This past weekend the subject of people showing gratitude and sending thank you notes came up in a discussion I was having with colleagues from academia and the corporate sector. 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 You's" 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.
Why do I share this with you and 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 sender 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 to you, especially help and kindness.
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:
- Send them! They are important and people do keep track of whether or not they were thanked. They especially notice when they weren't thanked. Thank you notes show that you care about the other person and value their time and effort.