Chester Elton, author of Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Result

Bill Ringle and Chester Elton discuss the underlying principles and detailed examples of how small business managers can lead with gratitude each day.

>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.

Interview Insights

Top 3 Takeaways from this Interview

  • One of our most powerful gifts is having the ability to choose how to respond. Reactions are visceral but response is pensive, and thus, it is something we have full control of.
  • Showing gratitude to each member of your team, even if what they accomplished are menial tasks, shows you acknowledge their contributions and it makes them aware you know they exist. Even a simple ‘thank you’ could induce positivity to you and your team. It is great to make leading with gratitude our default way of leading.
  • Mistakes are opportunities, not a sign of failure or lack of potential. They are not encouraged but when they happen, take them as an opportunity to learn, and be better the next time you try.

Read the Show Notes from this Episode

  • A quote from Russell M. Nelson about counting blessings being far better than recounting problems inspires Chester. [01:51]
  • Our brain isn’t wired to keep us happy, but to keep us safe, and what this means for us. [02:35]
  • Chester shares a snippet from his interview with former Pepsi CEO, Indra Nooyi about assuming positive intent. [04:02]
  • An interview with former American Express CEO, debunking the myth that grateful leaders are weak. [06:12]
  • Chester stresses the importance of being grateful for the things we have instead of dwelling about the things that we don’t. [09:11]
  • WD40’s CEO Gary Ridge’s philosophy in life of ‘it’ll all work out.’ [11:29]
  • Gary is a great example of the power of gratitude and putting your people first. [12:01]
  • Co-Author Adrian Gosticks’ son gave him and Chester a fresh perspective about failure, saying as a scientist who had done a lot of lab works. “science is just failure with notes.” [13:39]
  • WD learned and built from their mistakes. [13:56]
  • Building a habit takes time, patience, and repetition. [20:50]
  • My Quest for the Best Lightning Round begins [36:18]

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Expert Bio

Chester Elton has spent two decades helping some of the world’s most successful businesses engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values.

He has been called the “apostle of appreciation” by Canada’s Globe and Mail, “creative and refreshing‚” by the New York Times, and a “must-read for modern managers” by CNN. Elton is co-author of multiple award-winning New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling leadership books including All In, The Carrot Principle, The Best Team Wins, and Anxiety at Work. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Elton is often quoted in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, and the New York Times. He has appeared on NBC’s Today, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and CBS’s 60 Minutes.

Contact Info and Social Media for Chester Elton

Resources Mentioned During the Interview

Books Authored by Chester Elton


Leading with GratitudeAnxiety Work All In The Carrot Principle What Motivates Me The Best Team Wins The Orange Revolution

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