By Pamela Jett, CSP
I am a huge fan of the thank you note. A thank you note communicates basic good manners, it is thoughtful, and it is a œmust for professionals who want to project a polished image. Additionally, having the good manners to send a thank you note prevents the sender from experiencing the dreaded œdo I ask if they got the gift or not? dilemma. And, in an age where electronic media is everywhere, a hand-written note is a delight to receive and it stands out from all the other forms of communication.
Unfortunately, many people don™t take the time to compose a thank you note (hand-written or otherwise). Receiving one is a rarity. Why? Perhaps it is because people find them difficult to write. So, here is a quick template to write a simple, yet personalized thank you note.
- Salutation – œDear Aunt Mary
- Express gratitude (be specific) – œThank you very much for the red scarf.
- Point out the impact – œIt is pretty. I like it very much and I wear it all the time with my denim jacket.
- Reference the future – œI look forward to seeing you at Uncle Paul™s Birthday.
- Close – œWith love, Pamela
Notice, the thank you note doesn™t have to be lengthy. A few sentences will suffice.
The holiday season is upon us and you will likely have plenty of personal and professional opportunities to write a thank you note. Use your powerful written communication skills to project a professional image and to convey your basic good manners. For more communication templates and solutions to your œwhat to say when you don™t know what to say dilemmas, visit me at my recently re-designed website www.jettct.com where you will find great learning resources.
