It only seems appropriate in the month of November with the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, that we dedicate our topic to being thankful. Creating a personal attitude of gratitude is fitting as 2015 comes to a close. This time of year offers us the opportunity to look at what we have accomplished and those around us that have impacted where we are. Business and how we handle the relationships from within can be a starting point of reflection. Transforming our leadership viewpoint can also be a gateway to how we approach transforming our lives.
It is very easy to neglect the importance of celebrating the small successes in the workplace. We are moving 200 miles an hour, fast and furiously dealing with current problems at hand that we might not take the time to acknowledge what has been working well already. We are so focused on the future that it’s hard to appreciate the fullness of today.
When I facilitate ATW training sessions and ask about celebrating small successes, leaders often reluctantly admit they rarely celebrate, unless it’s for an employee birthday or a major holiday. I think that is unfortunate and a lost opportunity. Celebration offers a chance to acknowledge and honor this moment; where we are RIGHT NOW.
There will always be another goal, another target, another number to make; there is always an endless list of activities to which we are running to keep up to. But what about acknowledging what we have right now? Celebration doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. What matters most is the intention to celebrate. Out of that intention, the means of how to celebrate will become clear.
Here is a starting point to invite celebration and an attitude of gratitude into your year-end process:
- Clear out the old – Make way for the new. I find that as I start to clean out files and projects from 2015 and make way for the new in 2016, I see all that I have accomplished. Sometimes it’s hard to remember the details of the past year reviewing the files. Clearing out the clutter brings back the sharper edges of my memory, showing exactly what was accomplished. That often surprises and delights me.
- Make a list of “Big Wins.” What were those top 3 things that made 2015 remarkable for you? At the end of the day, what truly matters is how significant a breakthrough it was for you to triumph; not the absolute size of the win. Growth is often revealed in the most subtle acts.
- List the top 5 things you are most grateful for in 2015. Who were those people, events, or opportunities that were game-changers for you? Look at them. Are there any themes or patterns? If you had a theme for the year, how did it play out? Were you acting in such a way that what you declared mattered?
I have a personal ritual at the end of every year. When things slowdown and we’re in the gap between this year and the next, I take some time for reflection, clean-out, and gratitude work. I celebrate where I am and all that I have right now. I express gratitude for all of it, knowing it could have turned out quite differently.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving and the end of another year, I hope your 2015 had some amazing moments for you. I hope you realize now just how remarkable they were. I hope you take the time to celebrate them, are grateful for them, and that you are open to receiving and sharing those moments of gratitude with others around you.
By: Denise Forney, ATW Training Solutions
Training Solutions Station 