Why gratitude is your best leadership strategy

Simple expressions of appreciation can strengthen teams and improve workplace dynamics.

I didn’t set out to start a gratitude ritual with my colleagues at Jotform. A few years ago, as the holiday season approached, I was overwhelmed by the number of tasks left to complete. The stress was so distracting that it made it hard to focus. To break the cycle of rumination, I grabbed a pen and wrote a quick note to one of our directors. She had been balancing family commitments and work projects yet still managed to bring her enthusiasm to a recent team effort. I wanted her to know how much I appreciated her energy—it had buoyed the entire team.