The Transformative Nature of Gratitude with Chris Schembra

On today's episode of The Future of Teamwork, host Dane Groeneveld speaks with Chris Schembra, the best-selling author also known as The Gratitude Guru. Chris talks about 7:47, his organization focused on creating meaningful connections through dinner parties. He shares how that experience was impacted by COVID, and how it allowed 7:47 to pivot with still great success. Additionally, Dane and Chris discuss authentic networking, why gratitude will change you how interact with the world, and ways that businesses can show up to meet their imperfect human employees with empathy. 

Key Takeaways:

• [00:16 - 00:53] Introduction to Chris Schembra
• [01:24 - 06:21] How Chris became the Gratitude Guru
• [06:29 - 08:01] Networking and remembering how people make you feel
• [08:07 - 10:14] Shared food and strength of mind, and the hurdles to togetherness
• [10:28 - 11:40] "The world is ending" but you're going to be fine
• [11:42 - 14:46] Marcus Aurelius, the stoics, and gratitude
• [14:50 - 18:03] The beginning of the business, and creating connections
• [18:05 - 19:20] 98% of dinner parties were for client engagement purposes
• [19:28 - 21:43] Shifting to a remote strategy because of COVID
• [21:45 - 22:27] Inventiveness and gratitude
• [22:28 - 23:52] Preventing employee burnout, stress, loneliness, overwhelm, and anxiety
• [24:00 - 25:16] Employer-sponsored soul and emotional health
• [25:28 - 27:30] Combatting loneliness with curiosity and connection
• [27:31 - 28:33] Micro-shifts towards a more grateful attitude
• [28:34 - 30:50] Gratitude interventions, and living in the present
• [31:00 - 31:42] Authentic moments of gratitude
• [31:49 - 34:07] Witnessing theory
• [34:08 - 36:00] Hiring humans, and showing up with empathy
• [36:02 - 40:24] The benefit appraisal
• [40:43 - 41:59] The good news if you're operating through a lens of ingratitude
• [42:02 - 42:40] Acknowledgment helps destigmatize ingratitude
• [42:43 - 43:41] Listeners, answer this question!