When expressing gratitude to employees, timing matters

Extensive research highlights the benefits of showing gratitude to employees, but recent findings reveal that when you express gratitude is just as important as how.

Expressing gratitude before an employee takes on a challenging task can significantly impact their emotional resilience, performance, and ability to persist through difficulties.

Imagine you’re tasked with delivering difficult news, such as layoffs. While this is never an easy conversation, your boss could ease the emotional burden by expressing genuine gratitude beforehand: “Thank you for taking on this tough responsibility. I appreciate your professionalism and the care you’re showing in handling this situation.”

This simple act acknowledges the difficulty of the task, boosting your resilience and sense of social worth.

Research conducted across industries, including intensive care units in hospitals and experimental studies with remote workers, confirms that pre-task gratitude leads to higher persistence and emotional regulation during distressing tasks compared to gratitude expressed afterward.

This timing fosters a sense of connectedness and purpose that helps employees navigate challenges effectively. Here are a few tips you may want to consider:

Tips for Meaningful Gratitude:

1. Anticipate difficulty: Recognise when a task might be stressful or emotionally taxing and prepare to acknowledge the effort required.
2. Express authentic gratitude: Be specific and sincere, linking the employee’s actions to their positive impact on the team or organisation.
3. Follow up: After the task, check in with the employee to show ongoing support and reinforce their value.
4. Cultivate a grateful culture: Encourage expressions of gratitude throughout the team, creating a supportive and resilient workplace.

In today’s high-stress work environments, gratitude is more than a courtesy—it’s a powerful tool to boost morale and performance. A simple “thanks in advance” can transform difficult tasks into moments of connection and perseverance.