According to a Gallup Poll of 4 million employees across all industries, 65% percent of people in the U.S. reported that they do not receive any praise or recognition in the workplace on a regular basis.  This study found that employees who do receive regular recognition and praise: increase their individual productivity and engagement; are more likely to stay with their organization; receive higher loyalty and satisfaction scores from customers; and have better safety records and fewer accidents on the job.  In fact, it is such a critical piece of job satisfaction that in a 2012 U.S. Department of Labor study, a lack of appreciation was identified as the #1 reason why people in the United States choose to leave their jobs.

When gratitude is practiced in the workplace relationships are transformed, complaints are minimized, and satisfaction levels skyrocket.  This effect is profound and long lasting because, essentially, gratitude rewires the brain to see and process the world differently. 

Thousands of studies demonstrate that happiness is one of the major predictors of success in the workplace.  For example, one study found that happy employees are 31% more productive than negative, stressed or neutral employees.  Another study found that practicing gratitude on a daily basis reduces stress hormones by 23%. 

So how exactly can you practice gratitude in the workplace?  Here are some tips:

• Start small.  Did a co-worker smile at you today?  Reciprocate.  Did you have mostly green lights during your commute to work? Give thanks.
• Along with the words "Thank-You," make sure you state specifically what it is you are thankful for. 
• Don't delay your thanks.  Gratitude should be communicated as soon as possible after the action that you are thankful for occurs.
• Be sincere and genuine when sharing thanks.  People are highly perceptive to insincere feedback.
• Be creative.  Gratitude can be delivered in different ways: a voice mail message, an email, a text, a note.
• Face-to-face expressions of gratitude are especially appreciated as they strengthen the connection between giver and receiver.  For greater contributions don't forget the value of public statements of thanks during a staff meeting or in an internal employee newsletter. 
• Make sure you are sharing gratitude with everyone, not just a select few.
• Spread gratitude and a lighter perspective by providing spontaneous acts of appreciation in your workplace. Unexpected, good-natured humor is a great way to perk people up. Share a funny knock-knock joke you've heard, leave a candy bar on someone's desk or stick a smiley post-it note on a co-worker's jacket where they are bound to see it when getting ready to leave for the day.