Chapter 1: Two Lessons and Three Gratitude Truths Every Leader Should Know

Book: Gratitude Works! by Robert A. Emmons

The Science of Gratitude White Paper

Article: Forbes, Gratitude Can Be A Nourishing Part Of Your Culture

Chapter 2: The Invisible Performance Differentiator

Gratitude is a Virtue – Cicero, M. T. (1891). The orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero (C. D. Yonge, Trans.). George Bell & Sons. (Original work published ca. 54 B.C.E.).

Positive Psychology. Gratitude is one of the 24 character strengths. – VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports | VIA Institute

Gratitude Drives Business Results – World’s Largest Ongoing Study of the Employee Experience

How to Invest: Look for Companies with a Positive Culture – Australian Financial Review How to invest: look for companies with a positive culture

Company Culture: Private Equity’s Intangible Value Creation Lever – Gallup Organizational Culture: What Leaders Need to Know

Article: Why Appreciation Matters So Much” by Tony Schwartz (HBR), Why Appreciation Matters So Much

Chapter 3: Gratitude Is a Foundational Leadership Skill

Zig Ziglar on Gratitude – Ziglar Inc – The Gratitude Journey

The Neuroscience of Gratitude – Huberman Lab Podcast The Science of Gratitude & How to Build a Gratitude Practice

Martin Seligman defines gratitude – [insert correct link]

Articles on Science Proving Gratitude:

• • 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude | Psychology Today

  • Practicing Gratitude for Better Health and Well-Being – University of Utah Health Practicing Gratitude for Better Health and Well-Being | University of Utah Health

  • Thankfulness: How Gratitude Can Help Your Health – American Heart Association Thankfulness: How Gratitude Can Help Your Health | American Heart Association

  • Gratitude and Pain – Pain Medicine Group https://www.painmedicinegroup.com/blog/gratitude-and-pain

  • Health Benefits of Gratitude – UCLA Health Health benefits of gratitude | UCLA Health

  • The Importance of Practicing Gratitude – Mental Health First Aid • Embracing Positivity – The Importance of Practicing Gratitude and Celebrating Small Victories « Mental Health First Aid

  • Abundance Therapy Center https://abundancetherapycenter.com/blog/embracing-positivity-how-being-thankful-can-improve-mood-and-outlook

  • Emotional Intelligence and Gratitude – Wharton Health Care Management Alumni Association https://www.whartonhealthcare.org/emotional_intelligence_and_gratitude

  • Feeling Grateful Improves Health – Mayo Clinic Health System Feeling Grateful Improves Health—Mayo Clinic Health System

Neural Correlates of Gratitude – Frontiers in Psychology https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01491/full

More Grateful, Less Addicted! – BMC Psychology More grateful, less addicted! Understanding how gratitude affects online gaming addiction among Chinese college students: a three-wave multiple mediation model | BMC Psychology | Full Text

Can Candy Crush™ Help with Anxiety? – Medium Can Candy Crush™ help with anxiety? Mindlessness vs Mindfulness | by Rhiana Matthew | Invisible Illness | Medium

Cold Water Immersion and Dopamine – NIH https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17993252/

Alcohol and Serotonin – Hackensack Meridian Health https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2022/11/21/alcohol-and-serotonin

Mirror Neurons Research – NIH  What We Know Currently About Mirror Neurons, PMC (nih.gov)

Nun Study on Longevity and Positivity – APA psp805804.pdf

Neuroplasticity Research – NIH https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4333033/

Mirror Neurons and Social Cognition – Trends in Cognitive Sciences https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661304003119

The Role of Dopamine in Reward and Motivation – NIH https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826767/

Article: 28+ Research Findings on Gratitude’s benefits: Benefits of Gratitude: 28+ Surprising Research Findings

Book: Altered Traits by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson

Chapter 4: Gratitude Is Easy and Challenging

Fortune Business Insights – Corporate Leadership Training Market | By End User Analysis (fortunebusinessinsights.com)

International Coach Federation, ICF Study by Price Coopers Waterhouse – 2023 study Global Coaching Study | Insights on Professional Coaching and 2025 ICF Global Coaching Study

VUCA Leadership Article – Effective Decision-Making in a VUCA Environment

Adam Grant on Agility (4) Post | LinkedIn, Book: Give and Take

Book: Balancing Acts by Daniel Lamarre

Brian Proctor Interview – Polite Canadians and Gratitude are NOT the Same Things – Star Leadership

Chapter 5: The Human Advantage: Gratitude, Change, and the Future of Leadership

World Health Organization on COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide (who.int)

The Great Resignation – Job tenure for young workers has been mostly stable in recent decades | Pew Research Center

AI Market Size by Price Coopers Waters Research – Sizing the prize

AI Jobs Outlook by Price Coopers Waters Research – AI Jobs Barometer | PwC

AI Stats and Facts by Statista – Artificial intelligence (AI) funding and startups – statistics & facts | Statista

AI Apocalypse, The Economist – What are the chances of an AI apocalypse?

