Four Reasons You Should Say Thank You

There is so much to be thankful for but how often do we take time to show our gratitude. Everyone knows it’s the right thing to do but that does not mean it will get done. Today we look at the top four reasons why you should say thank you and a few ways to express your gratitude in a professional manner.

Four Reasons You Should Say Thank You

1. Let’s get this one out of the way. The first reason why you should say thank you is it is the polite thing to do. As a society, some of the first expressions we teach our children to say are “hello/goodbye” and “please/thank you”. These words are important because they build social skills, relationships, and community. If it’s so important that we teach two-year-olds to say thank you, isn’t it exponentially more important for adults?
2. You should express thankfulness because it’s good for your physical health. A 2012 study found that grateful people had fewer headaches and pains, they tended to report better overall health and exercised more. Who doesn’t want to be healthier?
3. Grateful people also experience improved psychological health. Forbes states, ”Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to frustration and regret .” In short, gratefulness reduces depression and increases happiness.
4. There is a link between gratitude and job satisfaction. If you want to feel better about your job situation, start by being thankful for the organization and all of the things you might be taking for granted like benefits, summer Fridays, etc. Next, show your gratitude to a coworker. Showing thanks in the workplace builds relationships and improves work outcomes. It also improves internal and external networking opportunities.

Three Professional Ways to Express Your Gratitude

1. The standard for showing gratitude in the workplace is a handwritten note. There is no doubt about it. Taking time to find stationary, a stamp and then sitting down to write someone, etc. shows them a true investment of time and that’s where the value lies. If you are a manager, consider providing some notecards for your staff to be able to easily express their appreciation to colleagues. It is sure to be a morale booster.
2. If you don’t have notes handy but you want to acknowledge your appreciation, there is nothing wrong with an email. If you choose you can always follow up later with a handwritten note. Be sure to send them quickly. Email should take hours not several days. But by all means, any “thank you”, even if it takes weeks, is better than no” thank you” at all.
3. Lastly, it is ok to send a small gift, $5-$10. If you are going to send lots of thank you’s, you need to be mindful of your budget. Also, be mindful some organizations have limits on the value of gifts employees can receive. If you are looking for some great ideas, check out this list of options for around $10.