Small Business Builder: How To Say 'Thanks'

— -- You might say "thanks" 50 times a day without realizing what it means.

For a thousand years, speakers of English (Modern, Middle, and Old) have used "thank" or "thanc" or "thancian" to convey gratitude, recognition and awareness. The real message is "I see you," "I know you" — thus "you are important" — and even "I need you," "we need each other" and "you and I are both doing more here than sucking in valuable oxygen atoms."

Sometimes it's hard for fiercely independent types to say "Thanks." But in business and every other setting, people need to be noticed.

A midwestern bank once put up dozens of billboards featuring a huge yellow smiley face, the bank logo, and the message, "Thanks, XYZ City customers and friends. We care about you." It was a rather clumsy campaign, but the bank clearly recognized that consumers want to be more than "just a number" when they conduct business.

Why to Thank Whom

The reasons to say thanks are spontaneous, courteous, strategic, sometimes all three:

You spontaneously thank people who have changed your life in a small or significant way, even if they don't know it. A few examples:

"Dear Abby: Belated thanks for your 1973 column on relationships. It saved my marriage."

To an employee after a staff meeting: "Whew! Thanks for helping Drusilla solve her budget dilemma. I sure couldn't see a way around the problem."

Courtesy requires you to thank someone who has done you a good turn, or meant to. For instance:

"Thank you so much for the wildflower bouquet" (that actually put you in an asthmatic stupor for three days).

Fellow convention-goer: "That suit makes you look much thinner than the one you wore yesterday." You: "Thank you."

Strategy demands that you thank those whose good opinion you seek — perhaps to establish a relationship or reinforce one. Examples:

"Dear Dr. Youngblood: We're still talking about your presentation on office politics at the Yippee Skippee managers' meeting. Just want to say thanks … "