We’ve all seen the advice: write down three things you’re grateful for every day. This advice is simple and it works, making you feel more positive emotions, improving health and ability to respond to adversity. But for business leaders, the real power of gratitude in the workplace does not involve journaling, it requires making people feel genuinely seen and acknowledged.Why Gratitude is a Trump Card
Research suggests that the real performance lift from gratitude comes less from writing it down and more from experiencing it relationally. Feeling recognised by a colleague or leader supports positive team dynamics, help people feel valued, and foster a sense of connection.
Some studies indicate that relational recognition influences stress perception, mood, and engagement. While the precise mechanisms are still being explored, the takeaway is clear: acknowledgement matters, and it matters in context.
The Australian Experience
Recognition is happening across Australian workplaces, but too often it misses the mark. While over half of employees (52%) receive monthly recognition, only around 15% report that it feels meaningful. Research from AWI highlights that recognition without sincerity or context rarely resonates, demonstrating that thoughtful, well-timed acknowledgement matters more than frequency.
Building Supportive Habits
Turning gratitude into culture requires action:
- Specific acknowledgement from leaders, highlight real contributions: “Your work on the client project kept the team on track, thank you.”
- Peer-to-peer recognition: Encourage colleagues to notice and share appreciation for each other’s contributions.
- Support-giving behaviours: Build habits where team members help and recognise one another.
When leaders focus on relational gratitude, teams feel safer, more engaged, and more motivated, creating a cycle of support and collaboration. Psychologically, when employees feel seen, it reinforces their sense of belonging, self-worth, and purpose.
How Gratitude is the Key to Business Success
Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good exercise. When employees feel recognised and supported:
- Engagement and discretionary effort increase
- Stress decreases, contributing to healthier teams
- Retention improves, reducing hidden costs and turnover
Framed this way, gratitude becomes a strategic tool for leaders: a way to cultivate culture, strengthen teams, and improve outcomes, without overpromising or reducing it to a “quick fix.”
In the long run, gratitude that’s seen, heard and felt doesn’t just lift people, it lifts the whole organisation, and strengthens what comes next.
Ready to shape a culture people want to be part of?
At Rapport Leadership, our leadership programs help teams feel seen, valued and inspired to give their best — where gratitude and growth go hand in hand.
