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Quintessential Thought

With the US Thanksgiving holiday one week away, it’s a great reminder to take some time to be grateful.

Several years ago, I (Mark) was coaching a team that was struggling. They were all making great efforts, but progress was slowed by dependencies on other teams, political differences between leaders, and technology hurdles. The team was losing steam as they felt like they were fighting an uphill battle.

And then it was Thanksgiving. I had heard of the power of gratitude, so I thought we could try it as a team. I worked with the team members to post statements of gratitude for each other. And the mood got noticeably lighter in the room while people lifted their heads a bit. 

Then, one of the team members suggested we extend it further and write thank you notes to people and teams that we worked with and depended on. Together, we talked about who to write to and why we appreciated them. And the perspective of the team shifted more while our patience and energy increased.

This isn’t anomalous. Many studies have shown the positive effects of gratitude on our individual wellbeing, like decreased anxiety and stress along with increased resilience. Gratitude can also strengthen our relationships and increase team cohesion.

Next week, we won’t be sending this newsletter as we celebrate with our families and friends. But right now, we’re grateful for YOU. Thank you for reading and engaging with us.

Quotes

"The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see." – Dr. Rober Holden

"Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other." – Randy Pausch

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

Quick Step

Think of someone who you haven’t said “thank you” to in a while. What are you genuinely grateful for - about who they are, what they do, or how they do it? Write it down and send it to them.

Question

What effect has gratitude had on your team?

Professional Product Discovery and Validation, Jan 24

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