Thank-You Notes & Messages to Send Your Colleagues

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Professional examples to express your appreciation at work
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Expressing gratitude and appreciation to your colleagues can strengthen the bond between coworkers and boost morale. If you’re not sure where to start, you're in the right place. We’ve curated tons of example messages you can use, plus info on what to avoid and why expressing your thanks is so important.

The Best Thank-You Note Ideas for Coworkers

  • “Thank you for always being willing to lend a helping hand.”
  • “Your willingness to learn is inspiring. You motivate me.”
  • “Thank you for your advice. I appreciate every piece of feedback.”
  • “Keep up the good work! You’re doing amazing.”
  • “You bring out the best in us!”
  • “It’s been such an honor getting to work with you.”
Section 1 of 4:

Thank-You Note Example Messages

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  1. 1
    Show your appreciation for a colleague's hard work. If you value your coworker, don’t be afraid to say so! Everyone deserves a little love (even at work). So, pass along some good vibes and send a thank-you note full of appreciation, care, and positivity to a coworker you care about. [1] Not sure where to state? Give these examples a try:
    • “Your willingness to take on new tasks is appreciated!”
    • “Your positive attitude does not go unnoticed. You bring such valuable energy to the team!”
    • “I’m so thankful I get to work with you. Thanks for making every day a bit better.”
    • “Your dedication to this project is outstanding.”
    • “I cannot thank you enough for all your hard work. The project wouldn’t have stood out if it wasn’t for you.”
    • “I appreciate your honesty. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
    • “You bring out the best in us! Thank you for letting all your coworkers shine alongside you.”
    • “Your willingness to learn is inspiring. You motivate me to take on new challenges.”
    • “You’re a great person to work with, and I’m so honored to get to chat with you every day.”
    • “We’re all so lucky to have you here.”
    • “If everyone were as great of a coworker as you, no one would complain about work again.”
    • “Your ability to work well with others is a true gift.”
    • “I’m so thankful to have such a supportive colleague.”
  2. 2
    Express your gratitude with a heartfelt thank you. A thank-you message doesn’t have to be elaborate, especially in a professional setting. Sometimes, even the simplest note can boost someone’s morale and improve their confidence. [2] For instance, you could write:
    • “Thank you for your advice. I genuinely appreciate every note and piece of feedback.”
    • “Thank you for all the help!”
    • “Thanks for stepping up this week and taking on an extra project. Your dedication doesn’t go unnoticed.”
    • “Thank you for your help and support!”
    • “Thanks for the great ideas!”
    • “Thank you for giving such an excellent speech. We all have a lot to learn from you.”
    • “Your mentorship and guidance have meant the world to me—thank you.”
    • “Thank you for listening to my ideas.”
    • “Thank you for welcoming me into the company with open arms.”
    • “Thank you for always being willing to lend a helping hand.”
    • “Thanks for all your work on the latest assignment. We couldn’t have done it without you!”
    • “Thank you for being such a valuable asset to our team.”
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  3. 3
    Motivate someone by acknowledging their strengths and effort. If you know your coworker is working on a tough project or is having a rough time at home, don’t hesitate to reach out! Send them one of your favorite motivational quotes or a supportive message to remind them they can and will succeed. [3] Here are some examples:
    • “Keep up the good work! You’re doing amazing.”
    • “I know you’ve taken on a few new projects. Please know that your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.”
    • “We had a tough month, but because of your efforts, we’ve done things we never thought were possible.”
    • “You are strong. You are capable. You’re going to knock the presentation out of the park!”
    • “Thank you for being an example to the whole team. Your dedication and strength through this process have been inspirational.”
    • “I know you’ve had a difficult time lately. Know that you can and will do this—we all believe in you!”
    • “You’re so close to that finish line! Only one more file to go!”
    • “Jumping onto a new project can be intimidating, but you’ve done it with grace. You can do this!”
    • “You’ve nailed all your newest responsibilities! Bravo!”
    • “Give yourself a pat on the back because you’re doing great.”
    • “As Walt Disney once said, ‘Keep moving forward.’ I believe in you!”
  4. 4
    Bid a coworker goodbye with a heartfelt thank you. If your coworker is retiring or leaving the company, a warm goodbye could make their day. Make the message personal with inside jokes, or keep it simple by wishing them a professional farewell. Take a look at these examples for inspiration:
    • “We’re going to miss having you here! But we know you’ll do great things no matter where you are.”
    • “You’re such a light! We’ll miss you!”
    • “It’s been such an honor getting to work with such a hardworking individual.”
    • “You may be leaving, but you’ve impacted this team and company more than you know.”
    • “Remember when we accidentally took Dan’s coffee? Yeah, that’ll forever be the office joke. Thanks for all the laughs!”
    • “Wishing you the best at your new job! Thank you for being someone I could always come to for advice.”
    • “Thank you for taking a chance with this company and seeing it all the way through.”
    • “I’ll never forget working on project A with you—thanks for all the fun times!”
    • “It’s been a privilege working with you.”
    • “Wishing you the best on your next adventure!”
    • “You made each day a joy, and I’m so thankful I got the honor to work with you.”
    • “It’s been such an honor getting to know you. Thank you for teaching me everything I know!”
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Section 2 of 4:

