One of the best things you can do for your career is say ‘thank you.’ These two words do so much to help you build and sustain relationships at the workplace. The power of a meaningful thank you is often overlooked and sometimes even dismissed. So if you’ve ever received help from a colleague and you find yourself aching to respond with a proper, heartfelt thank you, remember to:
- be intentionally clear about what you are thankful for
A well-meaning, genuine thank you communicates sincerity, warmth, and appreciation to the receiver. A simple ‘thanks’ falls short. Be specific about what you’re grateful for. Your co-workers are people you spend a lot of time with and you will probably be in need of their help and support more often than you’d like to admit. Good thank-you messages build relationships and leave a long-lasting impact so always be sure to point out what you are really thankful for.
- be prompt
Don’t wait too long to say thank you. The longer a favour goes unacknowledged, the less valued it may feel. A swift reply also helps you remember all the details of the deed so that your gratitude carries more impact. When a co-worker goes above and beyond to make your job easier, expressing your heartfelt gratitude promptly reinforces the positive power of working together.
- highlight the impact
What did the other party do to make life your job easier? How did it make your day better? Underscoring the impact of a favour, kind act, or a good deed personalises the thank-you. This positive reinforcement encourages future helpful behaviour.
Here are 10 ways to send a warm and impactful thank-you:
If you’re still unsure how to say thank you more meaningfully, try one of these as your starting point.
- Just wanted to say that I am grateful for all the work you’ve done on the project. It was a pleasure working with you.
- Thank you for your patience and effort in completing the task.
- I’m so grateful for the effort you put in to complete the presentation. I really enjoyed working with you.
- Thanks to your idea, we nailed the client presentation. Your help really moved the project forward.
- I wanted to thank you for taking the time to mentor me on [topic]. I learned so much from your insights and guidance.
- I’m so grateful to be working on this project with such a supportive team. Thanks for all your hard work and collaboration, everyone!
- I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for your help with [task/project]. You went above and beyond, and I couldn’t have done it without you.
- Thanks for staying late to help me finish the [report/presentation]. It really lightened my load and ensured a polished final product.
- Thanks for celebrating my success on the [project/achievement]. It feels great to be recognized by such a supportive team.
- Your belief in my abilities gave me the confidence to tackle this challenging task. Thank you for your encouragement!
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