Expressing gratitude and appreciation to co-workers

[Emergent, RN]

I started being a lot more verbally positive with my co-workers, my manager, employee health nurse, the house supervisor, etc. It used to be that I was much more reserved with people, was more on guard, and didn't want to be a flowery, brown-nosing phony.

Now I compliment people on their strengths, thank my manager for all she does, and try to be more outgoing and appreciative to people.

And, what do you know, I'm getting a positive response! I'm much less socially awkward at work, people are much nicer and more helpful to me,

I'm really trying to look on the bright side, generally, regarding my less than perfect workplace. After all, I'm making good money, I live in relative abundance, and I'm in good health. Yes, the work load is crummy at times and hospital administrations suck. But all in all, life is darned good.

Expressing gratitude and thanks is definitely a habit that pays off in life!

[SeattleJess]

Thank you so much for posting this! I, too, was close-mouthed about expressing positive feelings at work, telling myself that was "brown-nosing" and worrying about what other people would think.

It's such a better way to live to learn to notice the positive and the good and then to express gratitude for it. Life is to short not to gather ye rosebuds and share them around. No coworker is completely without merit; after all, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Thanks for throwing out a lifeline to stressed healthcare workers everywhere.

[finn55]

When I first started as a CNA, our PM charge nurse ALWAYS made a point of thanking us at the end of our shift. It never got old to hear the thank you. When I started working charge, I continued the practice as well. I agree, compliments to our coworkers work wonders. The whole environment was more pleasant.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Saying "thank you for all of your hard work today" definitely goes a long way! It's good to give AND receive!!!

[chiandre]

When you appreciate your coworkers, you make your work easier and more enjoyable! :)

Thanks OP for a great post.

[cd365c]

The atmosphere is so much better when people positively encourage another :)

[firstinfamily, RN]

Being positive is the key and helping others see the positive can improve morale so very much. All the complaining may be legitimate, but the positive is what is going to get things done. Who wants to be where there are nothing but grumpy, grippers?? No one, and this negativity flows over to patient care. I bet the positive vibes are being felt by the patients as well. It is nice when it gets through to them!!!

[BodyInMotion, BSN, RN]

Thank You Thank You for this post!! I LOVE positive, appreciative comments. I am usually the only smiling face on the elevator ride to work each morning, but by the time we reach our floor there are a few more corner lips turning up, even if it's to tell me to stop smiling.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I think we all know what is "wrong" with various settings. It is so nice to acknowledge what is right.

Support staff for me is the icing on the cake. They are so darn good at what they do and how they do it. So we should all make it a point to say thank you.

And I try my best to always be positive. Negative breeds negative, and who the heck wants to work for 8 or 12 hours miserable?

[Barnstormin' PMHNP]

Excellent post, and so very true.

I notice that sometimes when I thank fellow health care providers for their assistance they almost always look surprised, then suspicious and then really pleased when they realize I'm not putting them on lol.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

One of the things I love about where I work. We help each other a lot and it's common for someone to shoot off an email to the manager about how a certain person did a great job with something.

[middleagednurse]

I agree wholeheartedly. Life is so much nicer when people are nice to one another.