Results Newsletter November 2004

In this age of e-mail, instant messaging, cell phones and text messaging, when was the last time that you received a hand written note of appreciation? Something that you could touch, some thing that made you feel the compulsion to save those words and tuck that note into a drawer to look at again…rather than hastily hit your delete button to clear the screen and move on to the next task. Perhaps even more daunting, when was the last time that you wrote a hand written note of thanks or gratitude?

Take the case of a Client whose team recently won a huge contract. The work will comprise one-third of their total revenue for the year. His team worked a solid four weeks, nights and weekends in the final push of the sales process. When the big award day finally arrived, everyone was ecstatic and then went back to work! When I asked my Client (the leader of the Business Unit) how he would thank the group, I heard more of the same……..take them to lunch, do a group outing, formally recognize them at the next all hands meeting, give them American Express gift checks. When I suggested that he write the top five people from the team a personalized thank you note, it was like a light bulb went on. We went on to brainstorm how he could mention three specific activities that this person contributed (or describe a special strength or talent) that helped make the team successful. Also, he could mail the notes to the homes of his employees with additional thanks mentioned to the partners, spouses and children for their inevitable contribution of time taken away from their family lives.

The month of November is dedicated to our American annual celebration of Thanksgiving. Why not put a pen to paper and thank five people in your business life for their contributions? You could detail specifically the things that they give to you and the impact that they make. Why stop there? How about showing your gratitude to five of these special people in your personal life? What a memorable thanksgiving ten people in your life will enjoy!

Congratulations, you are taking the next step to deriving results (of gratitude) from within.

If you like the tip, let us know but more important, share it with a friend or colleague. As always, YOUR SUCCESS IS MY GREATEST PLEASURE.