As non-profit leaders I know you're especially attuned to the importance of giving thanks to your donors.  Expressions of gratitude both recognize a one-time contribution and support an ongoing relationship that is mutually rewarding. In fact, I'd be willing to say that most non-profit organizations have a process in place to thank donors. 

But what about staff and volunteers?

Passionate leaders, please do not fail to recognize that, for an organization to operate with maximum impact, it's equally important to express gratitude to both staff and volunteers. And just as with your donor process, you can build a culture in which gratitude flows in a steady, continuous stream.

The Benefits of Showing Gratitude

Let's start with brain science -
For the receiver:  When receiving expressions of gratitude, neuroscience research shows that we experience an increase in the hormone Oxytocin - the hormone emitted when we feel loved or appreciated. 

For the giver:  When expressing gratitude, neuroscience research shows that we experience an increase in the hormones Dopamine and Serotonin - the so-called "feel good" hormones.

As a Passionate Leader, when you regularly express gratitude or appreciation for a staff member or volunteer, you're training your brain to continually look for the positive in the attitude and performance of those you lead. That's because it feels good to do so.

As for those you lead, a Glassdoor survey shows that staff who feel valued are 81% more likely to work harder (read more productive) and 53% are more likely to stay with the organization. 

Bottom line: We humans are biologically wired to be more productive, trustworthy and committed when gratitude is a part of the organizational culture.

How to Build Gratitude into Your Culture

Now that you know the benefits of gratitude, how do you build gratitude into your organizational culture? The Center for Creative Leadership offers a great way to start:

Make space for gratitude

Create a designated physical and/or virtual space for employees to share shout-outs, kudos, and words of thanks.
This can be a literal wall or whiteboard in a common area, or given the reality of today’s hybrid workplaces and remote teams, it might be even better to leverage a shared online platform that everyone can access, like a company intranet or internal newsletter. Be creative!
 

Make space in terms of time, too.
You can model cultivating gratitude at work by beginning team meetings by sharing a short statement of appreciation (remember the difference this made in the fundraising center study!). Or, try inviting everyone to share one thing they’re grateful for — it makes a great icebreaker. Or, consider setting aside a specially allotted time in a regularly recurring department- or organization-wide meeting for acknowledgements. A public display of gratitude is a great way to introduce gratitude into the workplace culture and keep employees feeling appreciated and motivated.

Here's a link with more suggestions on how to foster a gratitude culture. I encourage you to read it and invite your staff (including volunteers) to partner with you in building a culture in which everyone feels appreciated.

There's no doubt that with a gratitude culture, your organization will be better able to serve all your stakeholders.  

Passionate Leadership
is who you're being as you're leading.

About the Author

Gayle Ely is a Leadership Coach, Trainer and Facilitator and founder of Total Life Leadership. At Total Life Leadership, we partner with purpose-driven non-profit leaders and service entrepreneurs to help them answer the question “How Do I Become a Better Leader?”

Using The Six Pillars of Passionate Leadership, we equip leaders to be the best they can be.  The result is a passionate leader whose team and organization are operating for maximum impact.

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