Photo by Polina Zimmerman
Writing a thank you note or giving a thank you message is always the right move—no matter the circumstance.
Whenever you feel a surge of gratitude or appreciation, why not communicate your thanks to another person?
This small gesture can have a huge impact—especially in the workplace, which moves so fast, it can be easy to forget niceties like saying our requisite please and thank you.
A survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 93 percent of employees try their best in the workplace if they feel recognized and appreciated. Showing gratitude in the workplace doesn’t just improve personal performance; it can also help improve the team and organizational structure.
Plus, showing appreciation at work and being on the receiving end of genuine acknowledgment feels good! It's a great way for teams to build trust, increase employee retention, and form bonds at work that lead to better teamwork for the entire team. It can make a huge difference in building a healthy company culture—and avoiding a toxic work environment.
Furthermore, as you network, job hunt, or ask for small favors throughout your career, a well-timed thank you note or written expression of gratitude can make all the difference. Expressing sincere gratitude is essential, so let’s ensure we flex our gratitude muscles often.
Today, we’re exploring times when a thank you message can make all the difference—and the appropriate messages of gratitude to send. Of course, we’ll add a few examples, templates, and fun ways to say thank you.
Table of Contents
- When to Show Gratitude
- How to Show Appreciation With Words
- How to Craft a Meaningful Thank You Message
- Thank You Messages Ideas to Use
- Professional Message of Gratitude to Use with Colleagues and Clients
- Employee Recognition Program Ideas
- How to Send Personal Thank You Messages
- How to Express Thanks After a Job Interview
When to Show Gratitude
Express your thanks whenever you feel it, especially in a leadership role.
Expressing gratitude shows your employees or teammates that you appreciate their time, effort, and input, especially in busy or stressful times.
However, sometimes, the best form of gratitude comes unexpectedly. Instead of thanking someone when they do something specific, consider giving someone an expression of appreciation for their continued effort. We have other recommendations for opportunities to express gratitude in the workplace.
Here are a few:
- Say thank you with a happy birthday message.
- Say thank you on a work anniversary. We have other ways to celebrate work anniversaries, too.
- Say thank you during the holidays or before an employee takes much-needed time off work.
- Say thank you after a grueling quarter, a big project, or a long year.
- Say thank you at a company-wide party or gathering. Create personalized messages whenever possible.
- Say thank you when your company reaches or surpasses a major milestone or goal.
- Say thank you when your employee is celebrating a personal milestone (wedding day, birth of a child, anniversary, etc.).
- Say thank you when your employee is moving on to a new role.
How to Show Appreciation With Words
Showing your appreciation in words can take many forms—and it doesn't have to be complicated! Sending a personal note to someone you appreciate might look like this:
- A written thank you card
- An email expressing your thanks
- A sticky note you leave on their computer screen
- A short text of congratulations
- A direct message on social media or your company's messaging platform
Written notes of appreciation will not only boost positive feelings for the recipient, but it will make you happier to know that you took the time to share your gratitude and it made a difference.
How to Craft a Meaningful Thank You Message
In short, whenever you feel that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes along with gratitude, make an effort to say thank you. In the workplace, the warm and fuzzy feeling might be replaced by a sense of huge relief.
Maybe your coworker toiled away to make an unreasonable deadline, which saved your account with a demanding client. In this case, a personalized message of gratitude is recommended.
Expressing gratitude early and often should be a cornerstone for all supervisors. Taking the time to actually say thank you and allow your team members to feel seen will differentiate a regular boss from the best boss.
In fact, employee appreciation has far-reaching effects in the workplace. A study by Glassdoor found that 81 percent of employees will work harder when their boss shows appreciation. The fear-based leadership method does not work as well, with 37 percent of employees reporting that they are motivated to work harder under a demanding (but unappreciative) boss.
Example: I wanted to thank you again for bringing your talents and continued support to this project, especially with your busy schedule. Your work continues to impress our client and me. Thanks again for being a stellar team member, and know that your efforts are appreciated.
When to Send Thank You Gifts and Other Kind Gestures
In this article, we're mainly focused on words ahead of gifts. However, sometimes a thoughtful gift is a great way to show gratitude. It doesn't have to be an expensive or beautiful gift.
