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Welcome to the monthly Fearless Conversations newsletter -- information and ideas to support and inspire us to create a world in which fearless conversations are common in our workplaces and communities, in our families and among friends.
Readers in the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving at the end of this month so I am offering two pieces on giving thanks: "Creating a Culture of Gratitude" and "A 'Thank You' Tip". There are resources for you in the "Just for Interest or Fun" link in the left column: "Gratitude Power". I hope you will be able to take ten minutes to enjoy the video - Louie Schwatrzberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!
Shyrl
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Creating a Culture of Gratitude
"Gratitude enriches human life. It elevates, energizes, inspires and transforms," says renowned psychologist Robert Emmons. "People are moved, opened and humbled through expressions of gratitude." His research with volunteers keeping gratitude journals suggested "that if a medication were invented with similar benefits, we'd probably see it described as a
new wonder drug."
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Gratitude transforms both our personal and our organizational lives. It is deeply aligned with appreciation. For me a dramatic example of an organization  experiencing the power of gratitude was a client weighed down by evidence that their enterprise should fold. I facilitated a comprehensive series of focus groups from which we found another kind of evidence -- multiple examples of appreciation and gratitude for all of the unique and steadfast services they offered. The articulated appreciation and gratitude renewed trust, inspired a new vision, and got people excited again -- even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This new evidence changed my thoughts and feelings about what they could achieve and certainly changed theirs. The conversation shifted from "we are struggling" to "we can survive" to "we can thrive".
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Emmons says that gratitude is an acquired "chosen attitude". His studies show that "people who cultivate an 'attitude of gratitude' experience multiple advantages of psychological buoyancy and a sense of well-being." I think the same is true of organizations, though I would nuance "attitude" as "culture". Just as a personal "attitude of gratitude" is cultivated by intention and practices, so, too, is an organizational culture of gratitude.
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An organization creates a culture of gratitude when it fine-tunes and exercises its ability to see and value the good it might otherwise ignore or take for granted. Cultivation of a culture of gratitude entails giving priority to the expression of gratitude in the same way an organization gives priority to the expression of its  mission. A simple tool to cultivate a culture of gratitude
is a round of thanks and appreciation at the end of meetings. Using the tool requires commitment because it is easy to let it go in the interest of time, even though it takes just a few minutes. But in a culture of gratitude, such an agenda item is as important as any other. An organization that cultivates gratitude wouldn't think of not stopping to articulate appreciation and gratitude any more than people would fail to express thanks for a gift.
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There are plenty of fun and creative tools to cultivate gratitude. The key is the commitment to tending it. Gratitude creates a sense of abundance to tap into,
like a wellspring, especially in times of struggle. Fear is minimized, if not eliminated, and is replaced by trust, collaboration, and shared passion. Cultivating a culture of gratitude is an organization's commitment to thrive.
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A "Thank You" Tip
When we say "thank you" we have a golden opportunity to enhance our connection with people. There's a practice from Nonviolent Communication - also known as "Compassionate Communication" - which helps to "spice up" saying "Thank You" for a gift or an act on our behalf. Part of the practice is to take care to express how the giver has touched something that matters to us or that we value.
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For example, I express gratitude if I say: "Thank you! Your gift is perfect!" But I communicate more about what is in my heart if I say something like: "Thank you for your gift! I am going to have so much fun with it. It will remind me to relax like we did during our visit."
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I often say in this newsletter: "Thank you for reading." Below I want to spice up my thanks a little.
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My Thanks to You
Always, I value and respect the choice you make to read my newsletter. I feel humble knowing that you are giving your time and attention to it. When you make the communication two-way, I feel especially delighted and reassured. You tell me that you look forward to the newsletter every month. You share what you learn from it or what your particular take-away's are for your personal and professional lives. You contribute to my learning by sharing your own information, ideas and inspirations. You offer suggestions that I am glad to try. You share the newsletter with family members, friends and colleagues and even have added subscribers to my mailing list. Sometimes you send me a kind of electronic "high-five"; I love that, too. Your connection gives me meaning, purpose and encouragement. Plus, it's just fun to hear from you! Thank you!
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Fearless Conversations Retreats
Explore basic practices and processes that will help your organization develop its capacity
to engage in "fearless conversations". These retreats
are relaxing, fun, inspiring and practical. They are timely opportunities for faculties, staffs, management or leadership teams, boards, faith communities, membership organizations and informal groups of friends or colleagues.
Click here for more information.
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Thank you for connecting Fearless Conversations with non-profit service organizations, schools, faith communities, small-to-mid-size businesses. Typically, I contract for design and facilitation of visioning or team-building retreats, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, transition planning, design and facilitation of decision-making processes.
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