Boosting Teamwork With Gratitude

Diego Rojas
Written by Diego Rojas July 03, 2019

How can we show appreciation for what our colleagues do?

459 1140x0

At Thinking With You, we have 100 ‘Thinkitos’ each week to give to colleagues. We do this via a Slack channel. You write to whoever you wish to receive your ‘Thinkitos’. You state the number you are giving, and the reason. This information is public across the company. The channel keeps a count.

What’s the intention?

On the one hand, we want the receiver to feel valued. Each learns how they made an impact, and why others feel gratitude. ‘Thinkitos’ are public.

On the other hand, the giver reflects on what they value most in colleagues. You have 100 ‘Thinkitos’ and you need to manage them. If, by Sunday, you haven’t given them out, you lose them.

Adding ‘Thinkitos’ to our ‘dailies’ (daily synchronizations) and other tools we use boosts communication and shows how we value team members’ contributions—even if we haven’t interacted with them much. On the other hand, they experience our gratitude and all the other benefits of being thanked.

And how did we live the ‘Thinkitos’ so far?

We’ve had them for two years, and they’ve only brought good things. We always say that feedback and conversation are crucial tools, and we use ‘Thinkitos’ in this way.

Every three months we get together for a retrospective, and to prepare for what’s coming. We always reflect on ‘Thinkitos’ and their distribution. Collectively, it means we give feedback to each other. This deepens emotional connections, and the distribution sheds light on our ‘relational map'—which prompts us to get closer to those farther away.

Some say our ‘Thinkitos’ resemble ‘Merit Money’ or ‘Kudos’. Although these are gratitude-based, ‘Thinkitos’ are more than thanking. Why? Because they give insights to the receiver that help them keep growing. They go beyond meritocracy and reward. They are not a positive discrimination tool. Our intention is not to receive merits, but to give them.

Our intention is not to receive merits, but to give them.
Click to tweet

‘Thinkitos’ is a tool we use that helps us improve. As we always say: ‘It’s not better or worse than other tools, it is simply different—like us’.

Written by Diego Rojas
Diego Rojas
Diego Rojas is co-founder of Thinking With You, a Spanish change management company. Diego works as an organizational consultant, paying special attention to personal growth and the development of teams.
Read more
Sep 29, 2024
Watch your Language: The Hidden Power of Words in the Workplace
Doug Kirkpatrick Written by Doug Kirkpatrick
Like fish in water, most leaders are gloriously unaware of the degree to which they swim in dehumanizing and demeaning workplace language.…
Read more about Watch your Language: The Hidden Power of Words in the Workplace
May 19, 2024
Revolutionizing Work Culture: A Case Study on HR-ON's Progressive People Practices
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
Last month, we had the privilege of interviewing Ali E. Cevik and Nanna Maria Mørch from the Danish pioneering firm HR-ON for the members…
Read more about Revolutionizing Work Culture: A Case Study on HR-ON's Progressive People Practices
Mar 31, 2024
Creating a Culture of Ownership: Breaking Free from Hierarchy
Diederick Janse Written by Diederick Janse
The buzzword 'ownership' has been circulating in education and business circles for the past decade. Apparently, we want more of it, but…
Read more about Creating a Culture of Ownership: Breaking Free from Hierarchy
Feb 11, 2024
How a Turkish Self-Managing Company Solved Its Hiring Problem with a Dating Approach
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
Finding the right people for your self-managed company is hard. You need more than skills and qualifications. You need someone who fits…
Read more about How a Turkish Self-Managing Company Solved Its Hiring Problem with a Dating Approach
Feb 04, 2024
The Fascinating Story of America's Largest Employee-Owned Company
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
February 3, 1969, was a cold winter’s day in La Jolla, a village on the rugged California coast just north of San Diego. It was also a…
Read more about The Fascinating Story of America's Largest Employee-Owned Company
Jan 14, 2024
Unlocking Human Creativity at Work: Closing the Gap
Doug Kirkpatrick Written by Doug Kirkpatrick
Do people feel free to dream, improve, innovate, and be creative at work? Sadly, the answer appears to be not so much. Current state of…
Read more about Unlocking Human Creativity at Work: Closing the Gap
Read all articles

Download: Free Guide

Unlock our in-depth guide on trends, tools, and best practices from over 150 pioneering organizations.

Subscribe below and receive it directly in your inbox.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.