Gratitude is easy to talk about, but how often do we make it part of our everyday lives? Between deadlines, meetings, competing priorities, and responsibilities at home, it can be easy to overlook the people who make a difference in our lives and work.
Bestselling author and leadership speaker Chester Elton, widely known as the Apostle of Appreciation, believes that a more grateful life does not happen by accident. It happens by design.
Drawing on lessons from his father and more than 30 years of helping organizations build engaged workplace cultures, Chester shares a simple framework for practicing gratitude: Notice, Choose, Build.
These three steps offer a practical way to recognize others, strengthen relationships, and create a workplace where people feel seen, valued, and appreciated.
Why Gratitude Matters in the Workplace
Gratitude is more than saying thank you. It begins with recognizing the contributions, kindness, and everyday efforts that might otherwise go unnoticed.
In the workplace, employees regularly support their colleagues, solve problems, help teams meet deadlines, and make customers feel valued. Yet these contributions can become so familiar that leaders and coworkers stop paying attention to them.
Chester explains that our attention influences what we see. When we consistently focus on problems, frustrations, and mistakes, those experiences can dominate our perspective. When we practice noticing kindness, effort, and generosity, we create more opportunities to recognize the positive contributions happening around us.
For leaders, this distinction matters. Employees want to know that their work makes a difference. Meaningful appreciation can help communicate that their contributions are noticed and valued.
Rather than waiting for a major achievement, a formal recognition program, or a special occasion, leaders can make gratitude part of everyday interactions.
Chester Elton’s Three-Step Framework for Gratitude
Chester Elton’s approach to gratitude is built around three simple words: Notice, Choose, Build. Each step helps turn appreciation from a good intention into a consistent practice.
1. Notice: Pay Attention to the People Around You
Gratitude begins with noticing.
In his video, Chester shares a childhood memory of his father stopping him during an ordinary day to point out his mother’s beauty and talent. At first, Chester thought his father was simply complimenting her. As he grew older, he realized his father was teaching him something deeper: how to notice.
That lesson remains relevant in the workplace.
Think about the colleague who stays late to help a team meet a deadline, the employee who welcomes a new team member, or the person who quietly solves a problem before it affects everyone else. These actions may not generate awards or public recognition, but they can make a meaningful difference.
Leaders can become so focused on performance goals and problems that they overlook the everyday behaviors that support their teams.
To practice noticing, ask yourself:
- Who has made my work easier recently?
- Who has gone out of their way to support a colleague?
- What effort or improvement deserves recognition?
- Who consistently contributes in ways I may have started taking for granted?
The goal is not to ignore problems or pretend everything is going well. It is to broaden your perspective so you recognize both the challenges that need attention and the positive contributions that deserve appreciation.
Leadership takeaway: You cannot appreciate what you fail to notice. Pay attention to the people and actions that make your workplace better.
2. Choose: Respond With Appreciation Instead of Silence
Once you notice something meaningful, the next step is choosing how to respond.
Chester emphasizes that we cannot always choose our circumstances, but we can choose our responses. Instead of defaulting to judgment, we can approach situations with curiosity. Instead of reacting with irritation, we can practice forgiveness. Instead of keeping appreciation to ourselves, we can express it.
This is especially important in busy workplaces, where good intentions can easily get lost among competing priorities.
You might notice that a colleague has been especially helpful but assume they already know you appreciate them. You might recognize an employee’s improvement without taking the time to acknowledge it. Or you might feel grateful for a team member’s support but move on to the next task without saying anything.
Appreciation only becomes visible to others when we communicate it.
Consider the difference between thinking, “I’m glad that person helped me,” and saying, “I appreciate you taking the time to help me work through that problem. Your support made a real difference.”
The second response makes the appreciation specific and personal.
Leaders can practice this step by:
- Thanking employees for specific contributions.
- Recognizing effort and improvement, not just outcomes.
- Acknowledging colleagues who help others succeed.
- Choosing curiosity before making assumptions.
- Expressing appreciation rather than assuming others already know how they are valued.
Leadership takeaway: Appreciation becomes meaningful when you choose to express it. Do not let gratitude remain an unspoken thought.
3. Build: Turn Gratitude Into a Daily Habit
Good intentions are important, but Chester reminds us that they can fade without consistent action. The third step is to build gratitude into everyday routines.
In his video, Chester shares a personal practice of carrying small stones in his pocket, which he calls his good-luck gratitude stones. He gives them to people whose service, kindness, or positive attitude makes a difference.
He describes giving one to a flight attendant named Barbara during a long flight. Although the stone was a simple gesture, it moved her emotionally because it communicated that she was seen, heard, and appreciated.
The story illustrates an important point: meaningful appreciation does not need to be expensive or elaborate. What matters is the thought behind it and the recognition it communicates.
Organizations can apply the same principle by creating simple routines that make gratitude part of their culture.
For example:
- Start meetings with gratitude. Invite team members to share one person or contribution they appreciate.
- Schedule meaningful conversations. Make time to thank colleagues and recognize their efforts.
- Send a thoughtful message. A specific text, email, or handwritten note can help someone understand the impact they have made.
- Recognize everyday contributions. Acknowledge the behind-the-scenes work that helps a team succeed.
- Create consistent team rituals. Build appreciation into regular meetings, team gatherings, and employee recognition practices.
