The Power of "Thank You"

Happy Thursday!  Here’s what you need to know in tech in under 2 minutes…

What tech leaders should be thinking about this week:  How to say “Thank You” more to team members.  I know it seems simple … but think of the last time you actually said this phrase to folks in your org(especially your rock stars!).  My bet is that you’re probably not saying this enough, and that’s a missed opportunity for you and the team.  Let’s be honest –most folks like praise and I’ve found casual recognition to be the most effective – during regular 1:1s, in Slack/Teams/Text messages, during brainstorms, and hallway conversations.  You still want to be specific about the business impact win, but less-is-more when it comes to how you send the message.  My favorite? A quick, hand-written note … what can I say – my parents taught me well!

Why this is important:  Saying “thank you” more often directly impacts our mission as tech leaders: to drive massive impact and show immense team devotion (again, thanks for the North Star, Francis Frei). Individuals who are told their work is important through gratitude are 50% more likely to produce even greater output the following week according to a recent study fromThe University of Missouri – Kansas City. Talk about a win-win!  Not only that, but I’ve seen leaders themselves feel more engaged (and drive bigger impact) when saying “thank you”about specific results is prioritized.  

Where you’ll see impact:  Not only will you see impact in how folks perform, but also in team engagement and retention.  SHRM’s 2024 “State of the Workplace” report showed that employee engagement and morale are still at the top of the priority list of org leaders – recognition is one quick-and-easy way to move that critical metric. In addition, Gallup created a 2024 report highlighting that employees who feel genuinely recognized are 45% less likely to leave within two years.  Especially for top performers, this can save an organization tens of thousands of dollars in turn-over costs(per employee).  Bottom line – two words have never been more important for tech leaders!

Value Add – Additional ways to show-up as a leader:  We often think of the “thank you” as an effective way to manage-down. But I’ve also seen gratitude work well as a great way to manage-up too! When’s the last time you thanked YOUR leader for something they did and/or the impact that it had on your organization? I know it may sound a little weird, but don’t forget that your managers are human too!Like with your team, keep it specific to business impact and casual, but give it a try during your next 1:1 – I bet you’ll experience positive results!

Here's to your Engaged Pursuit!