Often times in our professional careers we have people who help us in some way, shape, or form. Often times they don’t even know it, they were just passing by and gave us an encouraging word. Other times they help us work through a sticky situation we’ve never handled before and still others mentor us for years. We don’t always know the impact of our actions on others, and so many times those small acts of kindness resonate with us beyond the givers scope. How will they ever know they helped if we don’t thank them?
Most people do not go out of their way to help for thanks we may give them, most people go out of their way to help because they care about us. Show them that it means something and be sure to thank them properly. This shows maturity in knowing that we needed them, and it shows humility when we allow ourselves to accept others’ help, something that is rare in business today. We are much more likely to receive their help again when needed, and yes, we will need them again at some point.
Be sure to give a proper thanks or don’t do it at all. Half of a thank you is much worse than no thanks. A half effort only shows your arrogance, because you didn’t really need them but you don’t want them to feel bad… that’s cute. If they really helped you, make it sincere. You don’t have to send 4 ft stuffed teddy bears every time someone lifts your spirits, but hand-written thank you notes go a very long way. I learned this from my coach my senior year at Charleston Southern University, Coach Staggs. He made us hand-write letters to 5 people that had helped us in our football careers and thank them. I wrote my with sincerity and I didn’t find out till years later that the words I wrote brought tears to the recipients eyes, some were even framed. That stuck with me and I learned a lot from him, if I ever get into coaching that is one thing I’ll implement immediately.
So why have I ranted about manners for 1/2 a page… Because that is how we build bridges. When we’ve got people around us who know we are grateful when they have the opportunity to help, they are much more likely to do it again. And we ALL need the right people surrounding us whether we’re in an office with 300 other people or we’re starting a business on our own, everyone needs connections. And on the opposite side of that coin, nobody wants to help an ungrateful, selfish person who thinks they don’t they can do everything on their own.
I’ll close with final encouragement for us to put ourselves out there and help people when needed, do not pass those opportunities up. We never know when that encouraging text changed someone’s day or when that group really needed insight from someone outside of their project. And just as we would thank someone with sincerity, help with sincerity. I met someone who gave a Christmas Bonus simply because he wanted to hear the person say, “Thank You” and be indebted to him for his “giving spirit.” I almost vomited on command. If we cannot help because we want to, we shouldn’t help at all. The only way I’ve learned how to be successful is to help the people around me accomplish their goals. Everyone needs “me time” but if we go out of our way to help someone every day or at least every week, we will have an army of people who want our success just as bad as we do.
