There’s an art to saying thank you.
“Experiencing gratitude serves our happiness. Expressing it reminds others how they matter.” – Adam Grant
The good news is that you’re self-aware enough to know that you need to say thanks. That’s why you’re here.
Saying ‘thank you’ should be nuanced and pointed. If done properly, it can take your relationships to places you never thought they could go.
Some gratitude can be expressed quickly in an email, or a short call, i.e. saying ‘thank you’ to your colleague who delivered on their promise. In other circumstances, a more thoughtful message is needed. Things to think about:
- How much time and effort did the other person put into their deliverable?
- What does the timing of the thank you look like? If you have an employee who worked on a big project, you may want to send a quick thank you on the day they finish the work, and an even bigger thank you on the day the project launches. The bigger thank you doesn’t mean it has to cost more, but it can be a deeper, more heartfelt message.
- Was there anyone else involved that should be thanked? Someone behind the scenes?
Putting effort into expressing gratitude is important because it fosters loyalty and relationship – two crucial factors in having a high-producing team (amongst many additional important factors.) Think about how many times you have wished for people to acknowledge what you do. Now do that. Be that person who says thank you – who’s humble, and forward about wanting to have healthy relationships.
Saying thank you is an ongoing task item for a leader. It will likely require an inbox reminder, a note section on your cell, and it absolutely requires you to have a pulse on your team’s work. The good news is that this is a super low cost tactic that can have a huge pay-off. There’s never a disadvantage to truly showing appreciation.
Speaking of – thank you for being here. We’d be nowhere without you.