“Thank You” are two very simple words that when put together can have a huge impact.
When you lead people it’s one of the best tools to use in all aspects of your leadership
journey. When you thank someone, you create a relationship with them, however brief. To
thank someone is to acknowledge that they have played a part in your life. It’s so easy to
say the words ‘thank you’, that it’s equally easy to fail to see their meaning. Saying thank
you creates a connection between two people. It means that a good deed is acknowledged
and remembered. It is a potentially powerful act, and so is the act of choosing not to say
thank you.

It’s a well-known fact that people like to be valued at their jobs, with appreciation being one
of the most sought-after forms of praise in the workplace. It’s motivating and encouraging,
and it creates job satisfaction, thus resulting in better performance and less turnover. It
builds trust and promotes employee engagement.

‍As a leader, there are a number of ways to express gratitude. Make note to recognize the
hardworking team that helps create the backbone of your company. A personalized memo
that allows you to highlight a team members’ success in the respective areas they excel at
or a team outing to show your appreciation for another successful year of hard work will
help show that you care and boost team morale. We all want to feel valued at our jobs and
to feel that the work we put out is recognized. A simple token of appreciation is motivating
and encouraging to team members, creates job satisfaction and results in overall better
performance.

Take time to appreciate those around you and their efforts in a sincere and specific way. It’s
as easy as a text message, an email, a phone call, a sticky note on their computer, or a
hand-written note. If the favor or contribution was more significant, speak to them in person
or invite them out to lunch. Keep it simple and reach as many people as you can; start with
one a day.

You never know when your words of appreciation will make a person’s day. It requires very
little effort and yet it makes you feel good knowing that you’ve brightened someone’s
outlook with something so simple.