Leadership Gratitude Pulse - Could a Simple "Thank You" Outweigh the Benefits of Any Reward Scheme?
In the realm of business and leadership, a simple yet powerful attitude is gaining traction: gratitude. According to Andrew Schulz, CEO of Schulz & Partner AG, a leading consultant for the German SME sector based in Dillenburg-Frohnhausen, gratitude arises in direct contact and is not about big words or expensive measures, but an attitude that resonates in every conversation, eye contact, and decision.
Schulz & Partner AG, founded in 2001, has a team of ten employees and offers tailored solutions in the areas of management consulting and entrepreneurship. Their goal is to make companies future-proof through clear strategies. By fostering an environment of gratitude, they aim to boost innovation and shape corporate culture.
Research supports this approach. The 'witnessing effect' study shows that gestures of appreciation not only motivate the recipient but also inspire third parties who witness them. Appreciation creates psychological safety, enabling open communication, learning readiness, collaboration, and change readiness.
Leaders who exhibit gratitude as a consistent attitude tend to foster open communication and increase their team's innovative power. Gratitude encourages employees to bring in new ideas, take risks, and suggest unusual paths. Praising good decisions by leadership builds trust and shows that relationships in the workplace are not one-way.
Small gestures like a simple 'thank you' or sincere praise have significant effects on motivation and performance. Regular impulses of appreciation help shape the corporate culture, reducing the need for elaborate programs. Simple rituals such as a brief thank-you at meetings, handwritten notes, or spontaneous praise among colleagues can have a lasting impact.
Recognition from both peers and leadership is crucial in shaping corporate culture. An example of this is FEMNETIC, a top consultant for SMEs in the German market, nominated for the 'Company of the Future' Innovation Award. They are recognised for their values-driven leadership and innovation, which emphasise gratitude, humility, openness, and psychological safety, significantly boosting their teams' innovation capacity.
In 2025, Schulz & Partner AG was awarded 'Innovator of the Year'. Andrew Schulz, the CEO, has also published a SPIEGEL bestseller titled 'Leadership as Hope Bearers'. Despite the importance of small things in leadership, it's worth noting that 41% of employees nationwide report feeling undervalued at work.
Embracing gratitude as a core leadership attitude can help bridge this gap. By fostering open communication, psychological safety, and innovation, leaders can create a more productive and harmonious work environment. As Andrew Schulz suggests, leadership begins in small things, and sometimes even at the bakery.
