Grateful
Today in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. A time of meeting with family, friends, and eating an insane amount of food in one meal. As I sit here typing this, my stomach is in definitely in recovery mode, but I am overwhelmed with a feeling of thankfulness and gratitude. This is a feeling many of us have around this time of year for various reasons, but I have made a concerted effort to be grateful for every day, no matter the circumstance. Taking a page from John Foley, I remind myself each morning to think about something or someone I’m grateful for. It immediately puts me in a good mood. Try it!
From a leadership standpoint, this time of year is an opportunity to reflect on the impact others have made in our personal and professional lives. As mentioned in the Foundations of Leadership course, the people that have made an impact on our lives don’t necessarily have to be a supervisor or manager. Often times, it is a family member or close friend that we model ourselves after and look up to.
As you enjoy the turkey and pumpkin pie (or my favorite, sweet potato casserole), think about someone who mentored you when you were starting out:
Who challenged you to grow?
Who inspires you every day?
Write their names down and consider reaching out to thank them personally.
A genuine expression of gratitude can leave a lasting impression both for the recipient AND you, so I highly recommend you do the last part. Just by taking time to focus on those individuals that made a positive impact on your life is a way to honor them. In our Foundations of Leadership course, we emphasize the importance of serving others and making an impact. By practicing thankfulness, we can all demonstrate the kind of leadership that makes a difference—not just in the workplace, but in the lives of everyone we encounter.
This Thanksgiving let’s commit to being leaders who lead with gratitude!
