“Although people say they want to be thanked more often at work, fewer than 50% of Americans polled for the John Templeton Foundation, a philanthropic organization, reported that they would be very likely to thank salespeople, their mail carriers, or cleaning crews, and just 15% express daily gratitude to friends or colleagues. 74% never or rarely express gratitude to their bosses—but 70% said they’d feel better about themselves if their bosses were more grateful.”
~ Andrew O’Connell – We Could Be Better At Giving Thanks, Harvard Business Review
Credits: Stats from HBR. Image: snoopn4pnuts.com
No surprise, really…is it?
What is a surprise is how many don’t do it, yet expect it in return. That to me is the irony of it all.
It’s the irony and the pity in my book.
Ah yes, well stated.
I find this sad. My parents DRILLED this into our heads as kids–‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’ were two phrases we learned to use early and often. It takes so little effort, and yet….
Yes, me too. Yet, in work settings, I can see how…
Reblogged this on Bright, shiny objects… and commented:
Apparently most people agree — it is ‘about me’! Except, when we all agree it’s ‘about me’, there is no compassion and society breaks down…
Thanks for sharing Todd. I agree.
How very true. Having been on both sides of the boss/employee relationship, the authors conclusions feel correct.
I can’t recall a time when we didn’t give our postal worker or delivery person a card of thanks at the holiday time, often with a little gift inside. Same with the gardnerers when we had them, and special servers at the coffee shop who smiled and helped us all year.
Thanks for the reminder that a little kindness goes a long way
I agree Barney. A little kindness and gratitude goes a very long way.
“Do Unto Others” seems so appropriate here. I don’t think I’m stingy with my thanks to these folks but it’s something to pay attention to.
Yes, I agree. I feel I’m a giver of thanks. I have some growing to do when I don’t receive thanks that I feel was coming.
Everyone jokes about Canadians being so polite. I wonder how our stats would be?
Great question!
It takes so little effort to say thanks. We really need to say it more often. I do say it a lot, but it’s good to be aware and be reminded.
Agree on the reminder front Anneli.
Because I say thank you to everybody as a matter of course, I can’t help bristling inside when someone doesn’t say thank you to me when they should. Such as when driving and you let someone have the right of way and they drive past with their noses in the air. It doesn’t take a lot to acknowledge someone else’s politeness with a wave. Or when one person holds a door open to let another through and it goes unacknowledged. Grrrrr. I’ve been known to call out after the rude person “Don’t say thank you , then!”
Time to take a deep breath, Sarah D:
We are sooo simpatico on this topic Sarah. I’m right there with you. The good deed “should” be enough, yet…
Reblogged this on prayertherapyblog.
Thanks for sharing Enna.
gratitude has such power. thanks for sharing these stats!
🙂 Thanks for the thanks Vicki!
Thanks for the Snoopy picture!
Note to Self: Shocking. (not) John loves Snoopy pics. 🙂
Funny you posted this. Yesterday I was at a breakfast and the speaker was talking about the importance of thanking people “even though they are only doing their job”. I scratched my head at that.
Synchronicity.
Sad really. If only those people knew how good they’d feel afterwards…
🙂
It is, very sad.