Forums

I enjoyed the podcast on thank you notes because I´ve used them a few times and people generally seem dumbstruck that anyone especially of my age (27) considers writing one.
Mark likes to portray some of his gentlemanly habits in his discussions with Mike and I truly enjoy that detail of the M-T podcasts. My fiancé keeps telling me I´d have enjoyed late 19th century life far more than todays hectic environment.
Having a bit of a paper fetish I´d like to recommend two of my favorite papers. G. Lalo, Vergé de France is really nice old style paper with an aristocratic feel. Unfortunatly it´s hard to come by on the internet (just google it) but available widely in Europe´s good paperiers.
Then for a more hip, modern vibe I´d have to recommend Ordning & Reda from Sweden. http://www.ordning-reda.com/

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

Sverrir-

Thanks for your comments. We also like Papyrus in the US, a chain of fine paper stores. They have lovely stationery choices.

Mark

kddonath's picture

Went out a bought a box of note cards and fired off two notes. You know when the last time was that I sent a hand written note? Don't ask!

These notes were for a couple guys who took time off their vacations to finish a task. After I sent the notes I got thinking that their managers needed to know this so I sent them an email acknowledging their work.

Got wondering if you had any suggestions for letting someone's superior know about a job well done - seems to be something that should sometimes go along with the process of sending a thank you.

Thoughts?

JKos's picture

I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast. I work for a faith-based, non-profit organization and write thank you notes on a monthly basis. I receive a monthly report about who contributed what and when and I always write thank each donor.

My question: Do mention the exact dollar amount given in the thank you card? The money isn't given to me per se, but to the organization on my behalf (though the difference probably isn't obvious to the donor.

On the one hand I want them to know [i]that I know[/i] how much they gave. On the other hand, I don't want to appear as though I'm pandering.

Any thoughts, oh manager tools community?

trandell's picture

kddonath: I think you can drop an email note to the person's manager when physical proximity is limited. Ideally, I would stop by and let the manager know in person.

JKos: I'm not involved in your type of work at all, but my gut feeling is to advise you to use a phrase like, "Thank you for your generous gift." No need to show how much they gave. They know how much and your note shows you appreciate it.

JKos's picture

Trandell, thanks for the input. That's generally been my practice. Sometimes I wonder, however, if people think I've forgotten what they gave and am just sending out a generic thank you.

Unless I hear input to the contrary, that's probably what I'll do.

Thanks for the comment.

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

I would NEVER mention the amount of a gift in a thank you. That makes it about the amount, and not about the intent. I have given a $75,000 gift, and was embarrassed by the repeated reference to the amount.

And, just send an email to their boss.

Mark

JKos's picture

Thanks Mark.

It's good to hear the perspective from someone on the other end of the relationship. I didn't think about making the "thank you" about the amount not the relationship. Good advice.

kmilano's picture

There is a website with business and personal thank you note samples at

http://www.thank-you-note-samples.com

If you're really stuck for what to say, there is also a form where you can request a custom-written thank you note.

johnp's picture

is it reasonable to send thank you notes to your boss as well?

My boss went out of his way to make me feel very welcome to their team and I think sending a thank you note would be the least I can do.

I am only concerned about how acceptable it is, perception-wise?

thanks
John

juliahhavener's picture
Licensee Badge

I wouldn't do it daily, but I don't hesitate to send a thank you note just because they're my boss.

WillDuke's picture
Training Badge

First, the fact that you know they contributed implies you know how much. If you've seen the list of contributions, you have probably seen the amount. :)

I wanted to add yet another reason to not include the amount though. The dollar amount of the gift is not an indicator of how deeply a person dug to help. A person working for minimum wage digs deeper for $20 than Bill Gates would for $100,000.

Our Rotary club just wrapped up our fund-raiser, and we see donations from $5 to $5,000. Every person on that list took the time to contribute to the community. Bless them all, each and every one.

JKos's picture

Will, thanks for the that insight. You're so correct. I always do see the amounts. But as Mark alluded to mentioning the amount makes it about the amount, not the relationship.

This thread has been very helpful to me. Thanks to you, and the others.

KS180's picture

Please critique the following to make sure I got the podcast right.

Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the CIO position. I'm
excited about the position because it allows me to take a more active role
in the success of the company. My extensive background in IT along with
my management skills will definitely make me an asset to .

I want an offer from because of my ability to reduce
operating costs, develop and implement a vision and grow the employees to be more productive.

Thank you,
Kevin Sweeney

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

Yep. Sounds great.

Mark

KS180's picture

Do you close the secretary too?

I sent a thank you note to the secretary for taking the time to arrange everything. I almost tried to close her but stopped. Should I just thank the people that weren't in the interview or try to close them too since you never know who they might talk to?

Kevin

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

Did she interview you? If she did, yes. If not, no.

A thank you card is nonetheless a deft touch here, even without a close therein.

Mark

AManagerTool's picture

Pay attention to the secretary!

My wife is the admin for the president of a Fortune 100 company. She has made and broken careers with her opinion. [b]The best advice I can give is be especially nice to the admins...[u]all of them[/u]! No matter who you think you are.[/b]

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

AManagerTool-

BRILLIANT!

One of top 10 forum posts of the year, just in under the wire.

Mark

stephenbooth_uk's picture

[quote="AManagerTool"]Pay attention to the secretary![/quote]

Additionally, especially in smaller firms, the 'admin' may actually be your new bosses boss who is just covering reception and the phones for 10 minutes whilst the admin pops out to buy a sandwich. It happens.

Plus, this is the way I look at it, why wouldn't you be pleasant to the secretary/admin? If you're writing thank you notes any way would it kill you to write one more? Worst case is that the only impact is that you cheer up an admin and they have something to smile about for 5 minutes.

Stephen

WillDuke's picture
Training Badge

Anybody ever watch MASH? Who really ran that camp? Anybody know any businesses that are similar?

The company I own runs MUCH better since I got the right admin. It was a world of difference. If someone we were interviewing got the thumbs down from her, I wouldn't even question it; they'd be out of the running.

A team is a team. Every member of the team is important. Thinking anything different only guarantees that you're not part of the team.

mukamal's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

My finance friend likes to point out that being nice is like having a free option. It costs you nothing, but can get you a lot in return.

I point this out to my team at least once a week in response to sticky client situations.

To Mark and Mike (and all the forum posters):
Thank you for all the great advice! I'm using it daily.

--Ari

mpnikolic's picture

M Nikolic