Why is a thank you letter to coworkers important?
A thank you letter is important because it can strengthen relationships between employees and colleagues. This can lead to better teamwork and higher morale, which will improve the organization as a whole, which is always a good thing!
What situations require a thank you letter to coworkers?
One should always send an appreciation letter after going through any situation which might warrant such a letter. For example, if you just had a baby and your coworkers brought you dinner or gave you a baby shower gift, then it would be appropriate to send them all ‘thank you for the gift’ letters. Whether that's a handwritten note or a formal thank you to coworkers in a typed letter.
A thank you letter to colleagues could simply be for their acts of kindness towards you. You could even let your coworkers know that you appreciate their patience while training you. According to Apollo Technical, 92% of workers are more likely to repeat a specific action if they are recognized for it. Who wouldn’t want their coworkers to continue treating them kindly?
Some believe that small gestures do not warrant showing gratitude with appreciation messages. However, even if only one coworker goes out of their way to offer support or congratulations, send them a personal thank you letter so they know their efforts were appreciated. People like to feel appreciated.
8 benefits of writing a thank you letter to coworkers
Here is a list of benefits for writing a thank you letter to coworkers:
- It gives you a chance to express your gratitude to fellow workers within the organization. Your colleagues will know you appreciate their contribution to the company and the work they have done for it.
- It's a good way to highlight leadership qualities and skills among peers while building relationships at work.
- Writing a letter of thanks helps you connect with your employer on a different level that will also help in future promotions or raises that would allow you to move up within the ranks of your company.
- A thank you letter can also help you land a reference for future job opportunities.
- Writing a thank-you letter after promotions or raises provides proof of one's ambitions in terms of career growth within the organization.
- Your effort will show your employer how much of a dedication you have to the company and team.
- This shows that you are networking within the workplace and taking every opportunity to expand your network while building relationships, which will eventually help in getting ahead in one's career or achieving goals.
- You will set yourself apart from the rest of the bunch through this thank-you letter because not everyone takes time out to express gratitude towards their co-workers for being integral parts of the team's success. Plus, grateful people tend to be happier people. According to the Harvard Business Review, happy employees tend to have 31% higher productivity. This will certainly set you apart!
Thank you letter for coworkers who work remotely vs. in person
Thanking coworkers that you see in the office every day is easier than thanking a remote coworker because you can visually see the work that they are doing and connect a face with that work. Remote workers are often overlooked for this reason.
But the truth is, we've become more and more accustomed to working and communicating via our devices rather than face-to-face or over the phone. However, sometimes this type of communication can be impersonal and difficult.
Writing a thank you letter that isn't just a generic one can be tough and sometimes we aren't sure what exactly we should be writing about. If you need some ideas on how to approach your thank you emails for coworkers who work in or out of the office, here are some tips to get you started:
- Thank them for their good attitude: When thinking about things that your coworker does well, it likely includes something like their positive attitude. People who work remotely or from home must be incredibly grateful for having such a relaxed environment and they tend to carry that attitude with them all the time.
- Thank them for their productivity: Nobody wants to be around someone who isn't productive, so it is important to find something that your coworker does well and thank them for it! If you feel like your remote colleague is being especially efficient while working at home, let them know how much you appreciate what they are doing.
- Thank them for being committed to teamwork: One reason why people who work remotely can sometimes have trouble communicating with coworkers face-to-face is that they don't understand each other's facial expressions or body language. Because of this, people tend to avoid talking about more difficult or sensitive topics with those that work remotely. However, you can thank your coworker for being committed to open communication and teamwork as they work from home.
- Thank them for their patience: What is one thing you tend to appreciate with your coworker who works from home? Perhaps it's how patient they are with customers or clients or perhaps it's with people who ask too many questions. Regardless, telling them what makes you so comfortable around this person will help strengthen your relationship!
- Be specific: Finally, be sure to include the reason why you are writing this letter; without a purpose, your "thank you" letter may seem like an unnecessary gesture. No matter whether the email is long or short, be sure to thank them for their specific actions and include the reason you are sending this email.
3 tips for writing a thank you letter to coworkers
Writing a thank you letter to coworkers should only take a few minutes of your time. This is why it's important to make sure that your appreciation message includes something meaningful and heartfelt for them and the work they did.
- Offer words of gratitude: Acknowledge all the hard work, effort, determination, dedication, love, care, etc. that every good colleague in the office has contributed towards helping accomplish or achieve whatever needs to get done together. Express how much you appreciate everything that they do on a daily basis, not only for you but also for the company and everyone else in the office.
- Conclude on a positive note: End your thank you message by concluding with your appreciation and gratitude, along with a good wish for them. For example, you could say something like "I hope that great things continue to happen in your life" or "I wish the entire team all the best".
- Always sign it: Don't forget to sign off at the end of this letter! Make sure to write your signature right under what is most appropriate to conclude on, such as "Sincerely" or "Thanks so much".
Example of a thank you letter to coworkers
Here is an example of a thank you letter to a coworker:
Dear Maria,
I wanted to write this letter to let you know how much I admire your work ethic even though we only meet in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You come into work every day prepared with useful information regarding projects that we're both involved in and I appreciate how invested you are in making sure that everyone is successful.
It's also clear that you go above and beyond what's required of your position! I'm really lucky to have a colleague like you who never misses a day, no matter how busy you might be otherwise.
Thanks again for putting in so much effort to ensure that our work is successful!
Sincerely,
Maxwell Dent
Note that the letter is addressed to someone by name, provides specific examples of why they are grateful, has a professional tone, reiterates the gratitude before ending the letter, and is signed by name.
Software for thank you letters to coworkers
The business world is known for being very fast-paced. With different tasks around every corner, it can be hard to keep up with everything that needs to be done. However, there are some things that you always need to remember after completing a task or project, and one of those things is sending your coworkers thank you letters.
It does not matter if it was a simple task or one that was long and arduous, this is something you should always do. It will not only allow them to know how much you appreciate their work but also show them the true amount of appreciation you have for having them as part of your team.
Fortunately, there are many letter-writing software programs available on the market today that can help make this process faster and easier than ever. These programs were developed with many different audiences in mind and can be used by anyone.
Here are some software options that will help:
- Wordtune: If you can’t find the right words to say, consider using this free Chrome extension. When you type a phrase, it will give you different options for wording and tone. Also, before adding the extension, double check if your Chrome is using up memory properly to avoid its slowdowns.
- WhiteSmoke Web: This software helps you with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. The unique thing about this option is that you can translate your letter into over 50 different languages!
- Matter: If you want to simply send a thank you note or letter on a platform that you’re already using, this may be the one for you! This free app integrates with Slack and allows you to send feedback, praise, and kudos to your colleagues.
