Everyday Reminders of Gratitude
Everyday reminders to thank the people around us
At Salesforce, they start every presentation given to external customers (and sometimes internal ones) with a Thank You slide and end each presentation with a Thank You Slide. This was done as a way to express gratitude, but also, as a way to acknowledge that they don’t exist without the business, support and insight that customers provide, and any success that we had comes because our customers were there alongside us.
At times, it may seem formulaic or to some it may seem a little unorthodox (especially when you throw in a bunch of cartoon characters) but I can confidently say that when I worked there my teammates and I truly felt honest and grateful when we delivered those words. Over my time there, I saw countless moments where employees went above and beyond to do something that meant something of value to a customer, whether or not it was supposed to be done.
Sure, some of this was done for a cause (to close a deal, to retain a customer, to get a bigger bonus) but what it underscored to me was a fundamental truth about business and life: None of us exist in a vacuum and the world is much much bigger than ourselves. And even in a business and for a company that is technology driven, acknowledging that you need others and are in relation to others shows just how much business is about people.
The fundamental truth about how interconnected we are in this world with others has been a theme I have been thinking about for the past two years - where many of us had to rely on the help, goodwill, compassion and friendship of those around us to navigate through our own day to day lives through a global pandemic. And while its difficult to think that it took a global pandemic for many of us to wake up and realize why it's important to value your relationships, having more germane reminders (like a holiday) are good moments to pause and reflect upon the people in our lives who have helped us, especially as many of us have dealt with challenging circumstances in work and life.
It’s a good reminder that while we all are certainly more than our accomplishments and failures, we are able to succeed in great moments and navigate the setbacks because of the people around us who lift us up, give us support, and lend a hand.
This week, I decided to ask some of the readers to tell me someone that they work with who they are thankful for, and why they are thankful for them. I felt moved and grateful for reading these answers knowing that many of us have colleagues and peers out there who truly care for us as human beings who are there to support us.
Here is what some people had to say:
Who is someone you are thankful for this year?
Lucero: “I’m thankful for my people leader, who knows each one of our teammates by name, hobbies and pet names. She cares about me as a person, often asking how she can be a better leader and looking for ways to match my project interests to business needs. She encourages me to own the impact I’m having on my clients and teammates and coaches me to craft my story for career progression. It’s been a while since I had a good manager and I’m incredibly grateful for her!”
Chris: “Rick is a partner at EY, where I worked after college, and an important career mentor to many. I am thankful that Rick took the time and energy early in my career to challenge me to elevate my performance at work. Rick embodies the mantra "good is the enemy of great" - he doesn't settle for good and challenges himself and those around him to be great. Rick helped me apply to MBA programs and wrote a powerful letter of recommendation. I am grateful for his mentoring and help, as my career would not be what it is without him.”
Brad: Al. (Editor's Note: I’m honored..) For the platform and community you've built and the thought leadership that has given so many people a helpful perspective - either one to validate us with our thoughts on our career, or open our eyes to something else we may have been missing. I'm also thankful for my previous managers and colleagues who have been selfless and supportive in their career advice. When you have a manager who (without hesitation) provides guidance or a recommendation that's best for you, even if it's against what's best for them or their team or the larger organization, you've found a mentor and advocate for the long run.
Hon: “I’d like to say thank you to Cara for always being the light for everyone on the team and always offering a fresh perspective to unique challenges.
Kristen : This year, I am most thankful for my career coach Sarah. She is truly attuned to the needs of Learning & Development professionals and flexible in her coaching approach so she can meet you where you‘re at. After each interaction with her - during a 1:1 session, in a virtual group setting, and even just reading the content she shares on LinkedIn - I am incredibly inspired and motivated to make progress towards my goals. Entirely as a result of her guidance and thought provoking reflection exercises, I believe so much more is possible for my career than I ever would have thought.”
Cara: "Thank you to my teammates Abby, Hon, and Melanie. I love being part of a team that works together so well, sets lofty goals, and takes care of each other behind the scenes. You're quite honestly the best. Special thank you to our leader, Brittany, for prioritizing our team's wellness, encouraging us to to iterate, and being the type of leader who truly listens."
David: “Thank you to my parents, who without their sacrifice and dedication, my siblings and I would not be in the position we are today.”
Jamie: “Thank you to my manager Abby, who I have leaned on significantly while trying to take on a new role at work, who doesn’t laugh when I ask dumb questions, and who shows genuine care and compassion every time we check in.”
Blake: “I'm incredibly grateful for my AP Government teacher Mr. Urban. I wouldn't have charted down this path without the high standard he held my classmates and me in that course. His coaching on critical thinking, analysis, and sound writing set all of us up for success in college.”
And finally, I want to say thank you to all of you, to those who have been reading for awhile and to those that are new around here (come say hi!) - I’m grateful that you’re reading, that you’re contributing and that you’re sharing, and providing me feedback on the journey to this. I’m learning a lot, having fun, and reminded constantly about how lucky and grateful I am I get to do this work.
What I Read
What Paternity Leave Does For a Father’s Brain (NY Times)
“Paternity leave may not just be transformative for fathers, but good for mothers too. In a new study published in The Journal of Child and Family Studies, we measured sleep, stress and depression in couples recruited during their first pregnancy and followed across the first year of their baby’s life. We found that mothers showed better mental health trajectories when their partners took paternity leave.”
Going From Treading Water to Thriving (Deb Liu)
“We spend a tremendous amount of time at work. Many of us work more hours than we sleep, and more hours than we spend with our family, on a daily basis. For this reason, cruise control can actually be a blessing in disguise. Ask yourself, "If I remained in this job for the next year, what meaning would I want in my life? How should I make this time count?"
Great Resignation? Tech Workers Try a Great Reconsideration Instead (Wired) - “Ogbuanya isn’t alone in reconsidering his priorities around work. More Americans have quit their jobs in the past few months than ever before, many citing job requirements that are no longer worth the paycheck. For tech workers—who are already high paid and in demand—this has led to a reshuffling within the industry. Tech workers are moving between jobs with new demands, including the ability to work remotely, more flexibility in work hours, and more time spent on meaningful tasks.”
The Job Market Is Going Crazy And It’s Going To Get Worse. How Do We Recruit? (Josh Bersin)
“All this may be great for the workers, but it’s a huge burden for employers.Companies are finding it extremely difficult to hire and recruiters are in high demand. In fact, there are now more recruiter jobs open than software engineers! We need to think about recruiters as the most valued workers we have!”
What I Listened To
Productivity and Habits: Brene Brown and James Clear (Dare to Lead)
Work and Career: Divorcing Our Self-Work From Work (The Ready)
Work and Career: Productivity Dysmorphia - Why Can’t I see my own success? (Is This Working?)
Thank You, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Al