Thank You Thursdays
April 12th, 2009 Posted in Leadership, NewsletterDid you know that one of the simplest, most powerful strategies for enhanced leadership, sales and customer service is to thank your co-workers and customers?
It’s as simple as “Thank You.”
We just have to make time to say it-write it-and mean it.
Doug Conant, the CEO of Campbell’s Soup for example, has written 16,000 thank you notes to employees since 2001 and re-energized the company in the process.
The key is to do it and do it often. Otherwise it won’t become a habit and if it’s not a habit it won’t produce results.
Consider PPR, a company recently voted as one of the best places to work in the United States by SHRM. They implemented Thank You Thursdays: a process where every Thursday each employee writes at least three thank you notes to their clients. PPR recognized the importance of saying “Thank You” and they created a system to make it happen. I love this idea because they know the system drives the habit and the habit creates results.
But what if I don’t work for a company that has Thank You Thursdays you might ask? Then simply create your own system or find one that works for you. Thank you Friday’s perhaps. 
If you don’t like writing thank you notes then make it a point to call your customers and colleagues and thank them over the phone. Or thank people when you meet them in person. Thank your employees for striving to help the team succeed. Thank them when you see them doing something right. Thank your co-workers for helping you on a project. Thank your customers for the opportunity to serve them. And thank your bosses for providing you with an opportunity to make a living and a difference.
Expressing gratitude, like anything, is a skill and the more we do it the better we get.
And please know that even as I write this my personal goal is to express gratitude more frequently to more people in more ways. I hope you’ll join me and if you have implemented creative ways to say thank you in your company or career please share it on my blog and join the conversation.
Thank you for being you!
Stay Positive!
Jon
Live Tele-seminar Event
You’re invited to be a part of Training Camp! Join us on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 12:00pm EST for a special LIVE, world-wide tele-seminar event. Click here to register.
Training Camp Book Launch Party
Join Jon Gordon and special guests for a book launch party on May 29, 2009 for Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else! Details and RSVP here.
Tags: business, jon gordon, positive, success, teleseminar, thank you, thursdays, tip, training camp
16 Responses to “Thank You Thursdays”
By Sue on Apr 13, 2009
I know your articles focus on success in business, but I have found that sometimes the place we forget to say Thank You the most is at home…to our children, and especially to our spouses…never take them for granted…and let them know it regularly!
By Rusty Hislope on Apr 13, 2009
I definately agree. Saying thank you is so often forgotten by some. I always make sure that I never forget to say thank you to my co-workers and my family (on anyone for that matter). It’s only 2 little words that can make such a huge impact.
By Chris Dryden on Apr 13, 2009
Our Regional Area Manager, gave us all a copy of the Energy Bus, it has been an inspiration to us all over this past year. We have the posters up, we add your sayings to our emails, we encourage all around us with your positive attitude… thank you for keeping the positive attitudes flowing in our daily lives! I incorporated “Thank You Monday’s” in our branch, a way to start the week off with a positive. Thank You!
By Aaron Morris on Apr 13, 2009
As a middle school teacher in a low-income school, you can imagine how difficult days may be when you are trying to teach students who are just thinking about where their next meal will come from. Not to mention the stress of having less materials and less resources than other schools within the district.
The ideas I have found on your blog and in you books have helped me to create a more positive environment around me. While I am not technically the “leader” in the school, I often use these ideas to improve the relationships I have with my peers and my students. I look forward to instituting a “Thank You Thursday” for myself, in the hopes that my positive attitude will rub off on those around me. Thank you!
By Marie-Josee Salvas on Apr 13, 2009
Research shows that feelings of gratitude can enhance cardiovascular efficiency, immune function and hormonal balance (R. Emmons, 2007). Really, the benefits of undertaking Thank You Thursdays go far beyond business results!
Thanks for the reminder, Jon!
Warmly,
MarieJ
By Reg Neufeld on Apr 13, 2009
Great advice! Saying thank you not only makes others feel appreciated but also causes the one expressing appreciation to feel good.
Over these past few years I’ve learned to take this concept one step further by sending out at least one unexpected card each day with a heartfelt message of appreciation, encouragement, recognition, love, support or gratitude, or expressing what I respect or admire about them, to someone in my personal or business life past or present. The benefits for all concerned, especially me, have been nothing short of amazing. Thank you Jon for being the positive influence that you are.