What to Avoid in Thank-You Notes

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  1. 1
    Talking about yourself When sending a thank-you message, focus on the person you’re writing to rather than yourself. Discuss why you appreciate them, and avoid returning the compliment to yourself.
    • For instance, instead of saying, “You’re such an asset to my team. You and I are a force to be reckoned with,” try, “You’re such a powerful worker! You’re such an asset to this team and are truly a force to be reckoned with.”
  2. 2
    Making generalizations While making assumptions and putting your colleagues into groups may be easy, try to avoid doing so. Stay away from generic compliments and focus on specifics about them and your work together. [4]
    • For example, instead of, “You are great to work with,” go with, “You always know how to make me smile, especially when you leave supportive notes on my desk.”
  3. 3
    Giving out superlatives As etiquette coach Tami Claytor reiterates, it’s very important to make your thank-you note specific. While calling someone the “best coworker ever” may be tempting, avoid doing so. Giving out superlatives may make one peer feel good, but it can also make others feel bad, even if that’s not your intention. Instead, focus on being a team player and thanking a colleague for specific work they’ve done. [5]
    • For instance, instead of, “You’re the best coworker I’ve ever had,” go with, “You never back down from a challenge, and it’s an honor to have you on my team.”
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Section 3 of 4:

Why are thank-you notes important to coworkers?

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  1. Thank-you notes are important because they boost morale. Gratitude is powerful. [6] Feeling like you’re appreciated can make a huge difference, especially in the workplace. A positive, appreciative message from a fellow colleague or boss helps create a more inclusive and welcoming environment while improving employee engagement. Plus, if coworkers know they’ll be praised for their work, they may be more committed to doing an above-adequate job. [7]
Section 4 of 4:

How can you say “thank you” to a group of coworkers?

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  1. Say “thank you” to a group of coworkers in an email. It can be difficult to get everyone on your team or in the office together. So, give your thanks in the form of an email to show everyone how much you appreciate them. This can be especially helpful if you all work from different locations or have different hours.
    • Make a thank-you email or handwritten note more personal by sending a separate email to each coworker or colleague. While this may take extra effort, it won’t go unnoticed.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://hbr.org/2021/11/giving-thanks-at-work-an-hbr-guide
      2. ↑ https://www.thebalancemoney.com/thank-you-phrases-and-wording-2064014
      3. ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/11/building-a-better-workplace-starts-with-saying-thanks
      4. ↑ https://hbr.org/2021/11/giving-thanks-at-work-an-hbr-guide
      5. ↑ https://hbr.org/2021/11/giving-thanks-at-work-an-hbr-guide
      6. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeschicagocouncil/2019/09/09/the-importance-of-saying-thank-you-in-the-workplace/
      7. ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/11/building-a-better-workplace-starts-with-saying-thanks

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