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O P I N I O N
Saying ‘Thank you’
It can lay the foundation for a positive relationship with bosses, subordinates, and co- workers when the time comes to go the extra mile.
R emember the last time a client, a boss or a co-worker gave you a hand-written thank-you note to tell you you’re doing a good job? Maybe someone at work has surprised you with flowers, an unexpected gift or a bonus? Has a vendor ever slipped you a gift card worth the price of a cup of fancy coffee, just to show appreciation for your loyalty?
Cindy McGovern
It felt good. It might even have prompted you to keep up the good work. You might have thought back to that gesture when you toyed with moving to a different company or switching to a cheaper vendor. Your gesture of appreciation doesn’t have to be a gift. Simply saying “Thank you” can go a long way toward improving employee morale, retaining valuable staff members, and keeping your clients coming back. In fact, in survey after survey, more than 20 percent of employees have said: ❚ ❚ If they don’t feel recognized for doing good work, they have recently applied for a different job – compared with 12 percent of employees who do feel recognized. ❚ ❚ More appreciation from bosses would make them happier at work.
❚ ❚ They prefer written or oral “thank yous” over extra time off or gifts. Saying “Thank you” is a simple but powerful gesture. And it can lay the foundation for a positive relationship with bosses, subordinates, and co-workers when the time comes for you to ask someone to go the extra mile. Showing appreciation builds goodwill. People appreciate being appreciated. Someone who feels appreciation from you is more likely to return the gesture by agreeing to your requests. They want to let you know that they appreciate you, too. Professional salespeople – at least the good ones – know this. They keep in touch with their
See CINDY MCGOVERN, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER December 16, 2019, ISSUE 1324
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