The Power of the Word
Each year, thousands of managers purchase books to teach them how to motivate their employees, when all many of them need is one little word.
What’s this magic word? “Thanks.”
When you were a child, your mother or father probably suggested you use that magic word. “John, what do you say to the nice man?” “Beth, what’s the magic word?” And yet, when we grow older and presumably wiser, we tend to forget that magic word – we somehow consider ourselves too sophisticated to use the words we learned as a child, particularly one that makes such a difference.
Why is it that this small word has such a big impact? It’s this easy: we don’t hear it enough – or use it enough.
Some years ago, an article in the Wall Street Journal caught my eye. An interview with a highly-paid leader on Wall Street, the interview noted the leader credit one thing to ensuring his success: he sent “thank-you” notes. He sent them religiously, not just when he was interviewing for a position, or when the human resource department suggested he send them (to avoid a lawsuit, no doubt). He told the Journal that he sent them because they were warranted, and they got him ahead in his endeavors.
I found it odd that such a simple little thing could make such a difference – and yet as I thought about it, I was struck at how this person had turned a genuine expression of gratitude into a significant business advantage.
“Thanks for a job well done”
“Thanks for going the extra mile”
“Thanks for all you have done to make this project a success”
“Thanks for being there when I needed you”
“Thanks for making my life so much better”
“Thanks for making such a difference to our company”
“Thanks for listening to me when I needed someone to talk with”
“Thanks for being such a stellar performer”
“Thanks for being a friend”
Use one of the most basic words in the human language and make someone’s day: remember that magic word “Thanks”.