Thank-you notes can help you to build stronger relationships with your clients, team members and centres of influence.
“It’s making that connection,” says Louise Fox, owner of the Etiquette Ladies and MannersTV.com in Toronto. “That’s what we’re [all] trying to do today, not only in business but in our personal lives: make connections with people and develop a network.”
You can send a thank-you note for almost any occasion, says Fox. From acknowledging a job well done to showing appreciation for some moral support or an invitation to an event, you can always find a reason to say, “Thank you.”
Here are some tips to help you craft a perfect thank-you note:
> Send paper, not pixels
Putting pen to paper makes your thank-you note stand out.
An email belongs in the “better than nothing,” category, Fox says. It’s best to send a personal, handwritten note as a thank-you because it shows that you care enough to take the time to write out something.
A handwritten note demonstrates your thoughtfulness to the recipient, she says, and gives him or her something to keep, whereas most emails simply get deleted.
> Make your thanks the punchline
Give your note a more honest tone by holding off on saying thanks until the end.
Starting a note with the words “thank you,” Fox says, makes it sound like an obligation. Instead, begin by talking about your connection to the person or the thoughtfulness of the reason for writing the note.
For example, you might write: “It was very nice to meet for lunch last week. I always enjoy our conversations together. Thank you for the invitation.”
> Focus on the positive
Always be genuine in your message, even if you have mixed feelings about what you are thanking the recipient for.
Never lie, use sarcasm or disingenuousness in a thank-you note, Fox says. If there is something you didn’t quite like about the gift or event, focus on what you do appreciate, like the thoughtfulness of the gesture.
> Keep it personal
Never include a business card with a thank-you note.
Even if the topic is linked to business, Fox says, keep your card out of the envelope, because that would undermine the intent of the message.
> Mail it A.S.A.P
Always mail a thank-you note right away. If circumstances prevent you from sending the note immediately, it’s still important to send a note, sometime. Simply apologize for not following up sooner and thank the person as you had intended to do.