Many employees don’t feel like their managers provide them with a voice – where they can proactively provide input and offer suggestions for improvement – according to a report from the Society for Human Research Management. And that’s an issue in an ever-changing workforce where staff often have multiple employment options. A new study has found that two traits – humility and gratitude – can help managers cultivate more open, communicative environments, positively impacting team voice and innovation.
The study, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, found that, “When assigning future leaders, organizations may look for candidates with high trait gratitude given that these individuals have the predisposition to develop into humble leaders who can promote team voice and foster team innovation,” researchers wrote.
When it comes to gratitude, the literature points to people exhibiting gratitude more frequently being less likely to have a defensive mindset and more accepting of their own limitations. They often exhibit more teachability and appreciation for others’ contributions, thus promoting humble behavior. And, by modeling humble behavior to team members, leaders encourage its spread, resulting in collective humility, which can enhance team performance.
Read more about it here.
