The Power Of “Thank You!’

Last night, I was sitting in the living room, reading. The phone rang, no caller ID, but it was from an area I recognized, so I answered.

It was Bill, an old friend and colleague. As we spoke, Bill said, “We first met about 35 years ago….”

Bill was a product marketing guy in a company where I was CRO. He was one of the best product marketing people I’d ever met, deeply involved with customers and our sales teams. We had lots of discussions and occasional disagreements.

I went on to form Partners In EXCELLENCE; Bill moved on to other companies in product management, sales, and eventually CEO roles. We kept in contact. Every once in a while, he’d ask us to do a small project with one of his teams. Even when we didn’t have projects, we’d talk periodically about what he was doing and where he was going.

Somehow, our last conversation was about four years ago; we both got busy doing very different things. There were the annual Holiday greetings, but we didn’t get on a call until last night.

Bill called, announcing, “I have news for you!” He went on to say that he has retired, though in reviewing his current activities, I suspect he had it easier in his previous CEO role. He’s actively involved in his community, church, and other volunteer organizations. He’s mentoring a number of people around the country. We talked about how rewarding he was finding his new career.

Then he shifted topics.

“Dave, I want to thank you for the impact you have had on me and my development over the years. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that!”

I was deeply moved. My knee-jerk response was, “I suspect you did the opposite of the things I recommended, and that’s what driven your success!”

We laughed and talked about how we learned from each other. He mentioned that one of the reasons he was mentoring young people was his belief in paying it forward. He said, “You invested in me, I need to invest in others.”

When I hung up, I reflected for a while. Bill’s simple call, the re-connection, and his thanking me made a world of difference. I’m deeply grateful for that conversation and thank Bill for taking the time.

But in reflection, I realized this wasn’t new behavior. I remember Bill always expressing appreciation, even in the tough times. We’d have difficult conversations. But he would call me up a few days after the debate, saying, “That was a tough, but I really appreciated it….”

It has been a constant throughout our relationship.

Expressions of thanks and gratitude are important to each of us. Too often, we reserve them for the “big events”—a big win, a promotion, or a retirement. But gratitude is a demonstration that we care about each other, our customers, and our teams. It helps bridge the tough times.

So, how can you demonstrate gratitude and build deeper relationships starting today? Here are two ideas:

1. Look back: Take the time to think of a person who has been important in your personal development and career. Maybe you have lost touch with that individual, but pick up the phone and give them a call.
2. Look around: Find a way to express gratitude to someone else every day. Perhaps they did something to help you. Perhaps they listened when you needed it. Perhaps they gave you a good idea. All these moments are important; make sure you let them know. Particularly in those tough conversations.

In turn, you will find others mirroring your behavior, creating a culture where people feel valued.

Never underestimate the power of “Thank you!”

Afterword:  This is the AI generated discussion of my post, The Power Of “Thank You!”  They took this in directions I hadn’t expected, and this discussion is one of the most powerful I listened to. Enjoy!