by Jean Sidden

Created on: November 27, 2009

Saying thank you is a simple but very effective expression of good manners. Yet gratitude seems to be at a minimum in an age where people feel entitled to whatever benefits come their way. In every situation if you sincerely let someone know you are grateful for his or her help, guidance or support, you open the door for better communication. No where is this more welcome than in the work place or as a networking strategy.

In business the "okay" response has replaced gratitude. Rather than expressing appreciation for information or help we often simply express our acceptance and compliance with "okay". Several "okay" responses may go back and forth and that ends the exchange. If you top the moment off with a "thank you", it lets your co-worker or boss know that what they shared was meaningful and helped you in a specific way. They may then continue with another "thank you" in response to your enthusiasm or a "you're welcome". Either way, you have turned a curt businesslike moment into a human expression of good manners.

Practicing civility and good manners in the workplace can set you apart as a person with the type of communication skills that will be welcome in all areas of business discourse. It could lead to your being called on in situations you might otherwise not be a participant in. Good manners stand out in business as well as other areas of life. Being able to show people you appreciate who they are and what expertise they possess can cause them to remember who you are. This is the foundation for networking.

When you sincerely express your gratitude in a business situation you give the person who assisted you a valuable compliment. You have told them they are uniquely in possession of information that is necessary to your success. No matter where someone resides in the business hierarchy they always want to be reminded that their expertise is necessary and appreciated. If you are the one who issues that reminder you are the one they remember and may call on in the future.

Saying thank you is one of the most painless forms of letting people know who you really are. With those simple words you've communicated that you are polite, humble and human enough to appreciate someone else. The addition of gratitude can be a welcome relief to the cold indifference that often prevails in business. If you remember to let people know they are appreciated you open the door to their being interested in who you are. The simplicity of a "thank you" can be one of your strongest networking strategies.

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