Words That Work

The Power of Thank You

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated,” wrote American philosopher and psychologist William James.

How often do you take time to show appreciation?

I recently wrote a profile about a woman who was retiring from banking. When I interviewed her, she said that one of the most pleasant aspects of her job was the knowledge that she truly was helping people.

She added that she especially has appreciated “the terrific customers whose moms taught them how to say thank you.” She added, “I love helping, but I also love to hear ‘Thank you.’”

The following weekend I conducted a training session that included material on business etiquette. Because handwritten thank-you notes are so rare, I encourage people to send them. It not only makes the recipient feel good; it sets you apart and makes you memorable — a good thing in our competitive business world.

I asked the group of 20 if any had received a handwritten thank-you note in the last month. One woman raised her hand and reported that of 100 people who attended an event she had planned and executed, she got one written thank-you note.

It takes very little energy and time to speak words of appreciation, and you need only three or four lines for a written thank-you message. Find a few minutes every day to show appreciation to the people who make your job or your life easier or more pleasant.

Ruthless Editor follows The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law guidelines for word and punctuation usage. Webster's New World College Dictionary serves as a secondary reference.

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