I’m a fan of the McDonald’s southwest salad as a quick, healthy lunch, so I regularly go through the drive-thru at my local establishment. What’s even better than the salad, though, is the boost I get from the drive-thru attendants. Every single time they collect my money and hand over the food, they tell me, “We appreciate you!” They don’t rush through it or deliver the message in a monotone voice. Their appreciation really sounds genuine. Frankly, they could screw up my order and I wouldn’t mind because of how good they make me feel.
Maybe those three words – we appreciate you – don’t sound like a big deal, but can you remember the last time a coworker told you that you were appreciated? What about the last time you told your coworkers that you appreciated them? For many of us, these simple exchanges don’t occur nearly as often as they should. Verbally communicating appreciation is fantastic, but don’t forget about incorporating messages of appreciation into your emails, as well. Thanks to my local McDonald’s, here are three lessons to remember:
They are simple lessons, but they have a big impact. So get out there and tell your coworkers that you appreciate them (today – not later!). Thank them for the quick response, or tell them you appreciated getting the data in such an organized way. Express appreciation for both the big things and the little things. We don’t always see an immediate payoff – especially with email – but I promise that you’ll be making a difference.
From my standpoint, thank you for reading this post. Please know that I appreciate every set of eyes, every “like” or tweet, every comment, and every time you share my writing with others. And to the McDonald’s in Belmont, NC, I appreciate you, too!
For the record, no, this is not a paid endorsement of McDonald’s! My love for their southwest salad (w/ grilled chicken) is real, and so is the appreciation that they express every day to their customers in Belmont, NC.
Maybe those three words – we appreciate you – don’t sound like a big deal, but can you remember the last time a coworker told you that you were appreciated? What about the last time you told your coworkers that you appreciated them? For many of us, these simple exchanges don’t occur nearly as often as they should. Verbally communicating appreciation is fantastic, but don’t forget about incorporating messages of appreciation into your emails, as well. Thanks to my local McDonald’s, here are three lessons to remember:
- Telling someone that you appreciate him/her makes an impact. Whether it simply adds to the positive tone of your email, or it gives the person a much-needed boost during a crappy day, those words matter.
- Once isn’t enough. Make appreciation a regular part of your communication. The wow-factor of hearing “We appreciate you!” in the drive-thru has never worn off, and it won’t wear off from your communication either. Just make sure you keep it genuine.
- When you regularly make people feel good, they are more forgiving of your mistakes. There’s certainly a limit – all the goodwill in the world can’t make up for complete incompetence. However, the inevitable mistake here and there is less likely to do permanent damage to the relationship.
They are simple lessons, but they have a big impact. So get out there and tell your coworkers that you appreciate them (today – not later!). Thank them for the quick response, or tell them you appreciated getting the data in such an organized way. Express appreciation for both the big things and the little things. We don’t always see an immediate payoff – especially with email – but I promise that you’ll be making a difference.
From my standpoint, thank you for reading this post. Please know that I appreciate every set of eyes, every “like” or tweet, every comment, and every time you share my writing with others. And to the McDonald’s in Belmont, NC, I appreciate you, too!
For the record, no, this is not a paid endorsement of McDonald’s! My love for their southwest salad (w/ grilled chicken) is real, and so is the appreciation that they express every day to their customers in Belmont, NC.
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