Is your agency listening to the 2 most necessary phrases within the English language?

After a busy summer season of touring, I’ve come to understand that two of crucial phrases within the English dictionary are “thanks.” 

I deliver this up due to an expertise I had flying residence from trip on a regional airline lately with my spouse and two younger daughters (age 4 and 7). The flight attendant was extremely pleasant. She even had a dialog with my children. 

I did not suppose a lot of it till about an hour into the flight, when she gave my spouse an official airline postcard. On the again, the attendant wrote by hand: “Thanks a lot for chatting with me as we speak. Your little ladies made my day. Secure travels.” After which she signed her title. 

That postcard made my spouse’s day to say the least. And my ladies (Olivia and Claire) cherished it, too. On the finish of the flight, as passengers ready to exit the aircraft, all of us hear the flight attendant’s announcement on the intercom: “Particular thanks to Olivia and Claire for being such nice fliers.” 

The regional airline was clearly making an effort to make higher connections with their clients/vacationers. I do not know if flight attendants are required to write down X variety of thanks playing cards per flight, however they normally have some downtime mid-flight if they are not doing meals or beverage service. So why not ship higher service with one thing which may take 30 seconds? 

By the way in which, writing out thanks notes by hand — even when you do not have nice penmanship — makes an enduring impression on this digital age. It exhibits you are not mass producing your sentiment and sending the identical word to a number of individuals by way of junk mail or e-mail. 

Nice. So, what does this story need to do with managing your observe? 

Do you may have thanks playing cards to your workforce, whether or not on private stationery or company stationery? As a part of your Monday assembly, you could possibly ask every workforce member: “What thanks notes did you ship out final week?”

Thanks notes may very well be despatched to a referral supply for making a fantastic introduction. All too usually we’re so busy we overlook to thank individuals for a referral. You would be thanking a consumer or a vendor for serving to you construct a fantastic strategic relationship. Sending out a thanks card shouldn’t be solely going that will help you construct higher relationships, however it is going to make you extra grateful and extra grateful on the whole, which makes everybody happier. Having an perspective of gratitude can also be important should you imagine within the regulation of karma, which says, “What goes round comes round.”

Even should you do not imagine in karma, a Harvard Well being examine decided that the straightforward act of claiming “thanks” can lead you to a happier life. While you categorical your thankfulness to others, it not solely makes others really feel nice, however it makes you are feeling nice. It offers peace of thoughts and interior happiness.Lastly, the largest advantage of sending a thanks word is that you’ll doubtless stand out from the gang. This straightforward act of etiquette and gratitude exhibits you care concerning the individuals you’re employed with (and for) and displays very nicely in your model. It exhibits you are prepared to go the additional mile and reinforces your curiosity in that consumer, vendor, strategic companion or referral supply. Writing a thanks word can also be an effective way to showcase your communication expertise, which is extremely necessary in any consumer service enterprise. 

How will you develop extra of a mindset of gratitude? Among the best methods I do know is to have thanks playing cards on the prepared. While you or your workforce senses there’s an opportunity to construct a greater relationship with a consumer, prospect or strategic companion, you do not have to scramble round looking for one. Simply seize a pen, and scribble a couple of transient, honest ideas. It solely takes a couple of minutes, however can present years of goodwill.

My column The 64/four rule has extra about getting the utmost return in your time.

What’s your tackle gratitude? I might love to listen to from you.