Why Gratitude is the Secret Weapon in Building a Business - Lessons from African Proverbs
Some believe that the level of professional success is directly related to the number of hours spent working. But what if hustling and grinding out an 80-hour work week is not the definition of success?
We turn our attention to a new perspective. Traditional African proverbs that express simple but insightful truths, offering an alternative view about what it means to be successful.
Proverbs are an integral part of African culture; they are used to illustrate ideas, reinforce arguments and deliver messages of inspiration, consolation, celebration and advice. Sometimes overlooked or forgotten, they are important tools for teaching moral and social values, and how to conduct oneself successfully in the business of life.
The relentless pursuit of profit, customers and growth can take a toll on any entrepreneur. What if it didn’t have to? What if there is a way out of that never-ending spiral?
This is where gratitude comes in. Gratitude can shift your attention and perspective, gently weaning you off the pursuit of money and the material to pursue a life of human moments and value-based experiences; a life of purpose and meaning.
Practising gratitude as a lifestyle has the potential to turn your life and business around. When you only focus on generating revenue in your business, it can lead to your identity and happiness being directly linked to how much you have brought in for the company. Considering how unpredictable the business climate in Africa can be, it is wiser to find a source of happiness that is within your control.
So what exactly do we mean by gratitude? The practice of expressing gratitude is often associated with personal relationships like friendships, partnerships, or family. According to the neuroscience of gratitude article, practising gratitude is linked with outside benefits on your mental and social well-being.
You rarely hear the words “gratitude” and “business” in the same sentence, which is sad, because gratitude can sometimes play a crucial role in creating a healthy company culture and a productive working environment. The practice of gratitude—and its close sibling, appreciation—has started to infiltrate workplaces with stunning results.
It’s about being present enough in the moment to take the time to express your appreciation towards your team of staff for hitting a target or to your customer for always coming back. Gratitude is taking the time to reflect on your business and appreciate all the growth you have experienced since inception.
Gratitude is a way of seeing the world and therefore, a skill that can be learnt. Practising gratitude in your business and life will transform you and at the same time help you create a community of people who gravitate more to you and your business. It is actively choosing to notice and celebrate the ‘little wins’ even when you know the business still has a long way to go to hit its goals .
In a world where competition is fierce and you’re doing all that you can to stand out, the act of gratitude transforms an ordinary entrepreneur into an unforgettable business person.
Here is how and why being grateful is important for any business owner:
You become a more effective manager
Most employees say that they would work at a job longer if they felt appreciated by their manager. How often do you take the time to appreciate the efforts and wins of your employees? Small but thoughtful gestures like a handwritten note of thankfulness or a personalised token of appreciation can boost employee morale and retention. Even older institutions like Campbell Soup, whose former CEO wrote 30,000 thank you notes to his employees, are embracing a personal touch in showing appreciation.
Building cultures of gratitude and appreciation can transform our work lives, leading to deeper connections to each other and to the work we’re doing. However, only do this from a sincere heart. False appreciation tactics for the sake of keeping employees happy leaves a bad taste in their mouth.
Helps you build your network
The common adage says that your network is your net worth. This is especially true for entrepreneurs since referrals are always the best source of business.
When you consistently express gratitude and make your customers feel appreciated, you will gain brand ambassadors who will sing your praises to others. This way, your name is mentioned in rooms where you are not physically present. This is the most powerful social proof that you can gain as a business owner.
Helps you achieve and attain goals
Gratitude helps you to notice and celebrate your micro-wins. Creating that habit of celebration will give you and your team the motivation you need to achieve the next goals.
When you break down a big goal into mini-goals, it makes even the loftiest dream feel achievable. Celebrating those small wins boosts morale and keeps everyone motivated along the journey.
This thought-provoking proverb from Benin, West Africa, is about improving productivity and decision-making capabilities. It is a reminder for business owners to focus on what’s really important. While wearing many hats or trying to stay on-top of the day-to-day, it’s easy for entrepreneurs to get distracted and forget to cultivate human relationships.
In an AWEC session on ‘Operations & Business Process Improvements’, Dr. Wiljeana Glover, Operations and Information Management Professor at Babson College said that, “In order for the business to grow healthy, think about pruning around complexities. Make small manageable changes so that you don’t run into too many challenges.”
Practising gratitude with the people in and around your business is a great place to begin. Invest in your team, suppliers and customers by ensuring that they feel happy and appreciated and it will pay more dividends to the business than any marketing gimmick that you might be tempted to try.
After all, people like to do business with people they like. Practising gratitude is not just good for business, but good for the soul.