A Simple Thank You

The world is progressing rapidly and one would expect that manners are in-bred amongst us humans. Sadly, this does not seem to be the case.  For example, take the lavish weddings that are common these days. The planning goes into all the intricate details, paying great attention to the flowers, table settings, menu cards, the wedding cake and structure; the invitation, at times, appears in double envelopes some of which requesting a response on your dietary requirements. A fancy gift registry is available for the convenience of the guests, while some requests for no boxed gifts.  Seating plans are also thought out carefully. The one thing most guests do not receive from the newly married couple is a simple thank you note for the gift received. This is not limited to weddings, it also applies to when people are invited to another’s home for a stay or receive a gift from friends arriving from overseas or for any other form of celebrations, such as a birthday or an anniversary.

The world of etiquette says, “the words ‘thank you‘ are no longer just good manners, they are also beneficial to oneself. Taking the best-known examples, studies have suggested that being grateful can improve well-being, physical health, can strengthen social relationships, produce positive emotional states and help us cope with stressful times in our lives. We also say thank you because we want the other person to know we value what they’ve done for us and, maybe, encourage them to help us again in the future.”

Bear in mind that hearing a “thank you” makes people feel valued and more likely to help you in the future, whether you are the employee, employer, teacher, student, parent, sibling or lover.  Those who say “thank you” gain a competitive advantage. 

This arrogance and the recipient’s feeling of entitlement are very visible and one of the most obvious rudeness and bad manners of people.

Bear in mind that hearing a “thank you” makes people feel valued and more likely to help you in the future, whether you are the employee, employer, teacher, student, parent, sibling or lover.  Those who say “thank you” gain a competitive advantage. Too few people express appreciation.  Saying “thank you” in business can make or break a relationship because appreciation goes a long way toward forging successful bonds however modern the world gets or how much more money you accumulate. Manners do matter and a simple thank you could get you farther than expected.