The Three Laws of Robots by Isaac Asimov, from – Three laws of robotics | Definition, Isaac Asimov, & Facts | Britannica

(1) a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; (2) a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; (3) a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.” Asimov later added another rule, known as the fourth or zeroth law, that superseded the others. It stated that “a robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.”

General Information Star Technology/Background:

Digital Equipment Corporation – Digital Equipment Corporation – Wikipedia

Dr. Dennis Klatt, the DECtalk Researcher – Dennis H. Klatt – Wikipedia

Stevie Wonder and DECtalk – DECtalk

Charles Laquidara, Radio Discjockey – Charles Laquidara – Wikipedia

Podcast: AI and the Existential Risk – Last Week in AI, August 29, 2023 – AI and Existential Risk – Overview and Discussion

GIGO, Garbage In, Garbage Out, meaning and history – What is garbage in, garbage out (GIGO) ? | Definition from TechTarget

Birth and AI – AI could help deliver greater success at birth | Healthcare IT News

Department of Children and Families in Massachusetts Averages Example from – Book: Results: Getting Beyond Politics to Get Important Work Done, by Charlie Baker and Steve Kadash.

Book: The Little Book of Data: Understanding the Powerful Analytics that Fuel AI, Make or Break Careers, and Could Just End Up Saving the World, by Justin Evans

Chapter 6: Leadership, Vision, and Models

TED talk and Book Simon Sinek, Why –

TED Talk – How Great Leaders Inspire Action | Simon Sinek | TED

Book: Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

HR Trend – Nearly 100 leadership models

Leadership Models References

• • Book: Greenleaf, Robert K. Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. New York: Paulist Press, 1977.
  • Book: Bridges, William. Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1980.
  • Website: Bridges Model – Bridges Transition Model – William Bridges Associates
  • Book: Chatrath, Nick. The Threshold: Leading in the Age of AI. Diversion Books, February 28, 2023
  • Book: Scott, Kim. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2017.
  • Website: Radical Candor | Feedback Training, Coaching & Consulting
  • Article: Goleman, Daniel. “What Makes a Leader?” Harvard Business Review, November–December 1998.
  • Book: Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. New York: Bantam Books, 1995.
  • Book: Sullivan, Dan, & Hardy, Benjamin. The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success. Strategic Coach / Hay House, 2021.
  • Star’s Monthly Leadership Gratitude and Model Reviews: Monthly Leadership Gems – Star Leadership

Quote: Dr. Emmons, “…gratitude allows us to become participants in our lives instead of spectators.” Why Gratitude Is Good | Greater Good

Idea: Positive Psychology, Gratitude is a Civic Virtue. Emmons, Robert A., & McCullough, Michael E. (2003). Gratitude and the Science of Positive Psychology. In C. L. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived (pp. 459-478). American Psychological Association.

Chapter 7: Mapping Your Gratitude: Measure, Track, Grow

Physical Fitness 4 types of exercise to stay healthy – Fitness training: Elements of a well-rounded routine – Mayo Clinic

Wendy’s Story – Wendy Walks Her Talk – Star Leadership

Peter, Chief Thank You Officer’s Story – Things Grateful Leaders Do: Future Thank You Officer – Star Leadership

DISC Personality Model: Inscape Publishing (acquired by Wiley). Everything DiSC Manual. Minneapolis, MN: John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

Research Paper: Universals and cultural diversity in the expression of gratitude | Royal Society Open Science

Chapter 8: The Common Leadership Gratitude Challenges

Book: Brown, Brené. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone. New York: Random House, 2017.

Dr. Gayle Scoggins interview: Forget silver linings. Be grateful for the clouds! – Star Leadership

Chapter 9: The Dark Side of Gratitude

Article: Are You Being Influenced or Manipulated? (hbr.org)

Book: Cialdini, Robert B. Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion. New York: Harper Business, 2021.

