How to Use Your Leadership Influence to Grow the Gratitude Revolution

How to Use Your Leadership Influence to Grow the Gratitude Revolution

After posting a leadership development article on Gratitude, I get this great response from a colleague and friend, Erik Beckler, author of Four Fundamentals of Leadership:

“Chronic fear is debilitating. Showing gratitude in leadership is a great way to counter fear in yourself and others.  When gratitude is present and permeates a team culture, fear has a lot to go through to make an impact.”

How powerful is that!?

It’s hearing comments like these that inspired me to develop a series on how gratitude expands your leadership influence.

In fact, gratitude empowers both you and your team to grow a Can-Do Mindset. According to neuroscientist and author, Caroline Leaf, positive actions like gratitude sprout branches on your leadership tree. Read the article HERE. 

A Can-Do Mindset is critically important for any leader who faces unreasonable obstacles in achieving their goals. That’s all of us, isn’t it?  It’s me, for certain. That’s why there’s a Part 2 to this topic. Read Part 1 HERE.

When I think of a Can-Do Mindset, I think of Growth Mindset. Here’s ChatGPT’s definition of a Growth Mindset:

“Having a growth mindset means embracing challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, you see them as stepping stones toward success. It’s like being on a journey where you’re constantly adapting, innovating, and improving to reach your destination.”

I also think of the Finnish concept of SISU. Here’s ChatGPT’s definition of “Sisu.”

“Sisu is a Finnish term that means inner strength, resilience, and determination. It’s like having a fierce spirit that helps you overcome challenges and keep going, even when things get tough. Sisu means facing obstacles head-on, staying focused on goals, and never giving up, no matter what. It’s about tapping into your inner power to push through adversity and achieve success.”

So, how might you instill a Can-Do, Growth, and SISU Mindset in your business?

I invite you to join the Gratitude Revolution.

Here are 3 Action Steps to leverage gratitude to achieve your growth goals:

• • Shine a Light on Fears
  • Spotlight the Power of Might
  • Stimulate Growth to Spot Opportunities

Step #1: Shine a Light on Fear

What keeps your Next-Gen leader stuck in the criticizing, condemning, and complaining mode?

This step aims to shine a light on their self-talk and expose their fears and lies.

Invite them to make a list of their 5 top fears/lies. Before they can change their situation, they need to identify their fears/lies.  For many, this is a surprising, and even shocking exercise!

Example: “I fear that AI will take over my job! The World Economic Forum, in a Future of Jobs Report, estimates that AI will be catastrophic. They predicted a replacement of 85 million jobs by 2025. I fear that I will be one of those 85 million jobless, homeless people!”

Result: Your Next-Gen leader lacks vision or hope for the future. They believe they are stuck. In this example, they resort to criticizing and complaining about AI.  They are trapped by a Closed-Door Mindset. Now that they’ve identified their fears, they are ready to move on to the next step.

Step #2: Spotlight the Power of Might 

What might you do to coach a young leader who’s caught in this fear/lie web?

Focus on possibilities and new opportunities. This fights the toxic impact of a Closed-Door Mindset.

Invite your Next-Gen leader to ask (and answer) these “might” questions:

• What might I do to see the opportunity hiding behind my biggest fear?
• What might I do to develop new skills so that I stay relevant?
• What might I do to leverage my resources to increase my capacity to thrive in this culture?

Example: “If I wasn’t so scared, I might see the opportunity hiding behind the challenge.  The next line of the article said, ‘… The same report, however, concluded that some 97 million new jobs would be created in the same timeframe due to AI.’ I might be able to keep my job with new, strengthened skills.  By focusing on what I can do, I might be one of the 97 million with a new, more exciting job!”

Result: Your Next-Gen leader is considering the power of “might!” This tiny word is powerful. It invites them to find the opportunities hiding behind the challenge. It sparks innovation and creativity. Restoring a hopeful vision is now in process!

Step #3: Stimulate Growth to Discover Opportunities

How might you leverage gratitude to grow new branches on your Next-Gen’s leadership tree?

Invite them to draw up a Gratitude & Resources List. This list will counter-act the fear that’s keeping them stuck. The Criticize, Condemn, and Complain Culture is a depressing place to be. Don’t overwhelm them. Invite them to keep a gratitude journal and add one item every day for a month!

In Step 1, you invited your Next-Gen leader to list their top 5 fears/lies. Their “Fear List” may have shocked them. And, they may be pleasantly surprised to discover how much they can be grateful for.

Of course, much of this depends on where they fall on the Gratitude vs. Grumbling 2 X 2 Coaching Framework. Learn more about using this tool in this article: A Leadership Strategy to Stop Getting Sucked into Grumbleville (Aptitude/Attitude 2 X 2 Framework)

As they move from a Closed-Door Mindset to a Can-Do Mindset, they often have a-ha moments. They recognize the opportunities that are frequently disguised as hard work!

Example: Gratitude & Resources List

I am grateful for these personal gifts and talents. They help me to deal with obstacles and challenges.

_____________________________________________________________

I am grateful that I can work with these coaches and mentors. They motivate, encourage, and guide me.

_____________________________________________________________

I am grateful for the following books, courses, and resources. They empower me to improve my skills and increase my relevance.

_____________________________________________________________

Result: Your Next-Gen leaders are taking ownership of their challenges. They are focusing on the positive. This Can-Do mindset gives them hope and a vision for the future. They are willing to take action to create a new and brighter future for themselves. They are stretching their comfort zone to achieve their full potential.

Summary: Coach Gratitude to Spark Healthy Leadership Brain Trees

You, and your Next-Gen leaders can fight fear, despite the new and daunting challenges you face.

By coaching a grateful mindset, you are laying the groundwork for future growth. With persistence, your Next-Gen leader gets stronger. In repeating a new behavior, they are creating new neural pathways. This is how they grow healthy, new leaves and branches on their leadership tree.

• Shine a light on their situation. Help them gain awareness about their fears and the lies they believe.
• Spotlight the power of “might.” Spark innovation so that they can find creative solutions for insurmountable challenges.
• Step #3: Stimulate growth. A gratitude & resources list helps them recognize the opportunities often disguised as hard work.

I believe a new level of leadership will grow from a new level of gratitude. Motivate your teams to grow strong roots – a Can-Do Mindset. They will not have to fear the toxin of the Criticize, Condemn, and Complain Culture, as a Can-Do Mindset protects their core.  Even if they fall or fail, they know they can bounce back.

Gratitude Leadership Influence Lesson: Commit to coaching gratitude – it’s the antidote to the Criticize, Condemn, and Complain Culture.

Gratitude Leadership Influence Question: What might you do to use gratitude to grow healthy branches on your Next-Gen Leader’s brain tree?