01/17/2010: "I Work In A Thank You Note Culture"

I work in a thank you note culture.

When I first joined the organization I was told that people here do not practice the skill of acknowledgment. But I see it in evidence everywhere. My first assignment was to organize a leadership forum to introduce our corporate initiatives and provide some value added training for our leaders. No sooner was the event complete that my boss stopped by to collect the list of all who participated so we might begin our thank you notes, acknowledging each contribution.

The past two weeks we have been rolling out a coaching program for our leaders. Each of our vice presidents has gathered their portfolio together to hear us present the highlights of the program and to get a "taste" of what it is like to apply a coaching methodology to shifting tough management issues. After each presentation the thank you notes have trickled into my inbox, sharing the impact of the experience on the sender, affirming the value of the program to the organization, and thanking us for our commitment to the well-being of those who are charged with leading our organization through challenging times.

I am touched and encouraged by every thank you I've received. And challenged because I know that thank you notes are not my habit or strength.

I have never been good with thank you notes. Not that I'm not grateful. Not that I'm stingy with praise. It's just that I am so in the moment that as soon as one moment has passed my mind is on to the next, and I don't find it easy to stop, reflect and put pen to paper to acknowledge the contributions of all who made it possible.

They say in any real encounter between humans, both parties are changed as a result. And I think my months in this job show promise of growth for all involved.

Three morals in this story:

1. Civility is alive in the workplace.
2. It shows up in the little things, like thank you notes.
3. We influence and are influenced by the culture in which we live and work.

Yours with creativity and imagination,
Darlene