Leaders have good days and bad days (see blog post on “Imperfect Servant”), just like everyone else. I often urge clients to keep “Gratitude Journal”, especially during the toughest of times. Here is how it works:

Each evening, before the lights go out, make a list of the things that come to mind that you are grateful for – don’t stop until you have a minimum of five. Bullet points are fine, and it usually takes less than 5 minutes to do this. It encourages intentionality about what you may be grateful for.

As an evening activity, this allows assimilation (maybe even a dream or two) around thankfulness. Amazing. Better than a sleeping pill, more uplifting than anti-depressants. I mostly don’t think too hard about what should be written. Some of my own entries include fresh snow and slippery roads, my pug’s snore as he sleeps, my husband assisting me to find my car keys, even back pain (a significant force in my life recently; but I know that time will reveal it’s purpose).

For leaders, this journal can be a starting place for discovering and taking action on who they need to thank in their workor other life – and for what. Gratitude is sorely missing in the work place, and a leader who sincerely (and regularly) models the art of saying “thank you” will impact the workplace more than she can fathom.