The Elephant in the Org

Gratitude in the Workplace: All Fur Coat and No Knickers? - The Thanksgiving Special!

The Fearless PX Season 2 Episode 5

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Happy Thanksgiving! This week, we’re serving up a hearty helping of gratitude—but is it heartfelt or just for show?

In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Elephant in the Org, Danny, Marion, and Cacha carve into the complex world of workplace thankfulness. 

Are annual "thank-you" emails and pizza parties really enough? Or are they just, as Marion says,  "all fur coat and no knickers?"

We discuss why performative gratitude often misses the mark and explore what it takes to make appreciation feel authentic and meaningful.

In this episode, we explore:
✅ The difference between performative and authentic gratitude (and why it matters).
✅ Why recognition programs and ritualized thank-yous can sometimes tick the wrong boxes.
✅ How managers can build authentic connections with their teams (spoiler: no pizza parties!).
✅ The gratitude gap: Why middle managers need more support to foster appreciation.

Plus, we share our personal reflections on gratitude this year and invite you to join the conversation about what true appreciation looks like in the workplace.

Whether you’re reflecting on how you recognize your team or rolling your eyes at yet another empty corporate "thank you" email, this special Thanksgiving episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the real impact of gratitude at work.

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From April 2024, all new episodes of The Elephant In the Org will be posted bi-weekly.

Music Credits:
Opening and closing theme by The Toros.

Production Credits:
Produced by The Fearless PX, Edited by Marion Anderson.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are exclusively those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect any affiliated organizations’ official policy or position.





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