Business

5 Tips for Writing Meaningful Thank-You Notes

Showing gratitude can help build a work culture where people feel valued and respected.

August 08, 2024

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  • Thank-you notes are a powerful professional tool for leaders. The author — a senior communications professional at Pfizer — shares her experiences learning about the power of thank-you notes from her high-powered mentor and seeing how it benefitted their business, professional relationships, and personal well-being. She also posits five principles of thank-you note-writing: Take time to reflect; thank those who are often forgotten; be specific; make it matter; and it’s never too late.

    When I received a new bicycle from my grandparents as a kid, my mother wouldn’t let me out of the house to take it for a spin before I sat down and wrote them a thank-you note. I remember grumbling over this at the time, but thank-you notes have since become a passion of mine.

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    Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

    Capture your audience’s attention with smarter emails, Slacks, memos, and reports.

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