3 Ways to Show Gratitude at Work
What are some ways to show gratitude at work? The dictionary defines gratitude as “readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Scientific experts Emmons and Mishra define it as “an acknowledgment of receiving something of value from others.” It comes with the genuine desire to give back for the goodness received from “the other”.
In a workplace that is primarily anchored on trust, gratitude could go a long way. Distant assistants are hired for their skills, personality, and experience. You commit to working with them regardless of the fact that they would not be there with you physically.
You cannot see their work station or current activities unless otherwise captured in a screenshot using a time tracker app. Still, you trust them to complete the work that you hired them to do and you find that the value they provide to your business could actually far outweigh short-term successes.
Related Episode: How to Boost the Bottom Line Through Workplace Well-being
What Gratitude Does at Work
How do you strengthen the unique work relationship with your distant assistant? Money is not always the answer. Emmons and Mishra suggest that gratitude reduces a person’s desire for material things.
They say, “grateful people report being more willing to part with their possessions, more generous with them, less envious of the material wealth of others, less committed to the idea that material wealth is linked with success in life, and less convinced of the idea that material wealth brings happiness.”
Distant assistants find happiness in their ability to work from the comforts of home, in experiencing the possibility of life balance, and in the opportunity to contribute with their skills.
When you develop a company culture that supports the things they love, you encourage them to do better. There is a peculiar kind of happiness that cannot be achieved by materialism. It is a kind of happiness that boosts their morale as humans and as individual contributors to society.
It is the kind of happiness that makes somebody genuinely, utterly grateful.
Related Post: Why People Decide to Work from Home
Here are three (3) ways to show gratitude at work.
1. Stick it to “the wall”
Name at least one good thing that happened to you in your job because of your distant assistant or colleague. It could be a milestone achieved in a project, a 5-star review from a customer, or an easier workflow. Is there somebody who helped to make that happen?
If yes, let that person know that you are thankful. Write down some kind words and send to that person. A fun way to appreciate team effort is by putting up an exclusive place (e.g., an appreciation wall) where everybody gets to express their thanks.
UC Berkeley, for example, has what they call a “Kudos” web page. They give employees the chance to recognize one another’s work, with a focus on the person instead of the deed done. Words of thanks are received and directed to a web page that highlights them.
This is especially great for teams who thrive in a virtual workplace environment. You do not have to build a website. A pinned post in a Facebook group page, a highlighted message board in a collaboration app (e.g., Basecamp), or a simple Google Document are good alternatives to start with.
2. Share your blessings
“What are you thankful for?” You could use this as an opening question in meetings with your distant assistants. It is the same method that we use with our internal staff at Bottleneck Distant Assistants, where we encourage them to share things that made their day or week worthwhile.
You would be surprised by the answers that they give. Sometimes these answers come as hoorays for a project done. Some share sincere thanks for trivial things. Others gladly share intimate moments of their lives.
Everybody has something to share no matter how big or how small. It is the thought that counts—the opportunity to show appreciation and to celebrate the kind of happiness that makes us human at work.
3. Say it through kindness
Kindness can be said not only in words but also in deeds. Think of at least one area of your business where your distant assistant works. How many hours a week does your distant assistant spend working with you?
Distant assistants work hard every day to finish projects and/or routine assignments. Sometimes they work more hours than required due to their dedication in their line of trade.
Is there anything that you think your Distant assistant could use to simplify the work? It does not have to be anything material. It could be some time off from work or an opportunity to hone their skills (e.g., a workshop or an online course).
A simple act of kindness can make a whole lot of difference.
Related Episode: Turn a Business Around: Creating a Culture Based on Gratitude
Conclusion
Gratitude can go a long way for your business. It boosts morale, cultivates a positive culture, and inspires distant assistants to do better without being told. Also, it is a better motivator than money as studies suggest.
It is free, yet could achieve so much more long-term as it strengthens that unique bond you have with your DAs. It shows your support for them and fosters their desire to give back and appreciate what they have in life.
Looking to hire a distant assistant? Get started with a free consultation at Bottleneck Distant Assistants.
