Gratitude Round

How to run it

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