A Quick Guide to Thank-you Notes
When is the last time you have written a Thank-you note? If you can’t answer that question then it is time to put Thank-you notes on your to-do list. Receiving a hand-written Thank-you note just makes you feel better. Here’s a secret: Sending a Thank-you note makes you feel pretty good.
Here is how you can get started.
Get the cards!
Chances are you don’t have Thank-you notes close by. If you do, find them. If you don’t, go get some. I like blank cards and cards with “Thank You” written on the outside. Whichever style you choose, make sure that they are made from excellent quality paper. They need to feel nice when you hold them. Stationery stores are excellent places to find just the right cards.
You can find custom made cards on the Web. I am quite fond Katie Blair and her note cards. She makes great cards. She made the cards in the photo.
Oh, make certain that you use a pen. This is a pencil free zone.
Write the note!
When do you send a Thank-you note? This one is easy. Send a card when someone gives you a gift or does something nice for you.
For example, send a card whenever someone:
- flies on your plane (Kelley, the AA flight attendant).
- agrees to speak with you on the phone
- forwards you information about a job lead
- interviews you for a job
- agrees to be a reference for you
- takes you to dinner
- gives you tickets for an event
- buys you a gift
It is best to send the note immediately. Don’t use tardiness as an excuse to not send a note. Send the note; late is better than never.
Be yourself. You should let the excitement show. It will make the recipient happy to know that they genuinely enjoyed the experience of the gift.
Describe the gift or experience in the note. Emily Post has examples of cards mentioning the amount of monetary gifts. It goes on to say that including a specific amount is optional. What isn’t optional is saying what you plan to use the money for.
If you receive tickets you should discuss how much you enjoyed the show. If you didn’t enjoy it you should act like you did. Be grateful that someone thought enough of you to give you a gift.
The most important thing: Just do it. Write the card and send it.
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I keep a stack of blank thank you notes handy. Seems that it’s a lost art. But the whole paper-and-pen experience makes the act of gratitude seem more tactile.
A timely post for the week of Thanks-Giving!
Hi Laura,
Thanks for reading the post and commenting on it.
I love paper-and-pen experience. There really is nothing like it. The pen that I use most requires filling from a bottle. I love the fact that the pen requires care and attention and the paper feels so good to my fingers.
Everybody should send hand-written notes. It is a great experience for both sender and receiver. E-mail on the other hand, well…