By Donna Gould, Open Heart Creative

 

With Thanksgiving just a month away, a blog post about giving thanks may seem a bit too obvious. But this isn’t about going around the holiday table and sharing something you’re grateful for.

 

It’s a reminder about the incredible power of the Thank-You Note.

 

In day-to-day life, the words “thank you” can have a big impact on how you’re perceived. Saying them demonstrates respect, sincerity, and genuine appreciation. Forgetting to say them implies you’re someone who takes things for granted or, worse, is simply rude.

 

In business, it’s amazing how far a simple “thank you” can go. Research shows that customers spend more, employees accomplish more, and vendors are more likely to pay on time if they’re thanked regularly.

 

There are countless ways to express gratitude in the workplace, but the simplest – and often the most impactful – is to send a thank-you card.

 

I don’t mean an email or text. Though appreciated, these tend to become routine. I’m talking about a handwritten note. Slipped into an envelope that you put a stamp on. And drop into a mailbox (remember those?)

 

Think about how you feel when you get a note or card from someone you do business with. For me, it’s something special that I don’t soon forget – even when it comes from a company, not an individual.

 

Last month I made my first online purchase from a California-based accessories manufacturer. My new wallet arrived beautifully packaged (and I’m loving it!), but what struck me most was the lovely thank-you note they had tucked inside.

 

Is it a not-so-subtle marketing ploy? Of course it is! But the card made it personal. And as we know, being human is often key to a company's success. The extra few moments you spend purchasing and writing a card will show you truly value and appreciate whomever you are thanking – whether it’s a vendor, manager, or co-worker. And your clients will remember it when deciding if they’ll be return customers.

 

As Gary Vaynerchuk, author of The Thank You Economy, says, “Only the companies that can figure out how to mind their manners in a very old-fashioned way – and do it authentically – are going to have a prayer of competing.”

 

It's often the small gestures that can mean the most. Something to keep in mind at Thanksgiving – and all year long.