Thank You Notes Matter More Now

One of my pet peeves are people who don’t slow down long enough to show their appreciation. Yes, it requires an extra step or two to do it the right way. An abbreviated “thx” on a text doesn’t count. It’s why I cheered when I read a Q&A with Mike Wirth, CEO of Chevron, the second largest oil company in the U. S. behind Exxon in Sunday’s New York Times about writing personalized notes to co-workers.

When he visits Chevron operations around the globe, Wirth said people prepare for the visit. They take time to help him understand what they do and how it supports the business and Chevron’s mission. A simple note that thanks them, says, “I see you, I see what you do, I value what you’re doing and I appreciate it,” Wirth says. “Sometimes I come home and have I have70 or 80 or 100 letters to write.”

For my money, this is an example of leadership in action, a human touch filled with respect that builds connection and culture in an organization. And, please don’t argue that writing a thank you note is a generational carry over from a dated era. In the digital age, a differentiator is how you tell others you care.