Conscious Business

Need a Career Boost? Try Gratitude.

Gratitude has become a popular buzz word. We have a national holiday devoted to it, Hallmark definitely makes a profit from it by creating a plethora of gorgeous greeting cards , and daily Facebook posts sharing gratitude are on the rise. Could there be additional benefits to giving gratitude a focus on a regular weekly or daily basis, does it really work? And can it help you in your career?

I recently conducted a bit of informal research on the impact of gratitude on career and business. Since I work as a Business Coach and Consultant, I thought I would research it from that angle, to see how this might positively impact my clients and community. A common thread that is woven throughout the research suggests that people who focus on gratitude create growth, confidence, happiness and positive impact.

How gratitude shows up in business:

*Effective Team and Business Management - Gratitude creates happy, effective leaders and managers, who inspire, direct and support their teams and businesses, passing strong positive values to employees and colleagues.

*Expanded Networks - Gratitude increases “social capital”, affects our worth, and helps us attract new clients, colleagues, mentors, and potential partnerships. This actually makes a lot of sense, as we are often limited in our scope and reach when we operate solo or with the “Lone Ranger Syndrome”. However, as our personal and professional networks grow, we have access to more, which allows us to share more, so that we can be and do more.

*Successful Goal Achievement- Research suggests that those who write down goals, take committed action, AND write in a Gratitude Journal, achieve goals faster and easier. Score! In fact there is a ton of research on the power of writing down goals. And, when this action is coupled with writing in a Gratitude Journal, that is, writing as if we have already achieved those goals with a sense of gratitude, there is a higher probability of achieving those intended results.

*Improved Decision-Making - Studies show that a sense of gratitude motivates us toward far-better decision-making. Decisions can be costly. Those who cultivate and nurture an attitude of gratitude are often seen as strong, confident, resilient, and willing to quickly take thoughtful decisive action. Confidence seems to have a high correlation to gratitude.

*Increased Personal Productivity - Gratitude has been shown to boost self-esteem and reduce insecurity, and it means that it can help us focus and improve our productivity. Again, having that strong sense of gratitude in life, for all of the good, the bad and the ugly, seems to increase a sense of confidence and well-being. Plus, it’s easy to get things done, accomplished and completed when we are in a space that is influenced by a mindset of gratitude and appreciation.

So turn up your Gratitude Attitude! Yes, turn up the volume! Colleagues share that creating and maintaining Gratitude Journals are well worth the time and energy. I’ve also found that to be true, and have instituted this practice for several years. From time to time, it has been fun and insightful to pull old journals out and glance at what I once wrote. How interesting to see the panoramic view of what transpired in my life, what I had, what I wanted, what I yearned for, and what I was honestly appreciating.

Treat yourself to a beautiful new journal. There are so many styles that will tickle your fancy. Allow yourself to shop, see and feel what looks inspiring to you, and select one that calls to you, and will motivate you to write. Select a beautiful writing implement to use just for this purpose. Begin the day listing five or more things you are grateful for, and claim them for yourself, each and every day. In fact, you can write that you are grateful for things and results that haven’t even occurred yet. Yes, claim them. Allow your creativity to come alive. Use vibrant color, add some doodles, joyful highlights, and set this daily time as a commitment to your personal growth and development.

Savor surprises. Begin to record unexpected happenings, as this tends to elicit deeper levels of gratitude. Take notice of unexpected events and acknowledge those special moments and notice what happens. It is said that “what you focus on expands.”

And as you do all of this, with love attention and a grateful heart, then step back and allow the Law of Attraction to do its magic in your life, your business or career.

Marie Fratoni is a Business Coach, Consultant and Speaker. As CEO of Get Clients Everywhere, she works globally to help professionals build solid, long-term, successful businesses. She coaches business owners and professionals to become savvy, social, and successful through cultivating professional relationships that are both fulfilling and profitable. She provides sound business-building strategies, coaching, and knowledge-filled seminars that are fun, dynamic and valuable. She can be reached at www.getclientseverywhere.com

#AQConsciousBusiness