The Power of a Simple Thank You Note

From Carol Kinsey Goman writing in CommPro…

During a break at the conference where I had just spoken on “Connection, Empathy, and Leadership Presence,” a man from the audience told me this story: “When one of our leadership team members suddenly died, I told his wife that I’d clean out his office and make sure she received all his personal effects. In doing so, I opened one of his desk drawers to find dozens of note papers, neatly stacked. He had worked at our organization for over 25 years, and this drawer was filled with the handwritten ‘thank you’ messages that our CEO had sent him during his career. My colleague had saved each and every one. It was a touching example of the lasting impact of this simple gesture of gratitude.”

Saying “thank you” is simple – and powerful – but too often it’s also underrated and underused. Displays of gratitude can lay the foundation for a positive relationship with bosses, subordinates, and co-workers. Whether it’s an appreciate email, a praise call, a note of thanks, or an in-person acknowledgment, empathetic leaders keep finding ways to point out a person’s strength, compliment them on their accomplishments, and thank them for their support.

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