Real examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace (that actually feel human)

Everyday examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace

Let’s start with real-life, concrete examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace—the kind that don’t require a big budget, a company-wide initiative, or a motivational speaker.

Think about a normal Tuesday:

You’re buried in email, a coworker quietly fixes a spreadsheet error that was about to blow up a report, and your manager sends a two-word response: “Got it.” That’s a missed opportunity. The same moment could become an example of practicing gratitude in the workplace just by saying: “Thanks for catching that error before it went out. You saved us a headache.”

That tiny shift changes how people feel about their work, and it costs nothing.

Here are some of the best examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace that fit into real life:

• Swapping “Thanks” for “Thanks for…” so people know what you appreciate
• Ending meetings with a quick round of “shout-outs”
• Sending short, specific appreciation notes in chat or email
• Building gratitude into one-on-one meetings
• Celebrating progress, not just big wins
• Saying thank you upward and sideways, not just to direct reports

Each of these examples includes a behavior you can try today, not someday.

Specific examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace (you can copy-paste)

To make this practical, here are real examples of what to say and do. You can steal these word-for-word and adjust to your style.

1. Micro thank-yous in messages

Instead of a bare “thanks,” turn routine messages into examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace.

Instead of:
“Got it.”

Try:
“Got it, thanks for pulling this together so quickly.”
“Thanks for flagging this early—that really helps.”
“I appreciate how clear you made this. It saved me a lot of time.”

Why it works: Research from Harvard Business School has shown that feeling appreciated boosts motivation and prosocial behavior at work, even when the gesture is small (Harvard.edu). These short phrases are tiny but powerful examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace.

2. Gratitude moments in team meetings

Instead of jumping straight into the agenda, take 60 seconds at the start or end of a meeting:

“Before we wrap, let’s do quick shout-outs. Name one person who helped you this week and what they did.”

Real examples include:

• “I want to thank Priya for staying late to test the deployment.”
• “Shout-out to Marcus for explaining that client history. It helped me avoid a mistake.”
• “I appreciate the way Julia kept us organized on this project.”

This creates a regular, visible example of practicing gratitude in the workplace that doesn’t require a formal program—just a consistent habit.

3. Private, specific notes of appreciation

Public praise is great, but many people also value a quiet, one-on-one thank-you.

Examples include:

• A quick email: “I noticed the way you handled that frustrated customer. You stayed calm and respectful, and that reflects really well on our team.”
• A chat message: “You probably think no one noticed, but I saw you covering the front desk when we were short-staffed. That made a real difference.”
• A handwritten note left at someone’s desk: “Thank you for mentoring the new hires. They keep telling me how supported they feel.”

These are some of the best examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace because they feel personal and sincere.

4. Gratitude in one-on-ones and performance conversations

Performance talks often focus on gaps and goals. Balance that by intentionally naming what’s going well.

During a one-on-one, you might say:

• “One thing I really appreciate about you is how dependable you are with deadlines.”
• “I’m grateful for how you ask clarifying questions instead of guessing.”
• “I value your calm presence when things get stressful.”

From the employee side, this is also a chance to model examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace upward:

• “Thanks for backing me up in that client meeting—it gave me confidence.”
• “I appreciate that you protect our focus time and don’t overload us with meetings.”

Gratitude shouldn’t just flow from manager to employee. When it moves in all directions, it becomes part of the culture.

5. Celebrating effort, not just outcomes

Most companies only say thank you when something big ships or a target is hit. But in reality, a lot of emotional energy goes into the trying.

Real examples include:

• After a project that got canceled: “Even though leadership changed direction, I’m grateful for the thought and care you put into that proposal.”
• After a failed experiment: “I appreciate that you took a risk and tested this. Now we have data we didn’t have before.”

According to the American Psychological Association, feeling valued at work is strongly linked to better well-being and lower stress (apa.org). Recognizing effort is one of the most overlooked examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace.

6. Peer-to-peer gratitude channels

Many teams now use Slack, Teams, or similar tools. You can create a simple #kudos or #gratitude channel and encourage people to recognize each other.

Real examples include:

• “Kudos to @Sam for stepping in to cover the late shift.”
• “Grateful for @Lena’s patience walking me through the new system.”
• “Appreciation post for the support team who handled a spike in tickets today.”

The key is to keep it voluntary and low-pressure. When people are free to opt in, these channels become living examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace instead of feeling forced.

7. Gratitude rituals for hybrid and remote teams

In 2024–2025, many teams are permanently hybrid. That distance can make people feel invisible, so thoughtful examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace matter even more.

Some practical ideas:

• Ending virtual standups with: “Name one person who made your day easier this week.”
• Adding a short “What I appreciated this week” section to your weekly written updates.
• Using video messages to say thank you, so people can see your face and tone.

