Why You Should Write Thank Yous

The simple power of a hand-written thank you is a game changer.

When was the last time you got a hand-written note in the mail? If you're like me, you got really excited to rip that thing open and smiled at the effort someone had to send me a note.

I'm a believer in the power of showing people you care, and one of the easiest, most meaningful ways to do that is simple: write thank you cards.

Thank you cards work everywhere. In the workplace, after interviews, your yoga teacher, your babysitter, or in your family, they work everywhere.

No one expects anyone to send or deliver a thank you, which works so well to your advantage. Sending a thank you sets you apart from your co-workers or the other people interviewing for that job. People remember people who go the extra mile with no expectation or agenda.

There are three keys to writing effective thank you cards:

1. Timing.

2. Sincerity

3. Presentation

First, timing. Don't wait to send a thank you weeks after an event or interview. As soon as you can, sit down to write a thank you after an event or interaction with someone. The fresher the interaction with you is in someone's mind, the stronger the connection with the card will be. Let them know they aren't an afterthought by writing your card soon.

Second, sincerity. Don't scribble something ambiguous on a card and call it good. Try to pick out specific things you appreciate about someone or an event. If there is a specific interaction you had with someone, reference that (it makes it personal). Think through what will be most meaningful to the other person and take the time to be sincere.

Third, presentation. Don't send a cheesy or cheap-looking card. Head to the stationery section of your Walmart and pick up a couple different packs of thank you cards for different occasions. Get a casual and colorful one for people you have good relationships with. Get a formal, classy one for professional thank you cards. When you write on your beautiful thank you cards, don't be sloppy. Go slow and use your best handwriting to make sure it's easy to read and matches your tone.

Thank you cards can help people remember you and solidify connections you make with a meaningful follow up. Writing notes of appreciation is a great habit to have that will set you up for success and better relationships in all areas of life.

Thank YOU for reading this blog post (see what I did there?). Go start writing!

/ written by Rachel Madden