The Power of Saying Thank You

Welcome back to the daily grind after enjoying the pleasures of the Thanksgiving holiday, sharing time with family and friends while reflecting on your blessings. So where do you go from here? I strongly recommend making a conscious effort to make two powerful words a part of your daily communications: thank you.

Here are a couple of points about saying thank you that were brought to light in a TED Talk given by Laura Trice:

1. Be authentic and genuine when you say thank you. However, be cautious as overusing the phrase can be counterproductive. As we go through our daily activities, "thank you" is a minor gesture that can pay significant dividends when used effectively.
2. Do not assume others know you are thankful for their efforts and support. Invest time to understand what is important to your team members and be appreciative at the appropriate time.

How often do you say thank you to those who have an impact on you, your family, and your professional success? My guess is that it is not nearly enough. For example:

• When was the last time you thanked your IT group for your computer logging in effectively during the morning; or do you only communicate when there is an issue?
• When is the last time you thanked your client or customer for trusting in you and your company; or do you scramble with tokens of appreciation after resolving an issue?
• When was the last time you thanked your associates for enabling you to be a part of the team; or do only say thank you after completion of a monumental task?
• When was the last time you thanked your significant other or children for the influence they have on you; or do you wait for anniversaries or successful report cards?

Let’s not wait for the next holiday or a New Year’s resolution. The time is now. Together we should follow the feelings of the past week and be thankful; we’ll all end up in a better place. Thank you Dad for instilling in me that if someone gives me a lemon, be prepared to make lemonade.

Robert S. Olszweski is a director with Kreischer Miller and a specialist for the Center for Private Company Excellence. Contact him at Email or 215.441.4600.    

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