The Power of Gratitude in Organizational Change

 Ah, Thanksgiving. The time of year when we pause to savor pumpkin pie, dodge awkward family conversations, and most importantly, reflect on what we’re grateful for. But what if we carried that spirit of gratitude into our organizational change efforts?

Gratitude isn’t just a nice-to-have sentiment for the dinner table; it’s a powerful tool for creating momentum, building resilience, and celebrating progress. And let’s face it—change is no walk in the park. It’s more like hiking a trail you didn’t realize was uphill both ways. That’s why stopping to appreciate the view every now and then is so important.

Recognizing the Journey

In any change initiative, we often get so focused on the destination—whether it’s a new system implementation, a cultural transformation, or reimagining how we work—that we forget to acknowledge how far we’ve come. Maybe you’ve faced skepticism from stakeholders and won them over. Perhaps you’ve hit roadblocks that felt like insurmountable walls, only to find creative ways around them. These victories, big and small, deserve recognition.

Take time to reflect: What challenges have we faced, and how have we overcome them? What milestones have we hit? When we pause to appreciate these moments, it builds confidence and a sense of accomplishment that fuels us for the road ahead.

Celebrating the Present

Change often feels like a whirlwind, doesn’t it? Deadlines loom, priorities shift, and it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos. Gratitude reminds us to hit the pause button. When we’re present in the moment, we create space to appreciate not just the progress, but the people—our colleagues, teams, and partners—who are walking this path with us.

Thanksgiving is a great time to say, “Hey, look where we are! Look who we’re surrounded by!” Share your gratitude openly, whether it’s a heartfelt email, a quick shout-out in a meeting, or just taking five minutes to tell someone how much their contributions matter. Those moments of connection can create a ripple effect, energizing your team and reinforcing a culture of appreciation.

Gratitude as a Strategy

Here’s the thing: gratitude isn’t just warm and fuzzy. It’s strategic. Teams that feel valued are more motivated, engaged, and willing to go the extra mile. Acknowledging what’s going well builds psychological safety and fosters trust, which are essential for navigating change effectively. Gratitude shifts the focus from what’s going wrong to what’s going right—and that shift can be the difference between feeling stuck and moving forward with purpose.

Your Challenge This Thanksgiving

As you gather around your table—or maybe your desk if you’re sneaking in some work—think about the changes you’re leading or experiencing. What are you grateful for? Who has helped you along the way? And how can you bring a little Thanksgiving spirit back to your organization?

Remember: change is hard, but it’s also an opportunity to grow, connect, and create something new. Let’s not rush through it without taking time to be thankful for the journey. You, your team, and your organization deserve it.

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂

With gratitude,