The Boost Your Team Is Missing—Your Shot of Fearless Culture #405
Where change agents find their weekly dose of culture insights and exercises, one topic at a time.
We spend more time at work than with our families—but we rarely say thank you there.
Only 15% of people thank their coworkers regularly. At home, we say thank you all the time. We thank strangers who hold the door or hand us coffee. But at work, it feels weak or unprofessional.
Here’s what most leaders miss: gratitude isn’t soft. It drives productivity more than pressure.
80% of employees say they’d work harder for a boss who shows appreciation. Only 38% work harder for a demanding boss.
Research from Harvard and Wharton shows that a simple “thank you” from a manager boosts productivity by more than 50%. Yet 35% of employees say their manager has never thanked them.
Not once.
This week, I explore why expressing gratitude feels so uncomfortable at work—and how to fix it.
If we spend most of our time at work, the least we can do is appreciate the people who help us succeed.
That appreciation is the productivity boost your team needs right now.
Explore this week’s newsletter:
My latest article → The Surprising Benefits of Gratitude Your Team Should Know
Exercises and resources to start blaming and start learning.
Stay fearless, my friend.
Gustavo
In Case You Missed It
→ How to Build a Culture of Feedback That Actually Works
Ask Your Team This
If you want to thank one person on this team right now, who would that be and why?
⚠️ Try This
Turn Apologies Into Thank-Yous
This week, notice when you’re about to apologize and flip the script:
Instead of “I’m sorry I’m late to the meeting,” say: “Thanks for bringing me up to speed.”
Instead of “Sorry I missed that,” say: “Thanks for the reminder.”
Instead of “Sorry to bother you,” say: “Thanks for making time.”
This simple shift moves the focus from what went wrong to what you value. It shows appreciation for your colleagues instead of asking for forgiveness.
🍦 Feed Your Curiosity
How gratitude can transform your workplace
The big benefits of a little thanks (audio)
5 creative ways to practice gratitude as a team
🔎 Get the Culture You Deserve
Join the Build a Fearless Culture program.
Master all the building blocks of culture – from psychological safety and purpose to feedback and decision-making.
Get the culture you deserve, not the one you tolerate.
Save $300 — early bird price ends on Thursday, Dec. 4th
The next cohort starts in January 2026.
Our culture design programs have 100+ 5-star Google Reviews.
Connect & Collaborate With Gustavo
New to the Demystify Culture newsletter? Subscribe for free.
Let’s connect on LinkedIn
Explore my Build a Fearless Culture program
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your challenge and how I can help your team build a fearless culture
Gustavo Razzetti
CEO, Fearless Culture
Thank you for the gentle reminder. Gratitude is about cherishing the chance to connect with every person we meet, to share a smile, to engage in meaningful conversations, and to recognize the beauty in all that may not be immediately apparent.
I apologize all the time. It's so natural for me to do so for some reason. I can totally relate to you pust today.