The other day I thanked an employee for her specific contribution in helping us win a new EAP account. She beamed and responded with, “It means a lot to me to hear that!” This exchange reminded me just how important a thank-you can be. When is the last time you thanked an employee? I mean really thanked an employee. Not just the off the cuff “thanks” that rolls off your tongue without much forethought. If you can’t remember it’s probably because you haven’t really taken the time to be that deliberate with your communication.
Saying thank you is such a simple gesture but one that can be so powerful for a manager to use. In the current economy and with many businesses forced to do more with less, it is more critical than ever to be deliberate about how you thank employees for doing something for you or the company.
Will a great thank you replace a salary increase or a promotion? Probably not, but it will set a tone of respect and acknowledgement for work well done within your organization. As salary and bonus budgets decrease and employees are being asked to take on more, you need to pull out all of your retention tools from the manager’s toolkit. This is one that is simple to do and won’t cost you a penny, yet, could yield you a significant amount of ROI.
You may wonder what the difference is between saying thanks and THANK YOU. Here are a few suggestions to get more leverage from a simple two word phrase.
- Stop and look the person in the eye.
- Take the time to explain the benefits of what the employee did …what was the impact to you, the department or the organization as a whole. Be specific.
- Tell the employee the value they bring to the group.
Next week, try to find one thank-you each day and let us know how it goes.
