The Vargas Group

None of us can do our jobs alone. Let me rephrase that – there may be some jobs that only require the work and input of a sole individual but I wouldn’t want to work that way. And in corporate America today, most of us find ourselves dependent on others to successfully accomplish our tasks. So what if they weren’t there? Or what if they decided to be extremely difficult or obstinate and simply refuse to do what you need them to? Worse yet, what if they sabotaged you and went out of their way to be sure you failed?

So if you aren’t working with creepy people like the above-mentioned, what are you doing to show your partners how grateful you are for their help and cooperation? In today’s lean workplace, everyone has more than enough to do and if, you want to be sure your needs remain a high priority with your co-workers or cross-functional team members, it helps if you show a little old-fashioned gratitude. Yes, turns out your mother was right – saying “Thanks” on a regular basis improves the relationship!

If you lead teams or staff, set the example. Thank them first. This doesn’t have to be a costly endeavor – in fact, most of my suggestions fall in the free or almost free category. Leave little notes of gratitude on the desks of your team members. Recognize some specific thing they did: “Thanks for getting that email out to the client before you left last night!” or “I appreciate how you always lend a hand to the newer employees.” Nothing fuels commitment and loyalty like an unexpected pat on the back. Leave other surprises such as a candy or a cupcake on each person’s desk or bring in cookies for the team. You’ll know you’ve set a good example when your team members begin to do this for one another. One of my former employees became known for his surprise thank-you ice-cream sandwiches!

Next, thank those who help your team succeed – the Quality Assurance staff, the IT people, the managers of people serving on your cross-functional team, etc. Your gratitude should be tangible but, again, not costly. When I managed technology teams, we would assemble baskets made of baked goodies and candies, all of us would sign a personal thank you note and then I’d deliver them to the Operations Center, Help Desk, Network Support and even our internal customers. That small expression of our gratitude for their hard work and support reaped many, many rewards in their willingness to go the extra mile for us.

So often I hear managers say, “They’re only doing their job. Why do we need to thank them?” Well, here’s why: It’s the right thing to do. Most of us work hard and would do so with or without a thank-you but we all like the occasional recognition of a job well done. So during this Thanksgiving season, make a new tradition in your workplace. Say “Thanks!”