A small and thoughtful gift alongside a handwritten note can show the recipient that you really appreciate their time, efforts, help, or great work.
Some small gratitude gifts can include:
- A gift card
- A coffee
- A day off (!!!)
- A fun trophy
- A personalized mug
- A desktop nameplate
- A gift set or gift basket
- A planner
- A gift certificate for a massage
- A bottle of wine
- Chocolates
- A free lunch
- A scented candle
- A plant
- A personalized water bottle
Thank You Messages Ideas to Use
Here are a few thank you messages to use in email, instant messages, or even as you pass your colleague in the hallway. It's never too soon (or too late!) to show thanks for their continued hard work.
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you for everything you do.
- Thank you for everything.
- I am so grateful to you.
- Thank you for your guidance.
- I want to express my sincere gratitude.
- I feel so lucky to have you on my team. Thank you!
- Thank you. Your input is, as always, priceless.
- Thank you for your continued support.
- Thanks a million.
- A million thanks for your continued hard work.
- I appreciate your attention.
- I appreciate your helpful guidance.
- I appreciate your assistance.
- I appreciate your time.
- Thank you! I couldn't have done it without you.
- My sincere thanks.
- Thank you for thinking of me.
- Thank you for your belief in me.
- Thank you for your comfort.
- I appreciate your dedication.
- Thank you for your thoughtful message.
- My thanks and appreciation.
- Please accept my deepest thanks.
- Thank you for being so considerate.
- Thank you for your encouragement.
- Thank you for your guidance.
- Thank you for your support.
- I appreciate your kindness.
- Thank you for your time.
- Words cannot express my gratitude. (This thank you should accompany a small gift, too.)
Professional Message of Gratitude to Use with Colleagues and Clients
When expressing thanks to a professional colleague, client, or customer, keep it extra professional. Here are a few phrases to use to say thanks professionally.
- I sincerely appreciate your attentive assistance.
- Thank you for your continued trust in our organization.
- I appreciate our continued collaboration.
- Many thanks for giving me this opportunity.
- Thank you for taking the time to connect with me.
- Thank you for thinking of us at [COMPANY] for this collaboration.
- Thanks very much for your continued excellence. I look forward to our continued work together.
Messages of Appreciation to Send Your Boss
We're not talking about kissing up to your boss but about showing gratitude that goes both ways. Just like your boss should express gratitude to you, pay it forward by giving them thanks when appropriate. Bosses are humans, too!
- Thank you for your continued support and guidance.
- Thank you for the help in working with this client.
- Thank you for your continued understanding.
- Thank you for making accommodations for my flexible work.
- Thank you for always being supportive.
- Thank you for your trust in my work.
- Thank you for believing in me.
- Thank you for pushing me to be the best version of myself.
- Thank you for your continued encouragement.
- I am grateful for your belief in me to lead this project.
- I am grateful for this promotion and your continued support of my career.
- Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and listen to my concerns.
- Thank you for connecting me with [NAME] for this mentorship opportunity.
- I’m so grateful to have a manager like you.
- Thank you for always bringing out the best in me.
- I appreciate your confidence in me. It is my biggest motivator.
Employee Recognition Program Ideas
One of the best ways to motivate employees is through genuine recognition of their hard work.
Whether your company already has a formal recognition program or simply a "recognition" process, such as a dedicated channel in your company's messaging app, it's important to foster an environment that rewards recognition, appreciation, and gratitude toward each other.
For example, maybe you want to bring attention to a teammate whose work ethic and positive attitude inspire you daily. Or maybe someone did a fantastic job on a specific project, and you want to bring attention to this major career accomplishment. From the everyday moments to the once-in-awhile stand-out moments, employees love to know they are creating value.
The best employee recognition methods offer regular, immediate, and specific feedback.
