Gratitude is the grease that makes working with others easier; it dampens the sparks that occur when co-workers rub each other the wrong way.
Gratitude comes in two parts: external and internal.
Let’s take external because I think it is the easier of the two to master. Why? Because it is action-oriented.
Show direct and frank appreciation. Make it known how much you value an individual’s contributions. Be as specific as possible. Delineate what the individual has done to receive a thank you and tell him or her how much their work is appreciated. Simple words certainly, but they go a long way. All of us cherish moments of authentic recognition.
The second part of gratitude may be trickier to master because it deals with our inner selves.
Gratitude is the recognition that you have something to offer the world and the world has something to offer you. Gratitude is the capacity to care.
From that recognition comes the thanks you need to be grateful — for who you are and what you have.