Thanks Giving -- Leading with Gratitude

November 22nd, 1999

Dear friend:

This is a letter that I hope you will get just before Thanksgiving. It has to do with giving thanks and leading people.

Several years ago I was working with a group of senior executives of a large insurance company. As we talked about the character of the group we came to realize that almost no one in the group was a "natural appreciator." But they were wise. One woman in particular was very wise. And she asked this simple question - "I know you can do assertiveness training, but can you do gratitude training?"

I've thought a lot about that question. And recently I have become aware - through reading about leadership and observing effective leaders - that it is a great question. Let me quote a section from a book that I find to be very insightful. It is called Executive EQ and includes this brief passage:

What I have found is that exceptional leaders lead with gratitude, they pause to feel and express it first, because they have discovered that this is an essential way to improve organizational life, and they know that the feeling of appreciation will come back to them twofold.

Let me also share my observation of an effective leader. There are many women and men with whom I have had the privilege to work who lead with gratitude. But there is a leader in the city of Middletown who uses this gift most effectively. His name is Larry McHugh. For many years he was the coach of a high school football team that seemed to win the state championship on a regular basis. At that time I just assumed the school had the most talent. Now I know differently. The school had the most gifted coach, a man who knew how to lead with gratitude.

For the last several years Larry has been President of our Chamber of Commerce. Like many old southern New England cities, the citizens of this city can get discouraged. But Larry won't let that happen. He thanks us for every little contribution to the common good. And his constant Thanks Giving, which goes on twelve months a year, calls us to a higher level of commitment.

At the beginning of this holiday season, I want …..

• to encourage you to lead with gratitude;
• to THANK YOU for the support you have given me;
• and to wish you a good Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Bill