You’ve probably heard it already: “Gratitude changes the culture.”
Cute.
What if you’re leading a team that’s behind on quota, burnt out, or eyeballing holiday PTO like it’s the finish line?
In inside sales leadership, sugar-coating reality doesn’t build trust. Making sure you show up with honest appreciation is a completely different story.
Let November be your “thank you month” with an edge.
Skip the generic “great job, team!”
Instead, try…
- “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me when things aren’t working.”
- “Thank you for challenging the process instead of staying silent.”
- “Thank you for coaching each other, not waiting for me to do it.”
That kind of gratitude is fuel. It drives loyalty, performance, and a culture where people stay because they’re seen and appreciated.
Grab a piece of paper (or open OneNote, if that’s your thing). List out what you’re actually grateful for about each person on your team.
Not their number. Not their pipeline. Them.
Then share it.
Go one better:
Have every team member write one thing they’re grateful for about each of their peers. Read those out loud (it will feel awkward, do it anyway). Make them visible.
Let the people in the middle of your bell curve hear something that keeps them climbing. The people at the bottom believe there is something valuable about them. The people at the top, see that they’re a part of something bigger than their own individual production.
That’s how gratitude becomes culture.
Gratefully yours,
Lynn