Leading with Gratitude

Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results

By: Adrian Gostick, Chester Elton

Narrated by: Adrian Gostick, Chester Elton, Marshall Goldsmith

The influential New York Times bestselling authors—the “apostles of appreciation” Chester Elton and Adrian Gostick—provide managers and executives with easy ways to add more gratitude to the everyday work environment to help bolster moral, efficiency, and profitability.

Workers want and need to know their work is appreciated. Showing gratitude to employees is the easiest, fastest, most inexpensive way to boost performance. New research shows that gratitude boosts employee engagement, reduces turnover, and leads team members to express more gratitude to one another—strengthening team bonds. Studies have also shown that gratitude is beneficial for those expressing it and is one of the most powerful variables in predicting a person’s overall well-being—above money, health, and optimism. The WD-40 Company knows this firsthand. When the leadership gave thousands of managers training in expressing gratitude to their employees, the company saw record increases in revenue.

Despite these benefits, few executives effectively utilize this simple tool. In fact, new research reveals “people are less likely to express gratitude at work than anyplace else.” What accounts for the staggering chasm between awareness of gratitude’s benefits and the failure of so many leaders to do it—or do it well? Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton call this the gratitude gap. In this invaluable guide, they identify the widespread and pernicious myths about managing others that cause leaders to withhold thanks.

Gostick and Elton also introduce eight simple ways managers can show employees they are valued. They supplement their insights and advice with stories of how many of today’s most successful leaders—such as Alan Mulally of Ford and Hubert Joly of Best Buy—successfully incorporated gratitude into their leadership styles.

Showing gratitude isn’t just about being nice, it’s about being smart—really smart—and it’s a skill that everyone can easily learn.

Must read for all leaders today!

Gostick and Elton have done it again! They provide practical, tactical and research based advice that I can have life-changing impacts in business and in one’s personal life. Packed with stories that illustrate the effectiveness of their strategies. Excellent!

A Must Listen.

The best boss I ever had in my career used the principles in this book and I have tried hard over the years to copy his management style. I wish everyone in management would read this book and apply the principles to the work place.

Great Leaders Express Gratitude!!!

Love, love, love the variety of research used to support solid common sense: gratitude pays - both at work and at home. These skilled authors weave a rich tapestry of truth in tandem with real-world story sharing. This was an intriguing read indeed!

Great audiobook! Highly recommend for leaders at all levels

Audiobook was very relatable. Easy to listen to, and understand with concepts that could be easily applied to any workplace situation or scenario highly recommend for leaders at all levels.

Love

I thought this was great, loved the perspective and ideas! Showing more gratitude is so important and everyone should & needs to know their worth.