ended with her saying thank you. Even from the hospital, she could not thank me enough for my work and being there for her. This had an enormous impact on what I was willing to give and how much more I enjoyed my time at work. There are countless benefits to gratitude, but the one I like best is that you will experience more joy if you teach your brain to look for things to be thankful for. What you focus on expands. This means you will start experiencing more and more things to be thankful for and less things to be anxious about. The simple shift of starting each morning or ending each evening thinking about what you are grateful for can have a significant impact on the overall quality of your life. Many people comment to me about my positive energy and optimistic outlook. My early morning gratitude practice has a lot to do with it. I’ve had lots of clients see the benefits as well. Making the choice to be grateful can truly be a game changer. For more info on the benefits of gratitude, check out this link. As I close this post, I would like to say “thank you” to you. Whether you are a client, a colleague, a former co-worker, someone I met through networking or a mutual friend, or you’ve read, liked or shared one of my social media posts or emails, I truly appreciate it. I know there are millions of places you can invest your energy and attention, so I’m glad you chose to invest it with Choice. Wishing you and your families (relatives and work) a very Happy Thanksgiving and lots to be grateful for!!
Janine Friedman, Owner of Choice Training and Coaching Solutions, Inc. is an executive and leadership coach. She coaches stressed out executives who want to work smarter, lead better and live happier. To learn more about her background click here.
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Success is a Choice.
