She Leads Africa: Wanna Fuel Your Career Development? Simply Say ‘Thank You’

Let’s start by being thankful 2016 is almost over (Mama, we made it!)

Hopefully, next year is going to be the year for breaking new career frontiers and becoming own our #BossLady. But while we’re in for the pursuit of greater career success, let’s not overlook the one thing that really matters- Gratitude.

Understanding the importance of being thankful and showing appreciation is one major key for career success. Generally, when we show gratitude on a personal basis, we tend to attract more good things and have people want to help us out, over and again; same applies to our professional life. Being grateful in our professional lives and learning to show gratitude equally goes a long way to create real and lasting impact in our careers.

So, no matter the level of your career success, be it #MotherlandMogul or aspiring #BossLady, there’s a lot more you can achieve by constantly being thankful, and here’s just a few:

 Advances Your Career
When you stay grateful for how far you’ve come in your career (which may not be sooo far), you increase your positive vibes to become better. Self reflection for criticism is good once in a while, however rather than sulking yourself to stagnancy by constant complaining, be thankful for your achievements so far  (even if it’s only a degree you have just yet or you’re on your way to getting one). This way, you allow for increased positivity and energy which lets you plan and strategize for the next step to take.

Improves Your Career
Grateful people are happy people, and happy people are more productive, engaged and resilient in their career. Happiness always pays off in your career.

It also helps you focus on your goal, stay optimistic, and continue to strive for the best despite the hurdles life may throw at you. Also you get to improve your decision making skills, treat people better which eventually improves your self esteem and your social interaction.

Improves Your Professional Relationship
Being grateful helps deepen and improve your professional relationship while building new networks. When you’re being thankful, you attract mentors, protégés, investors and even amazing partners. People love to help out and be around grateful individuals, because gratitude always has an effect on everybody.

Increases Opportunities
Opportunity comes but not once. When you appreciate people more, chances are that you’ll always be readily in their mind to be referred for new career opportunities they find to be essential for you.

Increased Productivity
Learn to appreciate your team, employees, colleagues, and the endless list of people you deal with.

It improves their esteem which motivates them to get more work done for you and even go the extra mile when necessary. Gratitude makes people feel good about helping you out which is essential in achieving your goals and visions.

There are a whole lot more benefits of gratitude beyond our career life, and cultivating a habit of always saying thank you and being thankful would be a great value for your career this year. Whatever your position, learn to be thankful, always.

Take off the feeling of entitlement you might have to whatever you receive and learn to give genuine gratitude, not merely shallow absentminded ones.

Start the year off right by learning the art of showing gratitude, use the SLA Gratitude List to keep track of the things you should be grateful for. Break a leg!

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Gracious Ernest is a happy feminist and an LL.B student at the University of Lagos. She is a contributing writer at SLA. SLA was created to give African women the skills, resources and networks they need to take over the world. Do the right thing and join our community to find out more about how we can help you become a #Boss.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime