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How to express gratitude this Thanksgiving and beyond

By Nancy Marshall, Marshall Communications

As Thanksgiving approaches, we enter a season that naturally inspires reflection. This is the time of year when many of us pause long enough to take stock of the people, opportunities and blessings that enrich our lives. 

Nancy Marshall
Photo / Tim Greenway
Nancy Marshall

Gratitude comes a little easier in November — but its impact lasts far beyond the holiday. In fact, gratitude can be one of the most transformative forces in both our personal and professional lives.

Over more than three decades leading Marshall Communications, I’ve learned that gratitude isn’t just a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s a powerful mindset shift that can make us better leaders, strengthen our organizations and deepen our relationships. 

When we lean into gratitude, we think more clearly, act more compassionately and see possibilities that stress or scarcity might otherwise obscure.

In business, gratitude reinforces culture, boosts morale and turns clients into longtime partners. In life, it brings joy, eases stress and keeps us grounded. Gratitude, quite simply, makes everything better.

At its core, gratitude moves your focus from what’s missing to what’s working. It shifts you from scarcity to abundance. When we pay attention to the people and opportunities that enrich our lives, we approach challenges with more patience, more compassion and more resilience.

Professionally, people who feel appreciated tend to stay longer, work harder and care more deeply about the organization’s mission. Customers who feel valued become ambassadors. And leaders who practice gratitude foster cultures where people show up fully, not out of obligation, but because they want to.

Personally, gratitude helps us savor moments, build stronger relationships and find joy even during difficult times.

Five impactful ways to express gratitude 

Personalize your appreciation: Generic thank-you messages are better than nothing, but personalized appreciation has real power. Mention a specific action, contribution or moment that impacted you. A client who stayed loyal during a transition, an employee who solved a tricky problem, a friend who checked in during a tough week — acknowledge the exact thing they did. Specificity shows sincerity.

Make gratitude timely: Don’t wait for holidays or annual reviews. Everyday appreciation is what builds lasting trust. A quick voice memo, handwritten card or short email sent in the moment can mean more than a beautifully wrapped gift sent months later.

Practice public praise: People thrive when their efforts are seen. Highlight an employee’s success in a team meeting. Recognize a partner publicly on LinkedIn. Give a shout-out to a client at a networking event. Public gratitude boosts morale and reinforces your shared values.

Give people your presence: One of the greatest forms of gratitude is attention. Put the phone down. Make eye contact. Ask a follow-up question. Whether it’s with a longtime client or a family member, being truly present signals that the person matters to you.

Build gratitude rituals: In business and at home, rituals create consistency. Start team meetings with shout-outs. Keep a gratitude journal. Write three thank-you notes each week. Create a personal rule to express appreciation every day to at least one person. Small rituals compound into meaningful culture shifts.

Gratitude is a choice — and a practice

In business and in life, gratitude makes everything better. It makes us better leaders, better colleagues, better partners, better parents and better friends.

When we take the time to express it — authentically and consistently — we strengthen the human connections that ultimately shape our success.

A lens for all seasons 

This season, and every season, I encourage you to pause, look around and thank the people who have supported your path. You’ll be amazed at how much brighter the world becomes when viewed through the lens of gratitude.

About the author

Nancy Marshall, a regular Mainebiz columnist, is CEO of Marshall Communications.

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