You can easily attribute your firm’s or your personal achievements to careful planning, intellect and foresight, but no one built their business by themselves, or became the person they are today solely because of how great they are. It’s all built on relationships, and gratitude is the key to strengthening old relationships and developing new ones. Maybe it’s my Midwest roots, but I believe that saying thank you and showing appreciation is essential to anyone’s success.
One thing you can be thankful for is that showing gratitude is easy. You don’t need to make a grand gesture, buy lavish gifts or write a novel. Whether it’s through a thank you note, an email, a phone call or face to face, saying thank you is powerful. If you’d like to bring a little more gratitude into your work life, here are some people who probably deserve a hearty “thank you!”
Clients
Put simply, you wouldn’t have a business without clients. Clients aren’t just a source of revenue; they’re people who make the choice to support your business. If that’s not enough of a reason to say thank you, research shows that clients who feel appreciated will continue to do business with you—and it’s much more cost effective to keep current clients happy than it is to find new ones. Happy clients are also more likely to make referrals. Thanking clients isn’t just a nice thing to do—it has a very real impact on your bottom line.
Employees and coworkers
Everyone at the office plays a valuable role, from the CEO to the janitor, and your business couldn’t operate without everyone’s input. Show gratitude to your employees and coworkers for making your success possible. Make a point to thank people you don’t work directly with as well.
Mentors and teachers
There’s no statute of limitations on saying thank you. Even if you haven’t spoken in a while, reaching out to an old mentor or teacher is a great way to reconnect, and it’s a fulfilling experience for them and you. Don’t say thank you only when you need something from them, and don’t wait for an excuse like a holiday card. Sending a quick email when they cross your mind is genuine, simple and highly appreciated.
Friends and family
Chances are, you wouldn’t be where you are today without family that supported and encouraged you as a child, friends who helped you study in college and partners who were always ready to listen when you had a bad day at work.
Strangers
This may seem odd, but being nice and showing gratitude to strangers who have helped you is important too. Those of you who have seen the movie Pay it Forward can relate. I bought a watch at a store the other day and the woman who helped me went above and beyond to make my experience great. As we were checking out, I told her how much I appreciated her help and she commented, “I just wish all my customers were as nice as you.” I thought that was sad—how hard is it for people to be kind to each other? Obviously this saleswoman had her fair share of rude or non-appreciative customers.
Midwest roots or not, my personal experience shows that thanking people regularly will not only make your whole life better, but will likely propel the kind of results you get, too.
