Leading with Gratitude by Adrian Gostick Summary
Overview of Leading with Gratitude
"Leading with Gratitude" reveals why top CEOs like Alan Mulally and Hubert Joly embrace appreciation as their secret weapon. What if the "gratitude gap" is costing your business millions? This NYT bestseller offers eight proven practices that transformed WD-40 into a record-breaking powerhouse.
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Key takeaways
The Hidden Power of "Thank You" in Leadership
When the 2008 financial crisis hit, WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge made an extraordinary promise: no layoffs. Instead, he instructed managers to lead with gratitude, regularly expressing sincere appreciation to their teams. The results? By 2010, WD-40 reported its best financial performance in 57 years, with market cap growing nearly 300% over the next decade and employee engagement reaching an astonishing 99%. This wasn't luck - it was gratitude in action. While titans like Oprah, Branson, and Buffett cite gratitude as foundational to their success, it remains business's most underutilized tool. With 81% of employees saying they'd work harder for a grateful boss, why do so many leaders still hesitate to say "thank you"? The answer lies in persistent myths about leadership that keep organizations from unlocking their full potential. Despite overwhelming evidence that gratitude boosts performance, most workplaces suffer from a severe appreciation deficit. The first barrier is perception - leaders simply don't notice their people's efforts or challenges. Many also believe in the Fear Myth, unconsciously using intimidation to drive results despite research showing 81% work harder when appreciated versus only 38% responding to demanding bosses. The Praise Myth suggests today's workers (especially millennials) are too needy, when in reality, 65% of all employees want more feedback regardless of generation. Then there's the Time Myth - the belief that expressing gratitude takes too much time from "real work," overlooking how effective people management directly impacts business performance. Finally, the Wiring Myth suggests some people just aren't naturally grateful - yet neuroplasticity research proves our brains physically change with repeated behaviors, making gratitude accessible to anyone willing to practice it.
The Power of Asking and Assuming Positive Intent
The Art of Timely and Personal Recognition
Values-Based Gratitude and Company Culture
Peer Recognition and Gratitude Systems
The Gratitude Revolution: Personal and Organizational Transformation
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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