Writing a note of thanks or appreciation is a great way to end the year on a positive note. It could be to your mentor, a senior or your manager.
You can make the “thank you” note more relevant and personal by highlighting what you have accomplished together and at the same time, use this as an opportunity to bring more visibility to your own achievements.
Remember, if you don’t promote yourself, nobody else will :)
There are 3 essential things you must capture in your friendly note –
a. Results of all your efforts
Remember to focus on achievements rather than tasks. Emphasize the results you accomplished, not the steps you took to create the results. Focus on the service, product, or deliverable that has resulted from your efforts this year.
b. Behavior you showed while accomplishing your work
This is very important because this communicates your analytical and decision making abilities to your boss by showcasing how you have been able to make the most of what was available to you. Management always values troubleshooters.
c. How your work contributed to your organization’s goals
It is to your advantage to point out how well aligned you are with the organizations’ goals and how you have directed efforts to meet its objectives. Communicating this enhances the management’s perception of your leadership skills and goal setting abilities.
Capturing these 3 elements is highly recommended as it helps highlight your most significant work achievements using your own words and provides your boss with a clear picture of how you see your own performance and contributions.
You can make the note a simple one - it doesn't have to be too formal or just nice words.
Just remember the acronym S.C.R.A.M. As you capture each of the following, make a note of how your boss helped you in these. Your appreciation note will not only be personal, but also genuine.
S – What were the situations you were involved in?
C – What were the challenges you faced?
R – What were the results from your efforts?
A – What are the notable actions you took and behavior you showed?
M- How did you measure your progress?
You can use it to encourage and build up team members or support a colleague. You will be surprised at how far this simple note can go to improve relations, better understanding and build a more satisfying workplace for you.
This is an opportunity for you to shine out from the crowd, make a statement and open new doors the year ahead. Make the most of it :)
