How to Keep the Spirit of Thanksgiving Alive at Work Every Day

Cathie Leimbach • November 25, 2020

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Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and express gratitude. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday of the year. Families and friends celebrate together, sharing great conversation and wonderful food. While the celebration may look different this year, I suspect it might be one of the busiest days for Zoom as families gather virtually. 


Even the greeting card industry gets into the act giving us a way to let people know we appreciate them. We reach out to friends and family to express our love, say how thankful we are to have them in our life, and show our support when they are facing challenges.


However, the spirit of thanksgiving is sorely lacking in the workplace. The numbers show a clear picture.  Only 17% of people say they feel valued at work. 85% of people say that feeling appreciated and valued at work is the biggest contributor to them liking their job. When people are thanked at work, their productivity increases 50%. Yet, 65% of people say they haven’t felt appreciated at work even once in the past year.


Organizations are failing to optimize their bottom line because managers are not expressing thanks to their staff. How can you keep the spirit of appreciation and acknowledgement alive in your organization?


1.      Catch people doing something right, and tell them how much you value their regular attendance, quality work, problem solving, or great new ideas.


2.      When an employee drops by your office with a question about the work you asked them to focus on this week, stop scanning your email. Lift your hands off the keyboard, make eye contact with your employee, and give them a thoughtful answer so they can complete the task effectively.


3.      Schedule frequent one-on-one coffee breaks or office drop-ins with each staff member. Ask how their daughter is enjoying her music lessons. Praise them for a recent personal or workplace accomplishment. Ask how you can help them be more effective this week. Individuals who have one-on-one time with their supervisor at least once per week are more engaged and productive.


Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. Say thanks. Ensure your employees feel joy throughout the month of December. Create raving fan employees who know that you see them as a valued member of the team.


Want help in creating your own culture of gratitude? Take advantage of a free consultation so that we can brain storm how to turn your employees into raving fans.

The Leadership Problem Most Companies Don’t Address

By Cathie Leimbach • May 19, 2026
Many organizations assume their biggest challenges are rapidly changing technology, customer retention, and employee initiative. But quite often, the root cause is people leadership problems. That’s one reason The Imperfect CEO by Jim Brown is so timely. Releasing today, May 19, the book explores how leaders build healthier organizations not by pretending to have all the answers, but by creating cultures grounded in trust, clarity, accountability, and meaningful conversations. Brian Besanceney, Chair, Board of Orlando Health, Inc., described the book this way: “Through vivid stories, real-world examples, and a model grounded in collaborative culture, Jim Brown gives leaders permission to wrestle honestly with the generational divides, misaligned targets, and cultural fractures that can too often sabotage high-potential organizations.” Greg Apple, CEO of Amgine.ai, connected the book to leadership beyond business alone: “In a fast-moving company, culture is everything. Jim Brown’s principles have helped our team lead with greater clarity and alignment. The Imperfect CEO distills those lessons brilliantly. Every leader should read it.” What stands out to me is how closely this book aligns with the principles behind Conversational Management. Healthy cultures are rarely built through policies alone. They are built through the quality of everyday leadership conversations — how expectations are clarified, how accountability is handled, how feedback is delivered, and how trust is strengthened over time. That’s why leadership development cannot stay theoretical. Culture changes conversation by conversation.  The Imperfect CEO is an easy-to-read business fable that illustrates common people leadership challenges and provides suggestions for overcoming them. Order your copy today and start building healthier leadership conversations inside your organization.

Why Some Companies Attract More Job Applicants Than They Need

By Cathie Leimbach • May 12, 2026
Chick-fil-A restaurants often receive far more job applications than they have openings. This is not luck. It is leadership. People apply where they believe they will be treated well. At Chick-fil-A, employees experience respectful communication, clear expectations, and leaders who support their success. That reputation spreads quickly through word of mouth. Leaders in these restaurants do simple things well. They ask questions before they assume. They listen to employees. They provide encouragement and clear direction. They notice good work and address problems in a helpful way. As a result, employees feel valued. They enjoy coming to work. They tell others. That is what attracts more applicants. Many organizations focus only on hiring. Strong organizations focus on how people are treated after they are hired. When leaders create a workplace where people feel respected, supported, and clear on what success looks like, something powerful happens: People stay. People perform. And more people want to join. This is what leadership really is. Would you like to see several leadership and culture practices Chick-fil-A uses to attract and keep quality employees? Click here to view: How Chick-fil-A Attracts Quality Applicants