As I was cleaning off my desk I ran across a handwritten thank you note I received from a student. I quickly reread the note and went to throw it into the recycle bin, but something stopped me. I just couldn't throw it out. I placed it under my computer monitor with the four others that I had received over the past year. On my way home I thought about the notes and why I was saving them. I realized that the value of a handwritten thank you note has increased and is now a rare commodity.
I have since discussed thank you notes with colleagues both in academia and the corporate sector. I spoke with friends who work at different colleges and universities, and in corporate sector fields ranging from finance to entertainment.
Every one of them had stories of a time they received a handwritten thank you note and what it meant to them. It seems that thank yous in general have gone out of style. Several of my colleagues became irritated as they shared stories of how they put extra effort forth with students, potential employees, colleagues, friends and even family, but never got a thank you note (either handwritten or electronic). They felt taken for granted and unappreciated.
How does this translate into valuable insight for you? What I have noticed about myself and many of my colleagues is that when something as simple as a thank you note is received, we hold the student in higher regard and are more likely to continue going the extra mile to help them out. It is about relationship. Think about yourself: when people show you appreciation, you value it and will most likely want to help them out next time. You think more highly of them. If no appreciation is shown, you most likely feel blown off and unappreciated. Maybe you don't or can't empathize with a generation of mentors, instructors, and potential employers who grew up writing (and expecting) thank you notes. If this is you, it is time to wake up. These little notes are expected and part of the professional world. If you are of the mindset that the help you receive from others is owed you, you're wrong. Nothing is owed you, especially help and kindness.
From my own experience I share that those who take the time to send a note of thanks go into my mental list of people I will continue to remember and look out for. My colleagues have said the same. The authors of the five notes I have sitting on my desk remain on the top of my mind when I hear of job or internship openings. This is the power of a thank you note.
If you want to succeed in business and life you need to constantly be building positive relationships. A lot of power rests in that little note you write and can make this process easier. I'll guarantee that if you ignore Thank You's and ignore my advice you'll find it harder to successfully navigate your academic and professional career, not to mention your relationships with friends.
Here are some rules to keep in mind about thank you notes:
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I remember Mom hovering over us at the kitchen table the day after Christmas or a birthday to ensure that family members and friends who made the effort to give us a gift were properly thanked. Those notes meant so much to my grandparents!
I'm always pleased to receive a thank you note from a young person I've helped professionally. It shows that they're thoughtful, disciplined, intelligent and kind... qualities that anyone eager to advance their career should embody.
Thank YOU for this reminder of how easy it is to show gratitude. More gratitude definitely brings more good.