For remote teams, these gratitude practices help rebuild the casual appreciation that used to happen in hallways and break rooms.

8. Gratitude that respects boundaries and diversity

Real talk: not everyone wants public attention. Practicing gratitude in the workplace also means respecting how different people like to be recognized.

Examples include:

• Asking in onboarding or check-ins: “How do you prefer to be recognized—publicly, privately, in writing, in person?”
• Offering choices: “Would you be comfortable if I shout you out in the team meeting, or would you prefer a note to leadership?”

This is a more thoughtful example of practicing gratitude in the workplace because it values the person, not just the act.

How gratitude supports workplace self-care

Gratitude isn’t just about being nice; it’s also a self-care strategy.

From a mental health perspective, regularly noticing what’s going well can buffer stress and burnout. The National Institutes of Health has highlighted research showing that gratitude practices are associated with better sleep, improved mood, and lower symptoms of depression and anxiety (nih.gov). While many of these studies focus on personal life, the same principles apply at work.

Here’s how examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace support self-care:

• They reduce the feeling of being invisible or taken for granted.
• They create micro-moments of connection, which is protective against burnout.
• They remind you that your effort matters, even on chaotic days.

On a personal level, you can use gratitude as a workplace self-care tool even if your culture isn’t very appreciative yet.

Examples include:

• Keeping a private “work wins and gratitude” note where you list three things you appreciated about your day.
• Ending your day by sending one short thank-you message to someone who helped you.
• Noticing and mentally naming moments of support: “I’m grateful my coworker spoke up for me in that meeting.”

These are quieter, internal examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace—but they still shift your mindset and stress levels.

Making gratitude feel authentic, not forced

If the idea of a “gratitude program” makes you cringe, you’re right to be cautious. Forced positivity can backfire, especially if people are overwhelmed or dealing with real problems.

To keep your examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace authentic:

Be specific.
“Thanks for your hard work” is fine, but “Thanks for staying late to help QA the release” lands better.

Be timely.
Say thank you close to the event. Waiting three months until a performance review makes it feel like an afterthought.

Be honest about context.
You can say, “I know this week has been rough and the workload is heavy. I still want to say how grateful I am for the way you’ve supported each other.” Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring reality.

Don’t use gratitude to paper over problems.
If people are underpaid or overworked, a thank-you alone won’t fix it. Gratitude should sit alongside fair policies, not replace them.

When leaders model grounded, realistic examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace, it feels like care, not spin.

Simple ways to start (without making it weird)

If you’re wondering how to bring more gratitude into your workday without turning into a motivational poster, start small.

You might try:

• Picking one meeting a week where you intentionally name something you appreciated.
• Choosing one person each day to thank for something specific.
• Adding a line to your weekly status update: “This week I’m grateful for…”

As you repeat these, they quietly become ongoing examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace. Over time, people often start mirroring the behavior back.

If you’re a manager, you can:

• Open one-on-ones with, “What’s something you appreciated this week—about yourself or someone else?”
• Close team emails with short, sincere acknowledgments.
• Keep a running list of team contributions so you remember to recognize them later.

None of this requires a big initiative. It’s about consistent, human-scale examples of gratitude.

FAQ: Real-world questions about gratitude at work

What are some simple examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace?

Some simple, low-effort examples include sending a quick message that says, “Thanks for explaining that so clearly—it helped a lot,” giving a shout-out at the end of a meeting, or privately thanking a coworker who covered for you. Even saying, “I appreciated your questions in that meeting; they helped us think more clearly,” is a powerful example of gratitude.

How can I show gratitude at work if I’m not a manager?

You don’t need a title to model examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace. You can thank peers for sharing knowledge, acknowledge the support staff who keep things running, or follow up after projects with a short note: “I really enjoyed working with you on this. You made the process smoother.” Over time, this often encourages others to respond in kind.

What is an example of gratitude that doesn’t feel fake?

An authentic example of practicing gratitude in the workplace sounds more like: “I know today was exhausting. I’m really grateful you stayed patient with that client,” instead of, “Everything is amazing!” It names a real effort, in a real context, with normal human language.

Can gratitude really improve workplace well-being?

Gratitude won’t magically fix broken systems, but it does help. Research on positive psychology and workplace well-being suggests that feeling appreciated is linked to higher engagement and lower burnout. The Mayo Clinic notes that gratitude practices are associated with better mood and resilience (mayoclinic.org). When you turn those findings into everyday examples of practicing gratitude in the workplace, you create more supportive conditions for mental health.

How often should I express gratitude at work?

As a rough guide, more often than you think—but not so often that it becomes noise. If you’re being specific and sincere, you can comfortably share multiple examples of gratitude each week. The key is to keep it grounded: notice real contributions, name them clearly, and let people know they matter.