Episode Details

As Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times demonstrates every day, bringing an attitude of gratitude to the sales process fosters the kinds of quality relationships that are foundational to long-term success. Alex Ridder, VP for Global Accounts at The Adecco Group in Switzerland, has helped make the $20 billion-a-year global recruitment company the powerhouse that it is by emphasizing connection. And there’s nothing squishy about it! As you’ll hear highlighted throughout the show, studies and research clearly demonstrate that emotion and promotion go hand-in-hand. Chris and Alex talk about the importance of bringing empathy into the workplace, whether through expressing appreciation for team members’ efforts or building trust relationships with clients. Alex explains why transactional sales are self-limiting and while holding space for people to explore pain points and reach out for support opens up infinite consultative possibility. Human interaction, these two gratitude gurus agree, is a key differentiator in the marketplace. In a world of automation and depersonalization, it's our ability to offer openness and trust that sets us apart – professionally as well as personally. Tune in to learn about the hard science that backs up the power of gratitude to build community, secure relationships and cement positive outcomes all the way around. “I don’t believe gratitude has a finite limit,” says Alex, who is also an Ambassador to Adecco’s Win4Youth initiative. “Interpersonal conversation creates a much more transparent and joyous conversation … which then leads to greater business outcomes.”

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times.

KEY TOPICS:

• If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? While there are numerous people to thank on a regular basis, it’s his dad Rick that Alex can never thank enough. 
• Although “all about the numbers” as a sales guy, gratitude plays a prominent role in Alex’s life that can’t be quantified. It’s infinite!
• No Destination: There is no perfect thank-you note or endpoint for expressing gratitude. It’s an ongoing journey without specific metrics or obligatory reciprocity.
• Authentic emotion is a key ingredient when communicating gratitude. The practice isn’t meant to be a check-the-box, but an expression of something heartfelt and genuine.
• It’s a Fact: It feels good to give and to receive gratitude. Most people overestimate potential awkwardness and underestimate the good feelings they’ll experience.
• Gratitude in Groups: In addition to the pleasures of giving and receiving, an added element of gratification and teambuilding comes from witnessing such exchanges.
• Peer-to-Peer Gratitude: Make it a public event to encourage the free flow of generosity, trust and affirmation.
• About the Difference Between Being Grateful to Some Thing and Some One: It’s less about the transaction and more about the emotional journey.
• Here’s an exercise to try: When you think about the things for which you’re grateful, look for measurable, specifics to identify and articulate the why.
• About the Relationship Between Luck and Gratitude:
• Alex explains what he believes is the “soft correlation” between having a positive mentality, gratitude towards the people around you and positive outcomes.
• Chris explains that luck is what happens to you while gratitude is a perspective you embrace