The Power of Two Words

They’re just two words. However, if said authentically, they can disarm the most combative situations you may encounter. I’ve negotiated terms in several scenarios, from labor relation agreements to contract mediation to terminating executive personnel. In many of those scenarios, the parties were passionate and sometimes verbally combative about their position. Yet when I said thank you, genuinely meaning it, for any number of things being told by the opposing party, it brought civility back to the negotiating table. Two words, thank you, evoked such moderating behavior.
These two words also have a tremendous impact on the workplace. Just imagine how positive and dynamic your company’s organizational culture would be if the leadership generously and genuinely thanked their employees for their efforts! Not just at the obligatory times during the year but throughout the year when it impacts employees the most. Saying thank you doesn’t cost you a thing; however, the return on your investment may be exponential!
The most successful leaders understand that to be exceptional, they must emotionally connect with their followers. This connection is rooted in trust, and for leaders to be trusted, followers must believe three things: that leaders care about them, they will meet their needs, and they will do what they say they will do. Trust will be fleeting without these dimensions, and the emotional connection will be tenuous.
Expressing gratitude by saying thank you as a leader routine nurtures the emotional connection. A leader routine is a customary practice that engages leaders with their followers through interaction. This interaction may be formal, such as monthly employee recognition ceremonies, or informal, such as chatting at the coffee station. In either case, leaders recognize their employees’ efforts and genuinely thank them for their contributions. This recognition makes employees feel contributory to the company and valued for their labor.
These two words, thank you, expressed by leaders, also create a norm in the company. Team members feel free to express gratitude to their cohorts, perpetuating goodwill in the company and reinforcing a thriving organizational culture, ultimately driving productivity! A positive organizational culture generates employee creativity, stability, compliance, and motivation. A product or service in demand, plus exceptional leaders and a thriving organizational culture, spells success.
We customarily go out of our way to say thank you in November. Thanksgiving causes us to reflect on the past year and express hope, joy, and gratitude for our future and past blessings. This carries over to the workplace. Many employers offer their employees Thanksgiving meals and time off to express gratitude. There is such positive power in these two words. Thank you. Two words we should be saying year-round to those we influence!
Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for your readership!
COL Paul A. Raggio (Ret), the owner of Five Star Leader Development, is a fractional CEO/COO who develops C-Suite executives, business owners, and their management teams on leadership, management principles, and best business practices. Contact him to achieve exceptional results in your company! His email address is paul@fivestarleaderdevelopment.com, and his phone number is (252) 571-7368. Visit his website at https://www.fivestarleaderdevelopment.com.