Con Artist Movies/Series Referenced:

• • • Catch Me If You Can (2002) – starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks

    • American Hustle (2013) – starring Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Jennifer Lawrence

    • The Sting (1973) – starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford

    • Inventing Anna (2022, Netflix limited series) – dramatizing the story of Anna Delvey (Anna Sorokin)

Article: In Ponzi We Trust | Smithsonian

Article: Bernie Madoff earned $710 in prison after Ponzi fraud conviction

Research article: Describing Bernie’s personality and labeling him a “corporate psychopath” – Insights into the Bernie Madoff financial market scandal which identify new opportunities for business market researchers – Clive R. Boddy, 2024

Book: Quote from Elie Wiesel, “Henriques, Diana B. The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust. New York: Times Books, 2011.

Chapter 10: Definition, Challenges, and Confusion

Book: Emmons, Robert A. Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.

Book: Brown, Brené. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2010.

Book: Fredrickson, Barbara L. Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive. New York: Crown, 2009.

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Pro Plancio. 54 BCE. Often paraphrased as: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” (The phrase is widely cited and attributed to Cicero in classical texts.)

Book: Peterson, Christopher, & Seligman, Martin E. P. Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Free assessment: VIA Institute on Character. VIA Survey of Character Strengths. https://www.viacharacter.org

Book: Baker, Charlie, & Kadish, Steve. Results: Getting Beyond Politics to Get Important Work Done. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2019.

Movie: Leder, Mimi, director. Pay It Forward. Performances by Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2000.

Chapter 11: Gratitude Stress Buster Techniques

Article: Stress: What It Is, Symptoms, Management & Prevention

Article: Practicing Gratitude | NIH News in Health

Book: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are (1994)

Website: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Welcome to East Coast Mindfulness!

Apps: www.calm.com or www.insighttimer.com Calm, Insight Timer

Chapter 12: Ted Leads with Gratitude

TV Series: Sudeikis, Jason, Hunt, Brendan, Kelly, Joe, & Lawrence, Bill (Creators). (2020–2023). Ted Lasso [TV series]. Warner Bros. Television / Universal Television. Distributed by Apple TV+.

Critic Review: By Richard Roper – ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 review: Team ties a lot, but peppy coach keeps up his winning ways – Chicago Sun-Times (suntimes.com)

Book: Lead it Like Lasso, A Leadership Book for Life. Your Life, by Marnie Stockman & Nick Coniglio

Video: Clips from Ted Lasso

• • Leaders build confidence – Rebecca Makes Herself Big (Ted Lasso) – YouTube

  • Curious, Not Judgmental, Darts – Ted Lasso (2020) – Darts Scene – YouTube

  • Difficult Conversations – Ted/Nate – Ted Lasso – Nate tells Ted the truth – YouTube

  • One person can change the mood, Rebecca – Ted Lasso The Greyhounds singing Three Little Birds at the Bus #TedLasso – YouTube

Chapter 13: I’m Fine, Toxic Positivity

Kalkat, Meher. “Why Can’t You Just Be Happy?” Biomedical Odyssey: Life at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, February 2, 2022. In it, grief expert David Kessler is quoted as defining toxic positivity as “positivity given in the wrong way, in the wrong dose, at the wrong time.”

Article: Toxic Positivity: Definition, Research & Examples – The Berkeley Well-Being Institute

Book: Kessler, David. Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief and How to Navigate It.

Article: Toxic Positivity Is Very Real and Very Annoying – WSJ

Article: In New Book, NYTimes Bestselling Author Susan Cain Explores The Value Of Bittersweetness In A World Of Toxic Positivity

Article: Toxic Positivity: Avoid It to Own Up to Your Mistakes | Investor’s Business Daily (investors.com)

Research Article: Toxic Positivity: Definition, Research & Examples – The Berkeley Well-Being Institute (berkeleywellbeing.com)

Article: Toxic Positivity: Avoid It To Own Up To Your Mistakes | Investor’s Business Daily

Chapter 14: Confronting Negativity

Sue’s story of not being appreciated SueandScottExcerpt.pdf

Book: The Culture Code, by Daniel Coyle

Article: Impact of a bad manager, The No. 1 Employee Benefit That No One’s Talking About

Article: What Is the Negativity Bias and How Can it be Overcome? (positivepsychology.com)

Article: More than Warm Fuzzies: The Value of Recognition at Work – (culturewise.com)

Article: Not all Emotions are Created Equally, Negative Bias – Not all emotions are created equal: The negativity bias in social-emotional development – PMC (nih.gov)

Chapter 15: Forcing and Faking Gratitude

Book: Porter, E. H. (1913). Pollyanna. Boston: L.C. Page & Company.

