A study by renowned psychologists Adam Grant and Francesca Gino found people thanked for their efforts experienced significant increases to their self-worth and social value – an antidote to the feelings of inadequacy.
The study also found that gratitude made people more trusting and willing to help each other, which can bolster employee’s abilities to contribute meaningfully.
To build a culture of gratitude and appreciation at your workplace, small interventions can go a long way. An experiment among 1,575 healthcare workers from researchers at Duke University showed that writing one letter of gratitude significantly reduced emotional exhaustion, boosted happiness and improved perceptions of work-life balance.
Writing the gratitude letter encouraged people to focus their attention on what was going well which they might have taken for granted. Create spaces in the office that promotes the voluntary, spontaneous expression of gratitude for example.
This could take the form of an online “Gratitude Wall”, where employees can express appreciation for their peers, whether it’s for their help on an overwhelming project or simply for checking in.
REMOVE STRESSORS FROM THE WORKPLACE
If employees dread and withdraw from work, it’s likely the result of a work environment pervaded by interpersonal conflict, unfairness and lack of participation.
On a deeper level, employees may emotionally detach from work because they do not feel like what they’re doing aligns with their values.
When stressors like discrimination and unfairness are the reason for employee’s withdrawal, promoting a fair and inclusive work culture is key.
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