By Laurie on Apr 13, 2009
Jon- our company implemented a Yehaw Friday! at our corporate office (30 people). It’s been amazing to hear people’s successes- sometimes personal, sometimes work related. For a few weeks I took on asking people I called for their yehaw for the week- this included the 300 + employees we have in 12 states. It’s been amazing! I learned about what they were up to, was really moved and now, months later, they ask ME for my yehaw!
I like the Thank you idea- something I’m working on for sure.
Thank you!
Laurie
By Brian on Apr 13, 2009
Jon, I love your weekly messages. They are great reminders of how to live a positive life. Your Thank You Thursdays message is no different. I have always believed in thanking my peers for assistance on anything the help me with. And the following quote is the signature line to my e-mail:
“If the only prayer you said in
your whole life was, ‘thank you,’
that would suffice.”
– Meister Eckhart
Thank you is a wonderful tool for creating positive meaningful relationships. Thank you for sending out your messages once a week. They inspire and encourage me. Peace.
By Shawn Barklow on Apr 13, 2009
I have a learned that true appreciation wins over self promotion everytime. I do as many thank you cards as much as I can. It goes a long way. I use sendoutcards for an easy way to do the cards. Thanks Jon for your weekly upbeat messages!!!
By Mary on Apr 13, 2009
Jon, it’s awesome that you’re doing this! For the past 2 1/2 years I’ve started most days by making a list of gratitude. I start off by writing “It all begins with gratitude!” Then I list ten or so things. It can be anything, from my Mom, the people I work with, the house I live in or something that happened yesterday. It’s probably not total coincidence that my salary has increased by 50% during this time.
Here’s something from a little book I found about gratitude:
Thank God -
every morning when you get up -
that you have something to do which must be done,
whether you like it or not.
Being forced to work,
and forced to do your best, will breed in you
a hundred virtues which the idle will never know.
- Charles Kingsley
By Lorrraine Lane on Apr 13, 2009
So, Mom was right! Always remember to say, “Please and Thank You”. Why do we forget such sage advice that was given to us for free? Mom knew that if we remembered the basics of politeness and courtesy, then she could count on us to remember the rest of her counsel - help people carry packages, hold open doors for others, take your hat off indoors, wash your hands (often), don’t take the last candy or cookie, share what you have, etc. At our local Easter Egg Hunt, it was noticeable that children and adults were speaking the words of gratitude more openly. It was heart warming. Thank you for reading! Please enjoy your day. Thank you.
By susan caples on Apr 14, 2009
Hi Jon,
Thank you it is a great reminder that you sent us to remember to give thanks to others who do for us.
As a child this was mandatory practice to send a hand written thank you note for gifts, a great social event or to someone who went he extra mile for us. If you did not perform this task you ultimately embarrassed yourself.
Then this wonderful practice fell to the wayside but anytime I send a note to someone it is always greatly appreciated. Most people like to receive a positive note in the post.Children especially love to receive a note or a card, it makes them feel special.
Thank you again for the reminder
By deepak on Apr 14, 2009
jon- very well said about thank you . we need today this practice than ever before .
i buy always thank you card boxes for different occasions . i encourage my kids to write thank you note for there birthday presents and after attending someones birthday party . i always send thank you cards to the boss of my vendors or salesperson of my suppliers , result i get excellent service from them .
By Nicky Tillyer on Apr 15, 2009
Hey Jon - how about adding a hashtag on Twitter and setting up a #TYT for thankyou thursday? Just like the #FollowFriday that is now hugely popular and create a movement?
Go to http://thebounder.co.uk/tagref/ to find out more about hashtags and set one up.
I will go first! #TYT to Jon Gordon for constant inspiration and wonderful books!
By Debbie on Apr 18, 2009
Great advice! I think in this day and age we are all so busy and caught up in our own lives that we forget our basic manners like saying thank you. It means a lot to be told thank you for doing something and we all need to remember to thank people for the things they do. THANK YOU for the reminder!
By Lisa on Jan 24, 2010
One way I thank my staff is to send them a handwritten postcard in the mail. I make sure I send at least one each semester to every staff member including teachers, instructional assistants, custodians, secretaries, and cafeteria staff. Many times they tell me that it came it just the right because they were starting to feel down or overwhelmed and the postcard picked them up!