Image courtesy of Stuart Miles for free at blogpiks.com
Next week is Thanksgiving and I have been thinking about the things I am most grateful for this year.
If you read the last Rainmaking Recommendation, you will know that it really hasn’t been a great year for me, but I am truly grateful that things are turning around and doing so quicker than I ever thought possible. More importantly, I am thankful for the family, friends, colleagues and clients who have stuck by me this year.
And the more I think about it, the more I understand the power of gratitude in my business.
Gratitude is more than just being thankful. Gratitude can become a business strategy which allows you to grow your book for business in a way you never thought.
This is not about airy-fairy stuff, and it’s not about using this time of year to offer discounts or gifts to clients, referral source and others. That’s inauthentic.
It’s about saying “Thank You” to those who have supported you. It’s about sincere appreciation.
How does this work as a business strategy?
If you have been reading my blog or have attended my webinars, lectures and CLE seminars, you have heard me say the following two things:
- People do business with people they know, like and trust, and
- Rainmaking is about relationships.
Gratitude helps to foster relationships. People want to be noticed and acknowledged. Your appreciation for their good work, their help in providing referrals, and being able to assist them with the legal issues they have, will foster loyalty and consequently more business.
- Want your staff to be more motivated? Thank them for the good work they do on a regular basis. Instead of berating associates and assistants for mistakes, catch them doing good work and acknowledge it.
“Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune.” —Sam Walton, WalMart Founder
- Want more referrals? Genuinely thank those people who have referred clients to you in the past. Even if the referral is not a good one or the person that was referred doesn’t become a client, saying “thanks” to the referral source will prompt them to send more.
“No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” Alfred North Whitehead
And while there are many other reasons to express gratitude, being thankful makes you feel good. When you genuinely express appreciation to others, you are giving something to them that makes them feel happy, which, consequently, makes you feel better.
“Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life.” Jack Canfield
Finally, with all my heart, I want to thank you.
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