The most talented leaders in society tend to be highly grateful people. That connection is not a coincidence. Gratefulness influences how people relate to other people. Those who are deeply thankful for the good fortune in their lives engage other people with an eye toward learning from them.
Grateful people are more open and willing to extend themselves. They find value in things and people others pass by. They remain open to learning from anyone and walk away with insights that others miss.
This difference in how grateful leaders learn is at the essence of what makes them so talented. As an indicator of talent, gratefulness also signals a willingness to collaborate, work through conflict, and build deep relationships. Think of a relationally difficult person and you won’t find gratefulness on their list of personal assets.
When assessing prospective team members, gratefulness is a secret weapon the best leaders use to understand who people really are. Leaders good at judging talent know that feeling appreciative of one’s fortunes and accomplishments demands expression. People who are truly grateful naturally give back to others. They don’t rely exclusively on monetary gifts and donations but commit the time and energy to demonstrate the appreciation they feel.
Besides family and personal health, grateful people are quick to point to other dimensions of their lives for which they are hugely grateful. Equally impressive, they can describe exactly how they express their gratefulness in the ways they invest in, mentor, nurture and share their good fortunes with others.
The next time you recruit a prospective team member, ask them about their gratefulness. Inquire about how they contribute to others. You might find their answers open a portal into their true talents. Talented people are grateful people for reasons only perceptive leaders can appreciate. Perhaps learning from others is more important than we ever thought.
