Leading with Gratitude

Over the years, I have been surprised by the number of times I have been asked how it is possible to be a successful businessman and also a good Catholic. I am amazed by how many people think the two are incompatible. When I am asked to give a talk about my career, the “Domino’s Story,” one of the central themes I try to emphasize is how I believe being a faithful Catholic in one’s personal and business life is not an obstacle to success in business, but in fact a foundation for it. In other words, I believe that when we work to foster virtue in our personal lives, families, and businesses, it is never an impediment to success in business. Of course, this makes perfect sense…because God knows what we need more than we do.

With that said, as Catholics we often hear about the importance of gratitude. We are called to be grateful to God for the many blessings He has given us and to express gratitude to Him and those He has put in our lives. There are numerous scriptures about the importance of gratitude, so it follows that if this is a virtue that God wants us to foster in our personal lives, it is one that will bless our companies as well.

Recently, I was browsing through an airport bookstore when a book on gratitude caught my eye. It is called Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results, by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. In this book, the authors clearly and vividly explain how introducing gratitude into the everyday culture of your business will not only bless your employees, but also increase their effectiveness and build a better corporate culture for your organization.

I think many people have a subconscious fear that if they thank or praise their employees, then they will let up and not work as hard, when in fact the exact opposite is true. We all want to be noticed, valued, and appreciated. So, why do we not think our employees will flourish in an environment where gratitude and appreciation are not rare, but in fact the norm? We need not look far to confirm this experience in our own lives. When someone we respect recognizes us for something we did, this causes us to have a greater sense of loyalty, commitment, and connectedness to them and the organization!

So, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this month, let me encourage you to read this book and see if God is calling you – in your personal and business lives – to live and lead with more gratitude.

TOM MONAGHAN is Legatus’ founder, chairman, and CEO.