This simple act can transform all your relationships.
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There is a perception that men do not write thank you notes.
Thank-notes are a quick way to express your gratitude. However, many men do not write thank-you notes and never will. This gives the men that are willing to write thank-you notes the chance to stand out. If you have ever received a handwritten note, I bet you remember exactly who it was from and the specific occasion.
My dad, now in his 70s, is still writing thank-you notes. When my grandma passed away a few months ago (she was nearly 102), my dad was involved in the thank-you note writing. He wrote notes to the funeral director and many others. He is retired now, but also wrote notes throughout his business career.
At Home
A man can thank his wife with a heartfelt thank-you note along with a small gift or a date night. Some women are rarely recognized by those that they do the most for. Take a few minutes and write a thank-you to your wife. Be specific in the note. Go beyond “thanks for all you do.” Let her know that you appreciate the big things and the little things by listing out a few of those things.
If your children are doing well with chores or other tasks, give them some positive reinforcement and write them a little note.
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If your children are doing well with chores or other tasks, give them some positive reinforcement and write them a little note. The note doesn’t need to be on fancy paper (although fancy is fine!). A few words of appreciation will go a long way and they may keep a handwritten note from their dad.
When gifts are exchanged at Christmas, for your birthday, or other events be the man that writes thank-you notes for those gifts.
At the Office
There are many opportunities to share your gratitude at the office. From coworkers to bosses to virtual assistants. When you get a raise, send your boss a thank-you note. I prefer handwritten notes, but sending an email is better than no note at all! Just remember not to share the amount of the raise in your note as you don’t know who else may end up seeing the note.
If your team has a baby shower for you or gives you gifts with a shower, you can send an email to all the attendees for coming and for group gifts. Don’t have your wife do this even if she was invited. They are your coworkers! You can sign the email with both of your names. If someone gives you an individual gift write them their own thank-you note.
Be creative. If your coworker helps you out, let them know you are grateful. A quick note could lead them to helping you more often. Knowing that they are appreciated could also lead to them helping out more people.
Relationships and Networking
In his book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi says “The thank-you note is an opportunity to reinforce a perception of continuity in a relationship and create an aura of goodwill.”
In his book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi says “The thank-you note is an opportunity to reinforce a perception of continuity in a relationship and create an aura of goodwill.”
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When you meet someone new at a convention or other event, follow-up with a thank you note. Thank them for any advice they gave you or for their time. This will help build your relationship as many people do not make the effort to follow up at all.
If you are in a mentoring relationship, send your mentor a thank-you note occasionally. Thank them for their time and what you are learning from them.
A note can also be used to thank pastors, who mostly hear complaints. Take a moment to recognize the help they provide you or others, usually at no cost and at all hours of the day and night. Give them the thanks and appreciation that they deserve.
Thank-You Note Resources
If you are ready to get started with thank-you note writing, download the Free Mini Thank-You Note Writing Guide or get my book, A Modern Guide to Writing Thank-You Notes on Amazon. The book is packed with over 400 examples and provides many tips to help you write thank-you notes.
If you are not quite ready to send handwritten thank-you notes but are ready to share your gratitude, you can start with phone calls, emails or text messages.
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Photo: Getty
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