Become a more influential leader - learn how to thank your team like a pro.

Everyone knows that being recognised for your work feels good. But are there better (and worse) ways to say thank you?  And are there any little tricks you can use to maximise the effectiveness of your thank you?

It turns out there are - and if you master them, you’ll not only make your team a little happier, you’ll become more influential and effective as a leader too.

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My Mum

A couple of years ago, my mum had a very serious operation, one of those where they give you the survival rate statistics beforehand. Needless to say, our family was a little worried, and we tried everything to keep her spirits up.

Over the years, I’ve been pretty lax about thanking my mum for everything she’s done for me. Being overly emotional has never come easily to me, so to help calm her nerves - and hopefully cheer her up - I wrote her a real letter saying how proud I was of her.

She still carries that letter in her purse today.

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I write about how leaders can make their teams happier - so why am I writing about a thank-you letter I sent to my mum?

It’s simple.

Because if you master the art of saying thanks, you can transform a team - and, at the same time, make yourself a better leader.

And if you don’t do it well – if your team doesn’t feel recognised – it can become a huge demotivator.

The importance of recognition in the workplace

According to the US Surgeon General, one of the five key drivers of workplace wellbeing is feeling a sense of purpose – and being recognised for your efforts.

People who feel that they are appreciated are:

• 45% more likely to still be at the company 2 years later

• Five times more engaged

• 47% less likely to be looking for a job. 

Big numbers!

Image from the Kudos website

If you’re interested in the science behind why recognition is important, this post is a good start.

For many leaders, saying thank you is hard

Plenty of managers struggle with showing gratitude. Traditionally, saying thank you has been seen as a sign of weakness. Some leaders feel awkward expressing it, while others don’t believe it makes a difference.

But here’s the thing: if you’re someone who finds it hard to give thanks, you’re not alone. And the good news is…

Inspirational leaders aren’t born that way

In Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others), Columbia Business School’s Adam Galinsky explores what makes leaders truly inspirational. His research shows that leaders aren’t born – they’re made.

Adam Galinsky argues that Inspirational Leaders aren’t born that way

Anyone can cultivate the qualities required to become an inspirational leader, and one of the actionable steps he recommends?

- Give targeted praise. 

Galinsky has found that by consistently recognising the achievements of others, leaders not only create an environment of appreciation and encouragement, it also strengthens their influence and effectiveness.

How to give recognition like a pro

Simply saying “thank you” is a great start, but with a few small tweaks, you can significantly increase its impact. The most powerful one?

Write it down.

As Galinsky explains on the Happiness Lab podcast with Laurie Santos,  written praise - whether by email or text - is more effective than verbal thanks because it gives people something they can revisit and savour.

And don’t just say “thanks”. Say thank you for something specific, and explain why it mattered.

I once worked at a company where the CEO would regularly stand up in front of all of us and say, “Thanks, you’re all so important.”

Every time, it fell flat. It felt generic, insincere, and nobody believed he actually meant it. I thought: he has no idea what I’ve done this month — why is he thanking me?

Tip of the week

Write an email of thanks to someone in your team. Make it specific and highlight how their work has helped your business.

• It’ll make your team feel good because they’ll feel appreciated for their work. It will fulfil their human need for recognition.

• It’ll make you feel good too because expressing gratitude boosts your own wellbeing.

• And, if Adam Galinsky is right, it’ll make you a more effective and influential leader in the process.