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Creative ways to say “thank you”

Thanksgiving comes once a year in the US, but every day there are people in our lives who deserve our thanks. Sometimes a simple “Thank you” is appropriate. At other times, it is more considerate to be creative in expressing appreciation. It’s just good business.

Here are some suggestions for thanking people at work, at home, and in the community.

1. When you say “Thank you,” tell the person specifically what you appreciate and why you appreciate it. “Thanks for going to the post office for me. It saved me a lot of time.”

2. Send a note via email. When I sent a thank you note to my staff at the Pentagon, the energy level skyrocketed.

3. Send a handwritten thank you note. These are noteworthy because very few of us take the time to write and mail them.

4. Make an unexpected phone call just to say “Thank you.” Connecting verbally adds warmth to your appreciation, even if you reach out via voicemail.

5. Present a small certificate. Half page certificates take up less space if displayed and are just as meaningful as full size certificates. They tend to attract attention because they are different.

6. Give a single flower from your garden, pot or florist, with a verbal “Thank you” or a note.

7. Place a candy bar or piece of fruit on the desk of the person to be thanked, with or without a note. (Make sure the person is not on vacation!)

8. Bake some cookies. This is especially effective when the men bake and present some cookies at thanksgiving.

9. Say something nice about the recipient of your thanks to another person when the person you appreciate can hear it. This is especially powerful in a business environment.

10. For special occasions, present an American flag that has flown over the Capitol. It is a unique item at a reasonable price that few people own. A certificate of authenticity is provided in honor of any special occasion you designate. Call your congressman’s office and request it. If you don’t have a local contact, call 202 224-3121 and ask for your congressperson or congresswoman by name. When you get to that person’s office, ask to buy a flag. They will know what to do!

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