With gratitude being such a powerful force, it only makes sense to incorporate gratitude into the workplace, as well as our personal lives. Science also demonstrates the value of expressing gratitude in business, and the positive difference it can make. One example of this is a study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology. The study found that nurses who were more frequently thanked for their efforts during the workweek resulted in higher work satisfaction, better sleep quality, and less headaches.
Similarly, a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that “93 percent of employees who reported feeling valued said that they are motivated to do their best at work and 88 percent reported feeling engaged. This compares to just 33 percent and 38 percent, respectively, of those who said they do not feel valued.”
More Studies on Gratitude:
Feeling Inspired? Check Out These Gratitude Ideas
When to Express Gratitude in Business
Sales
It is important to always keep an eye out for opportunities to spread gratitude and show appreciation. For sales people, knowing when it is the right time and acting on it can make all the difference. A great time to show gratitude is when someone accepts your meeting request. Something as simple as a coffee and a quick note can make a big impact, build greater rapport, and reduce no-shows to your meetings.
Account MAnagement
Account managers have many unique opportunities for personalized gratitude as they establish relationships with their accounts. Send a housewarming basket to the client that is moving, or baby supplies to the new parent. The key is active listening and showing a genuine interest in your clients. This is often the deciding factor between success and a missed opportunity.
Learn More About the Best Times to Show Gratitude in Account Management
Event Marketing
When planning and hosting an event, there are many points along the way where showing a little gratitude can lead to greater success. For example, send a coffee when someone signs up for your event, or a rideshare to get them from the hotel to the venue. These are great ways to show that you are excited that they are attending and thank them for giving you their time. Regardless if your event is virtual or in person, there are many tactics for expressing gratitude that you can implement.
Results of Expressing Gratitude in Business
The results of expressing gratitude in business are plentiful. First, many studies show an overall increase in happiness and health as a result of showing and receiving gratitude. A recent study from the Journal of Experimental Psychology demonstrated an increase in happiness and sense of wellbeing for both the giver and receiver of gratitude.
Expressing genuine gratitude in the workplace has many positive benefits, such as helping sales professionals prospect more efficiently. Gratitude helps salespeople stand out from the crowd and get more meetings booked by building stronger relationships with the people they are trying to do business with. Gratitude is a proven way to ward off the infamous specter that haunts all sales people - getting ghosted.
Expressing Gratitude in Sales
Read the case study to learn how expressing gratitude became Pure Storage's most powerful sales tool.
Now, let's dive into specific ways gratitude can be applied to different areas of business. Gratitude is a game changer in sales and helps break through the noise. There are countless people trying to get a little bit of your prospect’s time. However, not everyone is showing genuine gratitude and true interest.
At every single step in the sales process, gratitude can make a difference. One opportune occasion to show genuine gratitude is when a prospect agrees to a meeting. This develops an instant connection from the start, and ultimately saves sales reps time.
After the initial meeting, gestures of appreciation help you stay top of mind and shorten your sales cycle. Lastly, after the deal is won, it is best to always show gratitude and say thanks for doing business with you.
Gratitude in Customer Engagement Use Cases
Influence customer retention and contract renewal
Incorporate gratitude into high-touch service model
Increase satisfaction survey response rates
Expressing Gratitude in Marketing
The importance of expressing gratitude in marketing is just as prominent as in other departments. Particularly in event marketing, the opportunities to show gratitude are endless. Thanking people for spending their time at your event, whether it’s a conference or an online webinar, is a great way to move prospects down the funnel. A thoughtful touch can be all that was needed to encourage them to learn more about your product or service. Check out our Best Times to Say Thanks in Event Marketing blog post to learn more about the ideal times for gratitude throughout your virtual or in-person event.
Additionally, gratitude is good for your brand. By showing gratitude to people who interact with your company - at an event, an online webinar, through content download, or a demo request - you are building good will. These gestures of gratitude can become a part of your brand image and it will only help you to be known as a company that appreciates your prospects and customers.
Expressing Gratitude in the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a uniquely wonderful time to step back, reflect, and say thank you to your clients and coworkers for a great year. Even though it is the busiest time of year, remember to take time to make gratitude a priority.
One common mistake business professionals often fall into is sending the same generic things to everyone. Personalized gratitude means so much more to people and shows that you truly value them.
.png?width=300&height=300&name=Pillar%20page%20percents%20%20(2).png)
