Send Me a Thank You Note--- Pretty Please!

There are many controversial subjects that are to be avoided according to some "conversation" experts; including myself. Sending thank you notes seems to hit hot buttons but is not one of them! Don't talk about thank you notes, SEND THEM!  In this economy we need to put on our best manners, clothes, ideas, behaviors and work habits.  Email thank yous are the quick way to acknowledge a kindness, a lead, a gift, a good piece of advice, a meal. In my recent presentation at NYU's Summer Publishing Institute I said that email, maybe even a text message is OK... for the First, Fast thank you. And then, we pick up a pen, grab a notecard (great sales on stationery these days) and WRITE at least two sentences that express appreciation.  For the cost of a 44 cent stamp, you get to show you have awareness, savvy, smarts, manners and good breeding and APPRECIATE the kindnesses of others.

Personally, I'm getting a bit tired of people who either feel "entitled" to that which they are given or who may just be too lazy, too self-absorbed or too nonchalant to take the moment to acknowledge. It's not a gender issue as the two best wedding gift thank you notes I've received in the past four years were from the grooms. 

Some people are smart enough to incorporate thank you notes (online and in print) as part of their job search strategy.  But we must remember to thank our co-workers, colleagues and even our cousins for that which they do that is special when a job is not the focus. To paraphrase a professor I know, "If you have the time to eat the meal that I cooked and/or paid for, you have the five minutes to let me know you valued my efforts." Here, here!

I don't pick up the tab at a meal or send a gift in order to get a note of recognition. But why would I do something nice the second time, if you didn't let me know you valued the first one? And what does it say about the individual who doesn't acknowledge? Alot. And it's not good.

Unless you don't value that I treated you, gifted you, referred a lead to you. That's another story... and a sad one at that.

Comments

[Susan RoAne]

If you tried to leave a comment and it was rejected, please email me
Susan@SusanRoAne.com

[Mary H.]

Great post -

Thank you!

[Harish]

Hi,I just signed up for the Trusted Authority Program, nhinkitg I would get the I Pad 2 based on what I read on this page. Mistakenly, I did not use the proper link Any chance of fixing this mistake and receiving the ipad?Cori