Gratitude is Good for Us AND Our Business

by Kelly Burgos Harper
Kelly Burgos Harper Communications & Vocal Coaching

The beautiful, colorful items in the accompanying photo are a few thank yous I received that wowed and delighted me.

Gratitude feels good.

BUT... it's more than a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Science confirms the significant physical and psychological benefits of expressing and receiving gratitude. And in business, we know it can set us apart, build brand loyalty, and strengthen relationships. It can boost productivity, sales, fundraising, and retention.

Still, studies show we are missing plenty of opportunities to communicate our appreciation. I know I am. Too many times, I've made a note to offer a special thanks only to have it slip off my radar. Does that ever happen to you?

Maybe it's a time issue. Maybe we struggle with how to put our gratitude into words. Maybe we're under the impression that it needs to be a grand gesture and we get stuck overthinking it.

How can we do better?

I'm issuing this reminder to myself to take more opportunities to express gratitude all through the year. And they don't have to be extravagant expressions to be meaningful.

I'll just focus on three of the most fundamental expressions that don't require overthinking, overspending, or overextending. I'm sharing this with you in case you could use the reminder, too.


1. Simply saying, "Thank you!" is powerful!
Whether we say it in person, via email, include it in our invoices and forms, or all of the above, research shows that these two little words have a greater positive impact than we might think.

One of my clients sometimes ends an email with "I appreciate you." Just a few simple words that take seconds to type. And the message that comes through, for me, is that I'm more than a hired hand; that she genuinely values my work and that she values me as a human being.


2. Thank you cards are super delightful!
Not everyone is a card giver, and it does take some time and effort. But for inspiration, we only need to recall how we felt the last time we got a thank you card, especially a handwritten one. Now we get to be the sender and inspire that awesome feeling in someone else.

If we struggle to find the time to shop for cards, we can:

• Order pre-printed, branded cards from your favorite printer so we always have a supply on hand. I vow to do this before the end of the year.
• Send e-Cards through online services like  SendOutCards, Blue Mountain, or Punchbowl. 

If we struggle with the words or where to start, help is a click away:

• Thank-You Messages, Phrases, and Wording Examples
• How To Write Professional Thank-You Cards That Strengthen Your Business Connections
• How To Write a Thank-You Note

3. Even small thank you gifts can make big impressions!
These are a bit more of a commitment of our time and funds. Even with a gift-giving budget and the time to shop around and coordinate the effort, deciding on the gift itself can feel daunting. But we don't have to go it alone. Here are some thoughts:

• 23 Client Gifts that Keep Your Company Top of Mind All Year - Our favorite printer can likely help us order and brand some of these options.
• We can engage our local cafés, sweet shops, gift shops, artist and maker studios, etc. for gift cards or custom thank you gifts. They'll probably have fun and creative ideas that we would never have thunk up for ourselves. Plus, we get to support our local businesses and promote them to our gift recipients.

The bottom line is: showing gratitude is an investment in ourselves, our business, and humanity.

The ROI?

Let's find out.

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