Site moved to eblingroup.com/2010/10/why-and-how-leaders-need-to-say-thank-you.html, redirecting in 2 seconds

« A Key Question for Executive Leaders | Main | Lead Like a Mom »

October 27, 2010

Comments

Karen

In my opinion this is the most under used tool in the leadership toolbox. I have seen so many situations when a team was assembled and asked to deliver a difficult project on a very tight time frame and the project sponsor never acknowledged the results. The reasons vary but are usually along the lines of, "they are doing their job, they don't need to be thanked" or "there are lots of teams that do good work, why single this team out". Both of these reasons are just wrong. A sincere thank you doesn't cost any money, is always appreciated, and will often result in additional effort the next time the individual or team is selected for the next business critical crunch. Obviously over using the thank you will not work, but used appropriately this simple thing results in big returns and a happier team.

Meredith Kimbell

Nice little piece of research. It is worth noting that a substantive "Thanks" is valuable "360" to staff, peers, bosses, family members, service providers. Thanks for a great reminder that I'll apply today.

JF

OK .. Let me see if I get this ..

Saying "thanks" is a good thing.

Saying "thanks" often is a better thing.

Saying "thanks" a lot leads to an office full of "thankful" employees.

Being "thankful" for hearing the word "thanks" leads to a warm and fuzzy feeling of "thankfulness" for having such a wonderful boss.

Warm + fuzzy = corporate nirvana and we all like nirvana don't we?

Well now that I know all of this I'm thinking I should be "thankful" for the opportunity to read all about the value of giving and sharing "thanks".

I'm also thinking that folks would be "thankful" if we had some kind of national holiday celebrating the true and amazing value of having, giving, and receiving "thanks". Oh wait, I'm sorry, we do have one of those holidays and it's just around the corner in November.

If I remember correctly, last year I was absolutely "thankful" that there were more turkey's on the table than there were sitting around it.

My sincere "thanks" to everyone for putting up with this rambling diatribe and a big "Thank You" to the folks out there who actually reading this far .. :-)

Drdouggreen

This is great advice. You should say thanks anytime you can and even in situations where you do most of the work and they should be thanking you. Add to this smiling and active listening and you have a big piece of the recipe for successful leadership. For on leadership check my book summaries at DrDougGreen.Com.

Scott Eblin

Thanks (no pun or joke intended) for the comments everyone. It's really interesting to read the different perspectives everyone has on the efficacy of saying thanks. Apart from the "it's a nice thing to do" school of saying thanks, I was most intrigued by what the study I cited indicated are the future motivational benefits of offering some grounded and specific thanks for a job well done.

Gretchen Krampf

Scott,
It seems like such a simple thing, and it means so much. So, THANKS for bringing the subject of expressing "thanks" front & center.

And, a great tool I have found useful is Send Out Cards, a marvelous online tool that sends out cards through the post.

Derek Irvine, Globoforce

Scott, thank you for the shout-out! Saying thank-you is simple, but it's not necessarily easy.

I like how you phrased "fresh, personal and clear."

I believe these are absolutely the baseline for meaningful recognition -- frequently, timely and persona.

I wrote awhile ago about the need to go a step farther by making recognition specific, actionable and authentic. Those descriptors are available here: http://blog.globoforce.com/2009/11/specific-actionable-and-authentic.html

The comments to this entry are closed.

The Next Level

The Next Level - 2nd Edition Cover

Find out what insiders know about executive success in Scott Eblin’s new and expanded book, The Next Level: What Insiders Know About Executive Success.
Click Here.


Leadership Lessons Podcast

Leadership Lessons Podcasts: Scott Eblin, executive coach, speaker and author of The Next Level: What Insiders Know About Executive Success, 2nd Edition, talks with top business and organizational leaders.


Join Our Kiva Microloan Team

About

As an executive coach, speaker and author of The Next Level, Scott Eblin advises hundreds of executive leaders every year. The Next Level Blog is where he shares "news you can use" to raise your leadership game.

Email Me

Email Scott Eblin!

Scott's Twitter Feed