Wellness

Gratitude Round

Share what you're grateful for

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About Gratitude Round

Each person names something they are grateful for. It is a short round that noticeably changes the tone of a meeting, and is most useful at the end of a difficult one.

It works best when the focus is specific and recent. Naming a particular thing someone did lands very differently from a general statement about being grateful for the team.

How to run it

  1. 1Ask everyone to name one specific thing they are grateful for.
  2. 2Go round without cross-talk between contributions.
  3. 3Keep it brief, a sentence each.
  4. 4Close the meeting on it rather than continuing to other business.

Keeping it genuine

  • Ask for something specific and recent. General gratitude sounds like a formality; a particular moment does not.
  • Encourage naming people directly. Being thanked by name in front of the team carries real weight.
  • Keep it optional. Compulsory gratitude produces hollow contributions that undermine the exercise.
  • Use it sparingly rather than at every meeting, or it becomes a ritual people stop thinking about.
  • Do not use it to paper over a genuine problem. A gratitude round after an unresolved difficult conversation reads as avoidance.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for a gratitude round?

At the end of a meeting, particularly a difficult one. It shifts the tone people leave with, which matters more than the tone they arrive with.

How do I stop it feeling forced?

Ask for something specific and recent rather than general, keep participation optional, and use it occasionally rather than at every meeting.

Does it work with remote teams?

Yes, and arguably better. Remote meetings often end abruptly, and a short closing round gives a clearer ending than simply dropping off a call.