These actions do not need to become another complicated initiative. The goal is to make appreciation a natural part of how people work together.
Leadership takeaway: If gratitude matters to your organization, give it a place in your calendar and your everyday routines.
How Leaders Can Build a Culture of Appreciation
Chester’s framework offers an individual approach to gratitude, but its lessons can also influence an organization’s workplace culture.
A culture of appreciation develops when employees and leaders consistently notice contributions, communicate their gratitude, and create opportunities for recognition.
Here are three ways leaders can put the framework into practice.
Make Recognition Specific
A general thank-you can be meaningful, but specific appreciation helps employees understand what they did and why it mattered.
Instead of saying, “Great job this week,” a leader might say, “I appreciate how you made time to help the new team member get settled. Your support helped them feel comfortable asking questions.”
Specific recognition demonstrates that the leader has paid attention to the person’s actions and understands their impact.
Recognize More Than Major Achievements
Formal awards and celebrations have their place, but everyday contributions also deserve attention.
Employees who consistently help their colleagues, demonstrate patience with customers, share useful ideas, or quietly solve problems can have a significant impact on team performance.
When leaders recognize these behaviors, they communicate that success is not only about individual accomplishments. It is also about how people contribute to the success of others.
Make Gratitude Part of the Routine
Appreciation becomes more sustainable when it is part of how a team operates.
Leaders can start meetings with a brief gratitude ritual, encourage employees to acknowledge one another’s contributions, or schedule regular opportunities to discuss team successes.
The important thing is consistency. A single recognition event may create a positive moment, but regular practices help keep appreciation visible throughout the year.
A workplace culture is shaped by what leaders repeatedly notice, communicate, and reinforce. Gratitude is one way to make those everyday interactions more intentional.
A November Gratitude Challenge: Who Will You Notice?
November offers an opportunity to reflect on gratitude, but Chester’s message is not limited to one month or holiday. It is about making appreciation a regular part of life.
His challenge is simple: identify someone who has made a difference and decide how you will let that person know.
You can begin with three questions:
Who will you notice?
Think about a colleague, employee, friend, family member, or service professional whose efforts you might otherwise overlook.
How will you let them know?
Choose a meaningful way to communicate your appreciation. It might be a text, a handwritten note, a conversation, or a small gesture.
How will you build it into your routine?
Decide when and how you will continue practicing gratitude. Put a reminder on your calendar, start a team ritual, or set aside a few minutes each day to recognize someone’s contribution.
For leaders, this challenge can be especially valuable. Starting a meeting with one minute of gratitude may seem like a small action, but it creates an opportunity to shift attention toward the people and behaviors that help the team succeed.
The purpose is not to create a perfect workplace or eliminate every challenge. It is to become more intentional about recognizing the good that already exists and communicating its value.
Gratitude Happens by Design
Chester Elton’s message is a reminder that a grateful life does not happen by accident. It happens through the choices we make every day.
By learning to Notice the people and contributions around us, Choose to communicate our appreciation, and Build gratitude into our routines, we can become more intentional about how we lead and connect with others.
For organizations, these small actions can help reinforce a culture where people feel seen, valued, and appreciated. For individuals, they offer a practical way to strengthen relationships and recognize the positive moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed.
You do not have to wait until work slows down or the perfect opportunity arrives. You can begin today.
Who will you notice, and how will you let them know they made a difference?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Chester Elton?
Chester Elton is a bestselling author, leadership speaker, and workplace culture expert known as the Apostle of Appreciation. For more than 30 years, he has helped leaders and organizations build engaged workplace cultures through recognition, gratitude, and effective leadership practices.
What Is Chester Elton’s Notice, Choose, Build Framework?
Notice, Choose, Build is a three-step approach to practicing gratitude. First, notice the people and contributions that make a difference. Second, choose to express appreciation rather than keeping it to yourself. Third, build gratitude into everyday routines so it becomes a consistent habit.
Why Is Gratitude Important in the Workplace?
Gratitude helps communicate that employees’ contributions are seen and valued. When appreciation is specific and genuine, it can reinforce positive behaviors, strengthen professional relationships, and contribute to a more supportive workplace culture.
How Can Leaders Show More Appreciation to Employees?
Leaders can show appreciation by recognizing specific contributions, acknowledging everyday efforts, thanking employees for supporting colleagues, and creating regular opportunities for recognition. Simple practices, such as beginning meetings with a gratitude moment or sending a thoughtful message, can help make appreciation part of everyday leadership.
How Can Organizations Build a Culture of Gratitude?
Organizations can build a culture of gratitude by encouraging leaders to model appreciation, recognizing both major achievements and everyday contributions, and establishing consistent team rituals. The key is to make gratitude an ongoing practice rather than limiting it to a holiday or annual recognition event.
How Can I Book Chester Elton for an Event?
To learn more about booking Chester Elton for a keynote presentation or corporate event, contact Eagles Talent Speakers Bureau at 973-313-9800 or info@eaglestalent.com.
Bring Appreciation to Your Next Event
Looking to help your organization strengthen workplace culture, improve employee engagement, and make appreciation part of everyday leadership?
Chester Elton brings practical insights and an engaging perspective to conversations about gratitude, recognition, and building workplace cultures where people feel valued.
Contact Eagles Talent Speakers Bureau to learn more about Chester Elton and bring his message to your next event.
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