Mindful Gratitude: The Leadership Advantage We Can’t Afford to Ignore

Nov 25

A recap of the November EPN Meetup, hosted by Gregory Event Services with guests Jolene Thomas (Mean Bean Marketing) and Chase Sterling (Wellbeing Think Tank)

Gratitude isn’t soft. It isn’t sentimental. And in events - an industry built on pressure, precision, and people - it is absolutely not optional.

At this month’s EPN Meetup, we reframed gratitude as a strategic leadership tool that strengthens client partnerships, protects team well-being, and directly supports the financial health of our businesses. Guests Jolene Thomas of Mean Bean Marketing and Chase Sterling of Wellbeing Think Tank brought data, lived experience, and highly practical tools relevant for every event professional - from supplier partners to executive leads.

Below are the takeaways that sparked the most energy in the room and the ones with the greatest operational value for teams navigating tight timelines, vendor dependencies, and client pressures. 👇

1. Gratitude Reduces Cost, Strengthens Retention, and Protects Your Bottom Line

Event leaders are measured by outcomes, so we start with the data.

Gallup estimates that employee disengagement costs the global economy $8.8 trillion each year - a staggering reminder of how much morale truly matters. And according to research cited by Harvard Business Review, acquiring a new client costs 5–25x more than retaining an existing one.

Gratitude directly supports retention - of clients, teams, and partners. When people feel seen and valued, they communicate earlier, stay longer, give more, and bring higher-quality thinking to the table. In an industry where continuity and trust save hours (and budgets), gratitude becomes a measurable operational advantage.

2. “In-the-Moment Appreciation” Builds Faster, Stronger Partnerships

The most actionable insight: don’t wait.

Event professionals are constantly jumping from fire to fire. Acknowledging someone in real time - whether it’s the AV tech who rescued your sound check or the supplier who pivoted on a deadline - creates immediate trust and alignment.

It reinforces:
✔ I see your effort
✔ I understand the pressure you’re under
✔ We’re rowing in the same direction

Timeliness multiplies impact.

3. Specificity Is the Currency of Meaningful Appreciation

As Chase emphasized, vague praise doesn’t build connection - specific recognition does.

Specificity says:
“You weren’t just helpful. You were essential.”

Examples from the session:

“Your rework on the signage plan prevented an on-site miss.”
“Your pivot on the budget kept the client calm and confident.”

Specific gratitude not only lands better - it sets a standard. It clarifies what “good” looks like, so it can be repeated across teams.

4. Gratitude Strengthens Vendor Relationships and Elevates Service Quality

Jolene offered a powerful lens from the vendor side: when suppliers feel valued, everything changes. They:

Communicate sooner
Bring proactive solutions
Protect your brand as fiercely as their own

In an industry where the difference between chaos and calm often lies in a single vendor decision, gratitude becomes a competitive advantage.

5. Gratitude Should Be Built Into Your Operating System

One of the strongest takeaways: gratitude is not a feeling - It’s a process.

Simple ways to operationalize it:

Add a gratitude check into internal 1:1s.
Incorporate appreciation into post-event debriefs.
Normalize public kudos for partners and contributors.

When gratitude becomes structured - not sporadic - it evolves from a moment to a cultural norm.

6. Gratitude Protects Teams During Peak Stress Seasons

Q4 shipping chaos. Sponsor changes. Client escalations. Back-to-back programs.

Our community spoke openly about the emotional toll of peak seasons. Chase reminded us that gratitude is a well-being stabilizer that reduces burnout, builds resilience, and helps teams stay grounded under pressure.

In an industry built on accelerated timelines, gratitude isn’t a perk - it’s a protective leadership behavior.

This meetup reinforced a truth seasoned event leaders already know: gratitude fuels performance. It shapes how we lead, how we collaborate, and how we show up for the people who trust us with their events, their brands, and their budgets.

A huge thank you to Jolene and Chase for bringing depth, candor, and practical tools - and to the EPN community for another conversation filled with insight, vulnerability, and generosity.