Even with all this said, you might feel stuck on how you want to show your employees recognition. Here's a list of ideas:
- A written email with specific mention of the task/work/etc. you appreciated and why
- Public recognition in company communication or event
- Private lunch between the boss and individual
- Praise on social media
- Direct message on the company messaging app or message on the channel dedicated to recognition
- Wall of fame or company trophy
- Celebrations for milestones and anniversaries like company parties, gift cards, company swag
- A formal recognition program that's branded like Southwest Airline's "Attitude of Gratitude"
- Host an employee appreciation day
- Encourage peer-to-peer recognition
Employee Appreciation Messages Ideas to Use
If you want to keep things simple, remember that the best way to show appreciation is to do it often and make it specific. That's why written messages will always be the most valuable tool even if you do start a more formal recognition program. Here are some message ideas:
- Thank you for your commitment! We value your input and appreciate you helping us get through tight deadlines and difficult challenges.
- Your continued effort to perform at the top is inspiring. Thank you!
- Your positive attitude is infectious! Thank you for bringing the type of attitude that defines our company’s culture and pushes us forward even when faced with adversity.
- Congratulations! We want to acknowledge your tremendous effort and celebrate your success.
- Thank you for your hard work! It really pushed the whole team forward and got the project completed faster than anticipated.
- Each day you bring a positive attitude, and it makes a huge difference in our team. Thanks for being you!
- We really appreciate your willingness to volunteer for the jobs that need to be done the most.
- Thank you for stepping up to the plate! We appreciate your support.
- Happy anniversary! We are so grateful for having you these past X years. Looking forward to celebrating more years to come!
- You are an asset to the team and the organization, and we're so grateful to have had you these last X years.
- Your skills in X and X have been invaluable! You've helped us advance the goals of the entire team.
- Thank you for bringing your creativity each day. Your willingness to share ideas inspires the rest of the team.
How to Send Personal Thank You Messages
What about your thank you messages to your workplace besties?
These are the thank yous that are filled with hugs and sentiments because you're much more than colleagues. Yes, we all have that work friend that really went through it with us—and your workplace angel needs a little more than a professional thank you.
When you're penning a thank you note to your workplace BFF, send a handwritten note with unlimited Xs and Os and messages of appreciation for your friendship. Include your favorite inside jokes and festoon your note with stickers and drawings. Everybody loves getting a little "snail mail" dropped at their desk.
Pro Tip: If your thank you message to your work-BFF includes anecdotes that would make HR frown, write and give it to your pal off work hours.
Here are some phrases you might send to your work best friend to express your thanks:
- You make work a happy place, and I am so happy to be your work wife.
- I am so grateful to have you as my colleague and, more importantly, as my buddy.
- I literally (and I mean literally) could not survive this place without you.
- I'm so grateful that I get to work with you. Thanks for making the workplace fun.
- I never thought I could love my job, but your laughter and support brighten my Monday through Friday! Thank you!
- From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being my work BFF!
How to Express Thanks After a Job Interview
This is a big one. If you aren't sending a post-interview thank you note, you've missed a huge part of the interview process.
Your message of appreciation following an interview should include a greeting detailing your appreciation, something specific about the interview, why you see the job as an exciting opportunity, a brief explanation of why you’d be a good fit, and an email closing.
Here is one of our post-interview thank-you templates:
Email Subject Line: Thank You From [NAME] | [JOB TITLE] Interview Candidate
Dear [NAME],
Thank you again for speaking with me about the [JOB TITLE] position and for giving me additional insight into the responsibilities and day-to-day duties involved.
Our conversation today only increased my interest in the role. I would be thrilled to use my [SKILLS YOU DISCUSSED DURING INTERVIEW] to benefit [COMPANY NAME] and your goals, including the work you're doing on [SPECIFIC PROJECT OR WORK DISCUSSED IN INTERVIEW].
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions for me! I look forward to having another conversation with you soon.
Best regards,
[NAME]
[CONTACT INFO]
Dear [NAME],
Thank you again for speaking with me about the [JOB TITLE] position and for giving me additional insight into the responsibilities and day-to-day duties involved.
Our conversation today only increased my interest in the role. I would be thrilled to use my [SKILLS YOU DISCUSSED DURING INTERVIEW] to benefit [COMPANY NAME] and your goals, including the work you're doing on [SPECIFIC PROJECT OR WORK DISCUSSED IN INTERVIEW].
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions for me! I look forward to having another conversation with you soon.
Best regards,
[NAME]
[CONTACT INFO]
