Employees thrive when they’re seen, valued and appreciated by their colleagues, managers and supervisors. As I’ve often remarked while making keynote presentations, one of corporate America’s ongoing migraines isn’t employee retention, it’s employee defection!
Here’s data to back up this supposition: Deloitte Consulting conducted a 2024 survey, which reached some 23,000 Generation Z and millennial workers in 44 countries. (These workers, born between 1980 and 2001, now make up about half of the full-time workforce in the United States.)
According to Deloitte, in terms of workplace stress, more than half of these youngish employees cite that not being recognized and/or rewarded for their efforts is their single most significant concern. This is slightly higher than other stressors named such as long hours or feeling their work has little meaning or purpose. Furthermore, salary and other financial benefits only factored in about 20% of survey responses regarding why they chose their current employers.
According to Gallup polling, their research shows that the top priority of these younger workers (Millennials and Gen Z) is an employer that is concerned with their well-being. A recent survey of 67,000 workers of all ages shows that more than two-thirds aren’t engaged at work, a number that has increased appreciably in this decade. Fully half of all workers are not opposed to changing jobs, underscoring the fact that employee retention (or defection!) is one of the costliest, immediate and most vexing problems that employers face.
Gratitude in a single sentence
A surefire way to build morale and engender loyalty to the operation is by showing deep, powerful gratitude to those who help keep the ship afloat and running productively. But in the executive suite especially, not only is time of the essence, many would argue it’s the most precious commodity!
Here’s the delightful secret: You can make a positive difference in someone’s life (both professionally and personally) in a single sentence. In less than a minute, you can make those who are important to you feel important themselves.
Because I’m a professional writer and author, gregarious by nature, and not afraid to share deep feelings, my Letters of Gratitude are typed, full-page, freewheeling streams-of-consciousness. Filling the entire sheet of stationery is almost never an issue. For example, just in 2024, various letters have obliquely referenced Barry Manilow, Tony Soprano, Bill Withers, Vito Corleone and The Hollies!
But one can write compelling, powerful, moving, memorable and impactful Letters of Gratitude using an economy of words. Just because it suits me to wax rhapsodic for seven or eight paragraphs doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish the same thing in seven or eight sentences. Or even seven or eight words.
There will be no belaboring of the “seven sentences” concept, particularly when an etiquette authority like Emily Post exclaims that four or five sentences are perfectly adequate for expressing written thanks.
But seven words can make a difference. Try these (or any variation thereof) on for size:
- You are THE cog in this machine!
- This department would cease functioning without you.
- What a fantastic job you are doing!
- Keep up the great work, it’s inspiring.
- I’m so grateful we recruited you last year!
- I can’t remember hearing a better presentation.
- This company is lucky to have you.
Should you say more?
A quick anecdote: At a recent speaking engagement at a YPO Forum in southern California, a business owner came up to congratulate me for the unique gratitude concepts I shared. But he then commented: “I’m afraid if I offer too much praise, my people will expect a raise!” I pondered for a moment and asked if he could spare fourteen words instead of just seven. He said it wouldn’t be a problem, so I told him, try this: You are THE cog in this machine. But there is always room for improvement!
Levity aside, one serious consideration to make is this. It’s most effective to use praise with no other agenda, not in combination with anything else. Don’t tack a complimentary sentence or paragraph onto a request, a new deadline, a status report, etc. Just offer gratitude by itself, whether written or spoken, for maximum effect. Save the request or the assignment for a separate communication, either later that day or perhaps the next.
Although writing a note is ideal, in this instance, it’s not a breach to use email, direct messaging, text, Slack or any preferred form of digital communication. Remember that it isn’t about the “Grand Gesture,” the company-wide speech, the bouquet of roses, the framed commendation, the break room cake party, etc. It’s just the idea of regular or occasional words of praise directed towards those who are doing a good job and might need a morale boost.
So, the long (seven paragraphs) and short (seven words) of it is this: Length isn’t necessarily the determining factor regarding the effectiveness of a Letter (or note, or sentence) of Gratitude. You can convey a depth of feeling and zeal in an abbreviated fashion.
There’s a particular luxury to unfurling sentences and paragraphs as one sees fit. But not everyone is wired that way, and busy executives rarely have the bandwidth, inclination or time to go on at length. If that’s the case, something short, complimentary, heartfelt, pithy and to-the-point is an excellent substitute.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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