Deploying Gratitude: Sending it on a Strategic Mission
Remember the frustration, possibly even anger, you felt the last time a project stalled or when someone resigned at the most inconvenient moment? You’ve been there, right? When tensions run high, and it feels like you're facing one hurdle after another, what do you do? It's so easy to focus on the negative; it's how we're wired.
What might be different if you deployed gratitude to that situation?
Gratitude Move 1: Deploying Gratitude
Welcome to Gratitude Moves™ a series exploring Strategic Ways to Activate Gratitude's Power. We introduced the series last week and start today with Deploying Gratitude.
Maybe you've never thought of deploying gratitude. I hadn’t thought of gratitude as something to deploy until I joined Markku Wilenius, Finland's leading futurist on conversations about gratitude and the future of work. A couple of weeks later, Markku messaged me to share how deeply gratitude had continued resonating with him after our conversation.
His reflection inspired me, as it was the first time I thought of deploying gratitude.
When you deploy gratitude even to the challenges you are facing, you actually start to see some beauty in them. So you start to see the blessing where you formerly saw obstacles and troubles. And that leads to a certain lightness in our souls. And it also leads to creativity in solving any issues. - Dr. Markku Wilenius
WOW! Gratitude as a strategic resource you can deploy. 🤔 Deploying gratitude is more than gratitude as a platitude or even an attitude. It involves channeling your gratitude purposefully and assigning it to a meaningful mission.
Unpacking the Move
According to Miriam-Webster, "deploy" is "to move, spread out, or place in position for some purpose." Perhaps, like me, you've primarily thought of "deploy" as a military term. In the context of Gratitude Moves™, it's about sending gratitude on a mission with the specific aim of changing your perception of a situation, person, or team.
Why does this matter? Because deploying gratitude not only lightens the soul, as Markku shared, but also fosters creativity and innovation when confronting issues.
Where and When to Deploy Gratitude
Think about that one situation at work that's causing you stress right now. Maybe it's a difficult colleague, an impossible deadline, or an unexpected setback.
These moments—when you least feel like being grateful—are exactly when deploying gratitude can be most powerful!
By intentionally looking for things to appreciate, even in challenging circumstances, you begin to see opportunities where you once saw only obstacles.
Practical Ways to Deploy Gratitude Now
Identify the Challenge: Choose a situation, person, or team where stress is high.
Set a Gratitude Mission: Articulate what you hope gratitude will transform. Is it tension into teamwork? Doubt into trust?
Express Thoughtful Gratitude: Be specific—acknowledge strengths, highlight potential growth, and share appreciation openly.
Rinse and Repeat for at least 21 Days: Changes like these don't usually happen overnight, but you might notice the shift begins immediately. Keep at it.
Real-World Application
A senior executive received a resignation letter from the lead accountant at the beginning of tax season. After seven great years, the resignation came as a surprise to everyone and created quite a crunch for this executive. As you can imagine, there was hurt and disappointment, confusion, and frustration. Things could have ended badly, as they often do when someone resigns.
The executive realized they didn't want to end their relationship with this friend and colleague, so they chose to focus on the positives from the past 7 years. They wrote notes of gratitude, even gave meaningful gifts. Through gratitude, what could have gotten hostile and ugly remained peaceful and professional. The relationship was saved, and the transition navigated more easily.
Invitation to Action
This week, choose a challenging situation to deploy gratitude within. Set the intention to deploy gratitude in this area consistently for the next 21 days.
To keep this practice top of mind, create a tangible reminder—a sticky note, a daily alarm on your phone, or a personal mantra—that jogs your memory and reinforces your commitment each day.
Notice how deploying gratitude shifts your perspective and impacts those around you. What beauty or blessing do you discover amidst the struggle?
After experiencing this shift, you'll be ready to send gratitude on another mission, further expanding its positive impact.
Share your experience with the #GratitudeMoves and inspire others to transform obstacles into opportunities. Feel free to send me a DM as I love celebrating successes like these.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU!