“The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” Neale Donald Walsch
Why should we show gratitude when we get help with our business goals?
Maybe you have a client who has helped you reach some of your goals with referrals, or you work with a business coach or you have an accountability partner giving you support and a push. Receiving help should never be taken for granted. When we acknowledge what someone has done to help us reach our goals and to move our businesses forward, it makes them feel appreciated for time and energy they’ve given to us. We always want to make sure that the people in our lives who are helping us are acknowledged and appreciated. It’s a win/win because they give us help, we appreciate them and in turn it encourages more of the same helpful behavior. When you thank someone, they are more likely to want to do more!
Who should we show gratitude to in business?
People who help us reach our goals may be:
Accountability partners. These are people who typically listen to us, give us feedback, encouragement, share ideas with us and hold us to meet self imposed deadlines.
Clients. Our clients pay us to do what we love. If we didn’t have paying clients, we’d have a hobby. Depending on what type of business you have, your clients may have to share personal things, be vulnerable and have trust in you.
Referral Partners. These may be happy clients that pass on our contact information or share our services on social media. It could be other business professionals who are in networking groups with us. It could be our own friends and family. Sometimes it’s even our colleagues! Referrals are the best way to get business and is business given to us on a silver platter.
Family. Our own family members are often in the trenches with us, supporting us and our dreams even during the times when we aren’t bringing in financial support. Owning a business can have a lot of ups and downs, both financially and emotionally. It can be hard for family members who don’t own a business to understand. Yet, they know how important it is to us and they help us keep on keepin’ on.
How can we show gratitude?
Showing gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated, difficult or expensive. Fortunately, it’s doesn’t take much for people to feel seen and appreciated.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Aesop
Make it easy to succeed in showing gratitude. If you want to send a handwritten greeting card, then make sure you have cards on hand and stamps on hand. If you have what you need at your fingertips, it’s much more likely that it will actually happen. Other options for cards are SendOutCards or the TouchNote app. You can even have cards printed through Vistaprint with your business and contact info.
A small gift can be a nice surprise. Again, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Just a $5 coffee card placed in a card with a handwritten note is a great treat. I know I’d love a free cup of coffee or breakfast sandwich!
When working with clients, you can easily share nice little acts of kindness and appreciation. A little bouquet of flowers, a cupcake from your local bakery, a nice card and piece of chocolate left on their counter when you leave. Do you have a garden? How about a delivery of a little bundle of fresh vegetables?
A small gift in line with your business is a great touch. Professional organizer- how about a \\”to do list\\” pad? Do you make something or sell something that you could share a sample of? Soap, essential oil, make-up, baked goods, etc.
A shout out on social media for someone who has helped you or given you good service is another great way to show gratitude and to support someone. For business professionals, be sure to include their social media page or website. Always make it easy for someone to connect with them directly.
Small acts of gratitude have big returns. Who do you have to be grateful for and can let them know today? A teacher, a mentor, a boss, a family member, a friend, a client?
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie
