If the last time you wrote a thank-you note was when your mother made you, then you need to change your ways and realize that by not writing such notes, you may be seriously hurting your career.
That’s because the simple act of writing a note of thanks can pack loads of impact, especially when so many people rely these days on e-mail or a verbal expression of thanks to do the job. When you take the time to put pen to paper, you put yourself head and shoulders above others, and make yourself more memorable – a considerable feat in today’s competitive business environment.
Some basics of the business thank-you note:
- Keep it simple: Most thank-you notes need only a couple of basic ingredients: why you’re writing the note and sincerity. Let someone know that their kindness made a difference. “Thank you for introducing me to your colleague, Joe Jones. I found him to be very helpful for my upcoming presentation and I can’t wait to share his insights with others. I hope that I may be able to return the favor one day.”
- Stop putting it off. Sometimes we don’t send a thank-you note because we’re embarrassed we’ve waited too long. This only compounds the error. You can always say,” I’ve been remiss in not telling you sooner that I really enjoyed the conference.” Keep the focus on telling the person how much you value something and that your appreciation is sincere – no matter how delayed the note.
- Be prepared. If you know you’ll be attending a conference or holiday time is approaching, get your thank-you notes ready. Personal stationery or nice, blank cards will work. If you truly dread writing the notes, at least have some with a thank-you message already inscribed inside.
Finally, learn from others. If you receive a thank-you note that is well done, keep it with your blank thank-you cards so that you can follow that example when writing one of your own. Mom would be so proud.
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2 Comments
Anita Bruzzese
04/11/08 06:47 PM
Cassie Thompson
04/11/08 04:17 PM
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