About Jaime Jay
Meet Jaime Jay – a man who wears many hats, and wears them all admirably. He's a master connector, an entrepreneur extraordinaire, and a published author who knows how to get things done.
Before he found his way to the business world, Jaime served his country as a brave paratrooper in the U.S. Army. But that's just the beginning of his many accomplishments.
He's the founder of the renowned Bottleneck Distant Assistant Services firm, and his book "Quit Repeating Yourself" has become a must-read for entrepreneurs everywhere.
When he's not busy building his empire, you can find him on his beloved Harley Davidson, cruising through the countryside and taking in the invigorating effects of Uitwaaien – a Dutch practice that involves facing the wind to boost health and relieve stress.
He enjoys spending his free time outside building stuff with his wife, Nikita the dog and their two kittens (for now at least) Tommy and Tater.
He is ‘over-the-moon’ happily married to his wonderful wife Sara, his amazing daughter, Jessica, who is serving our country as a United States Army soldier. Jaime and Sara are the proud grand parents of two beautiful little girls.
Victoria Dorsano2023-09-17Bottleneck has been such an amazing support for my business! They have a seamless process to ensure you find the right fit for your DDA. I am so thankful I started working with them! I'm now able to accomplish so much more in my business with a personal DDA and editing team on my side. Thank you!!
Rockwell Felder2023-03-15I cannot thank the team at Bottleneck enough for their incredible support of our business. Their team has played a vital role in helping us staff our customer support and ensuring our customers were satisfied with our services. Their Distant Assistants were extremely helpful in answering inquiries promptly, handling complaints, and providing solutions to our customers' needs. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and communication skills are exceptional. Working with Bottleneck has been a fantastic experience, and I highly recommend their services to anyone needing a reliable and efficient virtual assistant, especially for customer support.
Karen Ravano2022-09-24I am grateful and blessed to be part of this team. It’s such a wonderful experience because i gain more experience and help me enhance my basic skills. This will be my stepping stone to my career as a newbie in this kind of industry. It would help to reach my goals.
Jeany Mercadal2022-09-16Bottleneck Distant Assistants can lessen the burden of company owners. We provide excellent services depending on our client needs. We are not scam, clients surely get more than what they pay for. Being part of this team helped me hone my skills and become excellent in all my works.
Jeff Peñaflor2022-09-14I started last March 24, 2021 as a Dedicated Distant Assistant and it was an awesome experience. In this new journey, as Security Administrator of Bottleneck Distant Assistants, I have been supported by the team, A LOT !!!! All help that I need, the whole team is there to support me. I know that there are a lot of room for improvements with my skills and what I know, but because of BNDA, I became equipped with all the weapons I need to conquer the daily challenges especially with my tasks. With BNDA, they will not just help you to aim high, but soar the skies!
Tinoe D2022-09-09I don't remember the last time I loved what I was doing until Bottleneck came into the picture. I love working for bottleneck, they are professional. The management makes the workplace fun and they're very flexible. I definetly recommend that you make that important switch and be part of something big today by joining BNDA.
Michael Goodcliffe2022-09-09Jaime and his team are incredible at what they do! Joining them has been one of the best decisions in my life! I whole heartedly recommend them to anyone who are looking to scale and improve their business. Their highly 'Dedicated Distant Assistants' are well trained. They are top notch!
GM Simon2022-09-08Working with Bottleneck is not just having one or two assistants working alongside you. You have the support of the whole team behind them as well.
Ma. Edeliza Silot2022-09-07Aside from the knowledge gained, the trainers are highly commendable.
Sara Knox2022-09-07What an awesome business! Finally, a way to hire the RIGHT person for my administrative tasks and they are remote! No office space to consider, W2's, 1099's or payroll. Jaime and his team of remote workers are top-notch! I hired my first assistant in May. I recently suffered a motorcycle accident and it left me unable to work for 2 weeks. But my assistant stepped right in to guide our CEO on all matters financial. It’s so nice to have that stress eliminated from my life!
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