Thank People and Express Your Appreciation for Better Results

One of the more subtle ways you can stand out and influence the people you work with to do a better job is by thanking them. Now this advice may seem obvious at first, but what I'm going to try to do is give you the specific examples of how saying “thank you” and sincerely expressing your appreciation can build a better connection and drive better results with your co-workers, clients, and anyone else you share an experience with. 

Disclaimer: all these examples assume that you really mean what you are saying. People are very good at telling when people are not being truly empathetic and honest with them, and it is essential that any praise or thanks you give really comes from the heart. If nothing else, I hope this blog teaches you to better acknowledge and appreciate the work of others. Now, let’s go over three common things I go out of my way to thank people for:

Thank People for Their TIME

Whether it's a phone call, an email, or meeting, I consciously remember that the person on the other end is taking their time (a limited resource) and dedicating it to our shared interest. Even if they are paying money to talk to me, they are still taking time out of their busy day to make time for the task at hand and that is important to me. Their cooperation makes my life easier and allows me to do a better and more efficient job, which means a lot to me because it saves me time and energy.

“Thank you very much for taking the time to address my questions, it really helps us get everything done and I really appreciate it!” 

Thank People for Their ACTIONS

In some capacity, everyone puts effort into what they do. When I have a request out to the client, I know they took their time (which I mentioned above), but also took action to produce a document for me. Even if they are paying me to ask for it and evaluate, even if it's their job to make this stuff, and even if it's something very basic, I am sure to thank them for their hard work. While it may not make sense to directly reply thanks to every single email (because it might seem insincere), I go out of my way to thank someone for what they just gave me specifically before I ask for the next thing. 

“Thank you very much for the supporting schedule for fixed assets, it really helped out with my analysis! Now about those equity documents…”

Thank People for Their Continued Efforts and Support

This one is more of a thank you in advance. There are many times when I am communicating with a coworker or client at the beginning of a job and I know there is going to be a lot of requests or effort needed from them. I found it taking the time to thank them in advance for their efforts supporting the project can make a huge difference. 

“Thank you very much for your continued support of this project, your efforts are truly appreciated by me and my team”

Every time you work with someone on a project, they are taking their valuable time and energy to work towards helping you. Keeping a mindset of gratitude is important for everyone’s development as a professional. Not only that but taking the time to sincerely express that gratitude to others is key to fostering and developing working relationships to get things done effectively. While many people will speak with a professional courtesy and say “please” and “thank you” when appropriate, you can set yourself apart by going the extra mile, calling out what you are thankful for, and being sure the other person receives that well-needed acknowledgement.