18 Thank You Note Examples
Sharing expertise When a coworker shows you how to do something, teaches you a new shortcut, or gives you a good tip, let them know how much you appreciate their help! When they see how much you value them, studies show they'll be more likely to keep helping you out in the future. Here are some examples: "Thanks for explaining the flux capacitor to me on Monday. I wouldn't have been able to finish my time machine without your expertise! I'm so glad we work together." "Thank you so much for giving me a crash course on that new software yesterday. It made my workday run so much more smoothly." "I really appreciate you taking the time to show me that workaround this morning—you're a life-saver! I've already doubled my production. Thanks so much!"
Contributing to the team Thank your coworkers for their unique contributions and they'll feel especially valued. Let them know that you appreciate everything that they bring to the table and that they're an important part of the team. Here are some things you might say: "Thanks so much for contributing your ideas to the brainstorm session last Friday. We wouldn't have come up with our launch festival theme without your creativity! I know I can always count on you for a well-placed pun." "Thank you for everything you did to ensure the success of our event last weekend. The caterers would've been lost without your navigation expertise. I really appreciate your grace under pressure." "Thank you for being so flexible. You were an integral part of our presentation's success—anyone else would've fumbled but you adapted on the fly to accommodate the additional demands and didn't even break a sweat. Thanks again!"
Overcoming challenges In any workplace you're going to face challenges. Turning those challenges into opportunities to expand and grow often means leaning on your coworkers for a little help. Let them know you appreciate their assistance with messages like these: "Thanks for staying late with me Thursday night to collate my handouts—you're a lifesaver! I really appreciate you taking time out of your life to help get me out of a jam." "Thank you for asking such thoughtful questions during my Q&A. I was worried that nobody was going to ask about the thing I most wanted to highlight and I really appreciate you bringing it up." "Thanks for covering the end of my shift on Wednesday. You really helped me out of a tight spot and I appreciate you coming to bat for me. Let me know next time you need an afternoon off!"
Sharing ideas In many jobs, bouncing ideas off of each other is part of the whole process. When it happens regularly, you might forget to let coworkers know when you really appreciate the ideas they've shared. This is especially important if they're someone who just doesn't speak up very much and you want to encourage them to contribute more. Here are some ideas: "Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the pancake project. You have a way of really thinking outside of the box and I always appreciate your perspective." "Thanks for providing such inspiring and thought-provoking ideas at the brainstorming session on Sunday. I really felt like I was looking at our work in a whole new light. You're truly a credit to our profession." "Thank you so much for popping in to share your suggestions for next week's event. It's so helpful to hear from people in other departments. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future!"
Providing emotional support Your coworkers aren't necessarily your friends, but sometimes they can be. At the same time, if you lean on a coworker for emotional support the way you would a friend, a thank you note might be appropriate. Consider saying something like: "Thanks so much for talking to me yesterday after that meeting. I admit I was close to walking out and you really talked me off the ledge. I appreciate you." "Thank you for comforting me after I got that phone call on Monday. I know you didn't know exactly what was going on, but you were there for me regardless—that means a lot to me." "Thank you for getting coffee for me yesterday afternoon when I was so swamped. I was starting to get a headache and I really needed that break. I appreciate you looking out for me that way."
Getting promoted or moving on When a coworker moves up the ranks or steps out to work for a different company, a thank you note lets them know how much you appreciated working with them. It can also set the stage for a continued collegial relationship with them even after they've moved on. For example, you might write: "Thank you so much for everything you've taught me from my first day of training. If anyone should be moving up, I'm glad it's you! Look forward to seeing what you put out in the future." "Thanks for being such a great team player over the years—you've really gotten me out of a lot of jams and I wouldn't be a sales leader if it hadn't been for your guidance. Good luck in your new position—I'll miss you!" "Thank you for being such a creative force in our team—no doubt our slides will have less sparkle without you. I really appreciate how you can make anything fun. Good luck in your future endeavors."
Writing a Thank You Note
Use nice stationery. Claytor recommends that you invest in some quality stationery so that getting a note from you will be "like a little present in the mail." Beautiful stationery also lets the recipient know that you put some thought into your note and there's some real meaning behind it. Claytor notes "We're always so inundated with bills and junk. Now, it's nice to... go to your mailbox and say, 'Oh, this stationery is beautiful.'"
Write out your message by hand. At a time when nearly everything is digital or virtual, a handwritten message is personal and meaningful. Claytor offers a word of caution, though, that "you want to make sure your handwriting is legible." If you haven't written anything by hand in a while, try a couple of drafts to make sure you've got it down. While there's nothing wrong with sending an email to a coworker, a handwritten note is a special touch. Plus, you can be sure it won't get lost in a sea of spam in the person's inbox.
State specifically what you're thanking them for. Claytor emphasizes that "you want to be very specific." If you can, narrow it down to a specific instance that you can point to, rather than just thanking them for some general trait or skill. For example, if you've got a coworker you want to thank for their creativity, thank them for a specific time when their creativity saved the day. Being as specific as possible helps your thank you sound more genuine. It also tells your coworker exactly what you appreciate so they know what to do more often.
Add detail about the thing you're thanking them for. With the next sentence of so of your thank you note, Claytor encourages you to personalize your gratitude in some way. You might explain how the person helped you, how they changed things, or what you'll do in the future. For example, if you're thanking the person for teaching you how to do something, you might tell them how you'll use your new skills in the future. You might also include details about specific results if those are available to you. For example, if the person's suggestion resulted in a 50% increase in sales, you would definitely want to include that detail in your thank you note!
Deliver the thank you note in a timely fashion. Claytor recommends that you deliver your thank you note "within 24 to 48 hours." If you're planning on sending it in the mail, have it stamped and in the mailbox within that time. While mailing your note does add a little formality to it, it's perfectly fine to leave a thank you note to a coworker on their desk or somewhere else where they'll find it easily.
Benefits of Showing Gratitude to Coworkers
Fosters mutual respect When you send a thank you note to a coworker, you're telling them that you value them—and because you went out of your way to express your gratitude, they're likely to value you as well. In this atmosphere of appreciation, everyone respects each others' contributions and looks out for each other. You're likely to feel less competition towards your coworkers and more of a spirit of collaboration and teamwork.
Improves physical health While research is somewhat limited, studies show that the practice of gratitude in the workplace can lead to less stress, fewer sick days, and fewer overall health complaints. You might also notice that you have higher levels of satisfaction—both with your job generally and with your coworkers specifically.
Promotes genuine connection Thank you notes are a simple gesture that can make workplace relationships feel less transactional. When you thank someone for their contribution, you're also appreciating everything else in their life that got them to that point. Showing gratitude to coworkers means they feel "seen" and understood as real people, not just cogs in the machine. Want to deepen these connections? Take note of special events in your coworkers' lives and honor them with thank-you notes that express your gratitude and appreciation.
Strengthens professional relationships Thank you notes give you an opportunity to reach out beyond your inner circle and forge bonds with people on other teams or in other departments. Showing your appreciation for someone gives them a positive professional opinion of you, even if they're not familiar with your work. Remember to reach down as well as up. For example, if you have 10 years experience, you might send a thank you note to someone who's just starting out but made a great contribution. That'll really encourage them to keep pushing.
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