Feedback Techniques

• • Scott, K. (2017). Radical candor: Be a kick-ass boss without losing your humanity. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.→ Source for “Radical Candor = kind and clear.”

  • Sandwich feedback: The empirical evidence of its effectiveness – ScienceDirect

  • Center for Creative Leadership. (2020). Feedback that works: How to build and deliver your message (2nd ed.). Greensboro, NC: Center for Creative Leadership.→ Introduces and explains the SBI (Situation–Behavior–Impact) model.

  • Chartered Management Institute. (2015). Management models: BOOST feedback model. London, UK: CMI.→ Source for “BOOST Model = Balanced, Objective, Observed, Specific, Timely.”

  • NHS Leadership Academy. (2013). Feedback models: AID (Action–Impact–Desired Behaviour). Leeds, UK: NHS Leadership Academy. → Reference for the AID model.

Chapter 16: Gratitude Translation Errors

Book: Seuss, Dr. (1961). The Sneetches and Other Stories. Random House.

Research Paper: Thank you of Cultures, Universals and cultural diversity in the expression of gratitude | Royal Society Open Science

Website: Hofstede Model of National Culture: Intercultural Management

DISC Personality Model: Inscape Publishing (acquired by Wiley). Everything DiSC Manual. Minneapolis, MN: John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

Song: Fitzgerald, Ella, & Armstrong, Louis. Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off. On Ella and Louis Again [album]. Verve Records, 1957.

Generational Differences:

• • Research Article: An Explanation of Generations and Generational Changes | Academic Psychiatry

  • Research Article: Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study – PMC

  • White Paper – whatmakesleadereffectiveus.pdf

Chapter 17: Cookies, Charities, and Choice: Redefining Giving

Video: Hilary Clinton’s statement about cookies: Hillary Clinton on “baking cookies”

Book: Grant, A. (2013). Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success. Viking.

Report: The Chronicle of Philanthropy. (2023). Annual Philanthropy Report. https://www.philanthropy.com/

Article: National Philanthropic Trust. (2023). Charitable Giving Statistics. https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/charitable-giving-statistics/

Chapter 18: Gratitude-Limiting Beliefs Challenge

Book: Covey, S. R. (2013). The 7 habits of highly effective people: 25th anniversary edition. Simon & Schuster.

Book: Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones. Avery.

Website: Our People and Culture | Southwest Airlines

Website: About Us – Random Acts of Flowers

Chapter 19: Gratitude Practice Framework

Video: Dr. Robert Emmons: How we can practice gratitude

Article: Why Gratitude Is Good, by Robert A. Emmons | DailyGood

Video and Podcast: https://youtu.be/KVjfFN89qvQ?si=lVbEbQNB_J0a0qkA

Suzan Interview, Active Gratitude, Evil Marketer Learns Gratitude – Star Leadership

Maria Interview, Gratitude and Planks, Planks, Teeth, and Gratitude: Some Ideas to Build Your Practice – Star Leadership

Article: Stakeholders, Stakeholder Analysis: Pivotal Practice to Project Success | PMI

Book: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition and The Standard for Project Management

Website: Gallup’s Q12 Employee Engagement Survey – Gallup

White Paper: Employee survey: discover the Trust Index™ | Great Place To Work

Article: Harvard Business Review, The Neuroscience of Trust

Assessment: Free personal psychological safety survey

Article: What Is Positive Organizational Behavior? (+ Examples)

Website: B Lab U.S. & Canada

White Paper: Making intangibles tangible: Adapting Project Management Tools for Coaching.

Website: Agile Manifesto, Project Methodology, Manifesto for Agile Software Development 

Chapter 20: Kitchen Sink – More Challenges and Solutions

Apple TV Series: Ted Lasso – Season 2, Episode 5, when he reminds his team, “Fairy tales don’t end at the dark forest.”

TED talk: From Br. David Steindl-Rast: Want to be happy? Be grateful | TED Talk

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22tVw0PIEzu5zkrIIoV1ET?si=16jig3mSRX6XEVjVXj_yRw

Website: Monthly GEMS, www.starleadership.com/monthly-leadership-gems

Website: https://starleadership.com/gratitude-daily-reminders/

Article: The Ideal Praise-to-Criticism Ratio

Website: The Gratitude Gap Resources – Star Leadership, www.starleadership.com/thegratitudegap-bookresources

White Paper – Making intangibles tangible: Adapting Project Management Tools for Coaching.

Website: Agile Manifesto, Project Methodology, Manifesto for Agile Software Development