Friday, November 16, 2007 at 2:02am
The power of giving thanks
Column: Executive Soul
In the early '90s, Landry's Bicycles in Boston faced a major crisis. A new store had opened six months later than planned, missing out on the projected seasonal business. With all the expenses of a new store, with low revenues, with a recession, and with rent due, the bank pulled Landry's loan and advised the company to file for bankruptcy. Struggling for survival, manager Tom Henry presented this apparently impossible challenge at a roundtable gathering of a support group for business leaders to which he belonged, seeking a way forward. As he struggled under the burden of the situation, a member of the roundtable asked, "How might you see your work as a gift rather than as a burden?"
The question of the Seeing Things Whole roundtable member changed everything for Tom. Despite the seeming impossibility of the situation, Tom began to view his work as a gift rather than as a burden. Furthermore, he preached that message to his coworkers at Landry's.
With this shift in perspective, Tom found new hope to face his challenges. In order to avoid bankruptcy after the bank pulled its loan, Landry's needed $40,000 immediately. Because he was viewing the opportunity to work at Landry's as a gift, and because he believed in the possibilities of Landry's, Tom approached friends for loans. An artist friend lent Landry's $5,000 from his precious savings. Another friend sold stock he had inherited from his parents to provide another $5,000 loan. Fairly quickly, with small loans from various supporters, Tom raised the $40,000. Full of gratitude for the outpouring of support, Tom and the Landry's team reflected on the place of gratitude and the difference it had made for them. Tom believes: "There's no work better than our work in the world. There's other good work, but there's no better work. It's a gift before it's a burden." The Landry's team vowed to make gratitude a cornerstone of its work.
The immediate crisis averted, Tom turned his attention to preparing the sales force for a strong season the next year. He decided to receive his coworkers at Landry's as gifts, and began to encourage others to do the same. He stressed the importance of regarding one another as a mystery, of maintaining a sense of wonder toward one another. In a fast-paced business setting in which it's easy to view other people merely as objects useful to furthering one's goals, Tom sought to maintain a sense of awe toward each person as a unique human being.
With this foundation of gratitude, Landry's has discovered over the last decade and a half the power of giving thanks. Through viewing their work and one another, as a gift, the Landry's team has unleashed powerful energy and productivity. Employees love coming to work, customers are satisfied, and the business is thriving. Landry's has discovered a well-kept business secret: the power of giving thanks in the workplace.
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Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. © Copyright 2007 by Margaret Benefiel.
The question of the Seeing Things Whole roundtable member changed everything for Tom. Despite the seeming impossibility of the situation, Tom began to view his work as a gift rather than as a burden. Furthermore, he preached that message to his coworkers at Landry's.
With this shift in perspective, Tom found new hope to face his challenges. In order to avoid bankruptcy after the bank pulled its loan, Landry's needed $40,000 immediately. Because he was viewing the opportunity to work at Landry's as a gift, and because he believed in the possibilities of Landry's, Tom approached friends for loans. An artist friend lent Landry's $5,000 from his precious savings. Another friend sold stock he had inherited from his parents to provide another $5,000 loan. Fairly quickly, with small loans from various supporters, Tom raised the $40,000. Full of gratitude for the outpouring of support, Tom and the Landry's team reflected on the place of gratitude and the difference it had made for them. Tom believes: "There's no work better than our work in the world. There's other good work, but there's no better work. It's a gift before it's a burden." The Landry's team vowed to make gratitude a cornerstone of its work.
The immediate crisis averted, Tom turned his attention to preparing the sales force for a strong season the next year. He decided to receive his coworkers at Landry's as gifts, and began to encourage others to do the same. He stressed the importance of regarding one another as a mystery, of maintaining a sense of wonder toward one another. In a fast-paced business setting in which it's easy to view other people merely as objects useful to furthering one's goals, Tom sought to maintain a sense of awe toward each person as a unique human being.
With this foundation of gratitude, Landry's has discovered over the last decade and a half the power of giving thanks. Through viewing their work and one another, as a gift, the Landry's team has unleashed powerful energy and productivity. Employees love coming to work, customers are satisfied, and the business is thriving. Landry's has discovered a well-kept business secret: the power of giving thanks in the workplace.
— — —
Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. © Copyright 2007 by Margaret Benefiel.