The Grateful Leadership Revolution:
Transforming Corporations and Government through the Power of Acknowledgment, Gratitude and Appreciation
By Judith W. Umlas
Abstract
In today’s rapidly changing business and government landscapes, leaders face extraordinary challenges — ranging from employee disengagement and economic uncertainty to remote work dynamics and cultural shifts. Grateful Leadership™, with its focus on acknowledgment, empathy, and inclusion, provides a powerful solution for creating resilient, high-performing individuals and teams. By fostering a culture of appreciation, corporations and government can drive engagement, improve retention, and cultivate an atmosphere of collaboration, all while ensuring that employees feel valued for their contributions. Now more than ever, leaders must embrace Grateful Leadership principles to guide their organizations toward long-term success.
It’s imperative to note that Grateful Leadership is not sector-specific! Both corporations and government agencies benefit when leaders adopt practices that emphasize gratitude and acknowledgment. The public sector, often defined by formal rules and rigid hierarchies, is ready for change through leadership that values and acknowledges employees’ efforts. Just as corporations have benefited from recognizing their workers, government organizations can see similar positive outcomes by focusing on appreciation and gratitude.
About the Author

Judith W. Umlas
Judith W. Umlas is Senior Executive Director at IIL. She is the author of the ground-breaking book, The Power of Acknowledgment which has been credited with changing workplaces and lives by making use of the 7 Principles of Acknowledgment she developed. Her second book, Grateful Leadership is a best practices guidebook to employee
engagement, staff retention, and increased productivity to create a culture of acknowledgment that delivers rewards on every organizational level.
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