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Christopher Oveis of the Rady School of Management explains how saying “thanks” is good for you and everyone around you
November 27, 2025 - By Christine Clark - When was the last time you said “thank you” — and really meant it?
According to research led by Christopher Oveis, an associate professor at the University of California San Diego Rady School of 
Management, expressing gratitude doesn’t just make others feel good. It can strengthen relationships, reduce stress and even help your body perform better under pressure.
Christopher Oveis, an associate professor at the Rady School of Management
“Gratitude is powerful because it benefits everyone involved — the person who expresses it, the person who receives it, and even those who witness it,” said Oveis, who studies the biological and social effects of positive emotions. “When you feel it, say it. Let the gratitude out.”
Here are five science-backed reasons to do just that.
1. Gratitude makes your body ready to perform under pressure.
In a study inspired by the TV show Shark Tank, Oveis and his colleagues paired UC San Diego students into teams and asked them to pitch a new bicycle design to a panel of judges — an intentionally high-stress scenario. Before the challenge, some teammates took a moment to thank their collaborators.
The results were striking: those who exchanged gratitude had healthier cardiovascular responses. Their hearts pumped more efficiently, blood vessels widened, and oxygen-rich blood reached the brain — all signs of a “challenge response,” the biological state that fuels peak performance.
“People who feel appreciated are more prepared to perform well,” said Oveis. “Their bodies respond better to stress.”
2. Gratitude strengthens all kinds of relationships.
Gratitude isn’t just for special occasions or close friendships — it nurtures everyday connections, from coworkers and classmates to neighbors and family members.
“At work, at home, or in your community, gratitude reminds people that they matter,” said Oveis. “It tells them you see their effort, that you’re responsive to one another. That builds trust, closeness, and cooperation.”
In his research, even pairs of near-strangers who shared a brief moment of thanks felt more connected and performed better together. Over time, those small acts of appreciation add up to stronger, more supportive relationships.
3. Gratitude helps teams perform their best.
When people feel appreciated, it changes the way they work together. In Oveis’s study, teammates who thanked one another before a stressful task performed better and felt more up for the challenge.
Gratitude signals support — a reminder that “we’ve got each other’s backs.” And that sense of connection can make any team, classroom, or household more resilient under pressure.
“When you are headed into ‘Shark Tank’— a big meeting, or pitch, or presentation — and you know that your team has your back, it has a powerful impact on how you perform,” Oveis added.
4. It’s contagious: even witnesses benefit.
In related research, Oveis found that the positive effects of gratitude ripple outward. When people witness someone expressing gratitude — even if it’s not directed at them — they tend to feel more connected and cooperative. Oveis also found that expressing gratitude when there are others around to witness it, makes the act more meaningful for both the expressor and receiver.
“Observers want to be around people who express gratitude,” he explained. “They’re more likely to want to help, collaborate and share. Gratitude spreads.”
This is especially true for leaders. “When you feel grateful, don’t be afraid to express it,” Oveis said. “It will have a positive impact on you and a profound impact on your employees’ performance.”
5. The best ‘thank yous’ focus on the other person.
Not all thank-yous are created equal. Oveis points to research by his collaborator Sara Algoe of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showing that the most effective expressions of gratitude are other-focused — emphasizing the kindness or thoughtfulness of the giver.
“When your thank you centers on the other person — like, ‘You really went out of your way to help me, you were incredibly thoughtful’ — it strengthens the bond,” Oveis said. “If you focus only on your own need — like, ‘I really needed that’ — it doesn’t hit as deeply.”
So, next time you say thanks, put the “you” in your thank you.
A simple practice with big ripple effects
Whether at work, at home, or around the Thanksgiving table, Oveis encourages people to express gratitude authentically.
“It’s not about going around saying thank you just to check a box,” he said. “People can tell when it’s not genuine. But when you really feel it — that’s the time to let it out. Everyone benefits.”
And if you’re spending Thanksgiving with family or friends, Oveis said, it’s a perfect opportunity to do just that.
“Taking a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for is good for you,” he said. “But actually saying it to the people around you — that’s what strengthens relationships. You’re sitting at a table with people who matter to you, and letting that gratitude out can make everyone feel more connected.”
Or, as Oveis puts it most simply:
“If you feel gratitude, let it out. Don’t hold it in.”
Source: UC San Diego
