The Six Pillars of Gravitude
In Mark Bowling's insightful book Gravitude, he emphasizes the importance of creating and sustaining a culture of gratitude within organizations. This approach centers around six essential pillars that can transform workplace dynamics, foster a positive environment, and drive collective success.
Let’s explore each of these pillars so you can gain a better understanding of your own workplace–and how to improve it.
Pillar 1: Phileo Love
Phileo Love is similar to brotherly love in that it goes beyond the superficial. With Phileo Love, the values of patience, kindness, shared glory, trust, truth, hope and perseverance are cultivated both individually and within a team. When individuals at your workplace genuinely care for one another, it fosters a supportive environment where everyone is willing to help others out.
Pillar 2: Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of all relationships, both personal and professional. As Stephen M.R. Covey writes in his 2006 book Speed of Trust, “Trust is equal parts character and competence…You can look at any leadership failure, and it’s always a failure of one or the other.” In a workplace built on trust, employees will feel secure, valued, and motivated, which leads to better collaboration and productivity.
Pillar 3: Teamwork
Teamwork is our next crucial pillar. This principle is rooted in the mutual recognition that everyone is “in it together.” When members support each other and work toward common goals, they will spur one another to success, combining skills and talents rather than working in a siloed fashion.
Pillar 4: A Big Goal
The next pillar has to do with ambition. Having a Big Goal, or a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) as coined by Jim Collins in his bestseller Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, creates a collective vision that is challenging but attainable. Mark writes that a BHAG is a “dream worth chasing collectively.” By inspiring individuals to push beyond their limits and work together to achieve something significant, the entire team will feel more united and motivated.
Pillar 5: Legacy
The next pillar, Legacy, refers to the long-lasting impact of one's work. The idea of leaving a legacy and creating something that others will build upon will encourage individuals to think beyond immediate results and consider the enduring value of their contributions. This mindset instills a sense of pride and motivation as they consider the future people and growth of their organization.
Pillar 6: Identity
Our last pillar, Identity, involves collaborating to produce a mindset or way of living that defines who you are, even outside of work. When successfully achieved, lines can, in a healthy way, blur between an individual and an organization. When this happens, organizations see, accept, and love members for the unique individuals they are and the value they bring.
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By embracing these six pillars—Phileo Love, Trust, Teamwork, A Big Goal, Legacy, and Identity—your organization can cultivate a culture of Gravitude that not only enhances everyone’s well-being but also drives collective success. Want to dive deeper into these principles and explore some practical examples? Purchase Gravitude today to read Chapter 7 (and the rest of the book!) in its entirety. Mark Bowling’s approach to workplace culture will not only transform your organization, but your life.
If your organizational culture is an example of Gravitude in action, please contact me. I would like to feature your story in future blog posts.
Gravitude can be found wherever books are sold! My favorites are:
Barnes & Noble (still love to support the brick and mortar)
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