Show Business

I’m sitting on a flight somewhere over the middle of the country on my way home after spending the Thanksgiving holiday with family in Ohio. Naturally it’s a time to be thinking about being thankful, both personally and professionally, a topic I’ve written about before.

That advice (say it often, say it aloud) is still true, but it’s incomplete. While expressing thanks to co-workers is necessary to being a good leader, it isn’t sufficient. Thankfulness must be shown through giving of time, empowerment, listening, and taking action when needed. Oh yeah, and through compensation too, if it’s within your power to influence. The expression “give thanks” is apropos: being thankful costs something.

When not backed by action, spoken words are empty at best, and counterproductive at worst. Might be better to say nothing if you’re not truly grateful.

Show and tell isn’t just for kindergarten and job interviews.