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It's always nice to receive a thank you email, whether it's from your brother or your boss. When deciding how to respond, the most important thing to remember is to be genuine. Don't be afraid to show your appreciation for the sender and consider it an opportunity to strengthen the relationship. You may wish to respond in person, on the phone, or in an email.
Things You Should Know
- When responding to a colleague, use a professional tone, reference the work or project, and keep it brief.
- When replying to a client, use a warm tone to express your gratitude and be punctual.
- When responding to friends or family, be as sincere as you can when expressing your gratitude.
Steps
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Acknowledge the sender by saying "You're welcome". Taking time to respond to a thank you at work can help you develop a stronger bond with your colleague or supervisor. Whether you do so in person or via email , express your gratitude for the time it took to send the email.
Tip: If "You're welcome" isn't the tone you're looking for, just make sure you are grateful and appreciative with your language. Try "I appreciate your note a great deal."
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Tell them how you benefited from the task or project that they are referencing. In addition to acknowledging their thank you, it is good to set yourself up for further opportunities by stating the pleasure or benefit you derived from doing a good job.
- "It was very rewarding work. I learned a lot from this project and appreciate the opportunity."
- "I hope to work with the design department again. It was such a pleasure!"
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Keep it brief. Sending a response to a work-related thank you is not always expected, or required. In order to avoid consuming too much of a colleague's time, keep your response brief. [1] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source
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Express your appreciation. In addition to a simple "You're welcome," a return email to a grateful client is an opportunity for you to thank them for their business and express a desire for a continued relationship, perhaps even offering a discount or freebie as an incentive.
- "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Ms. Jones. I enjoyed getting to know you and hope to see you again soon."
- "I'm so glad you are enjoying your new artwork, Mr. Martinez! As a token of my appreciation, I'd like to offer you a 10% discount on your next gallery purchase."
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Respond in a timely fashion. As with any email response, it is best to not let too much time go by. Timeliness is an indication that you have prioritized the sender and it will reinforce the sentiment of appreciation. [2] X Research source
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Adopt a warm, personable tone. When someone reaches out to say thank you, it is an opportunity to deepen the relationship and make them feel remembered and special. [3] X Research source
- "Thank you for your business and I hope that you have a wonderful adventure!"
- "It was great meeting you and best of luck on your big project!"
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Say "You're Welcome!" This is the most common way to respond to someone expressing their thanks. It lets them know that you have heard them and acknowledge their appreciation. Alternative phrases include:
- "No problem."
- "Anytime."
- "I'm glad to help."
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Say "I know you'd do the same for me." If you want to go deeper, and acknowledge the closeness of your relationship with the sender, this type of phrase will do the trick. It implies confidence in the relationship. [4] X Research source Other phrases like this include:
- "You've done the same for me."
- "I'm glad we can show up for one another."
- "I'll always be here for you."
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Let them know that you enjoyed the experience of giving. You can express and honor the idea that giving is its own reward by using one of the following phrases:
- "It was my pleasure."
- "I enjoyed picking it out for you."
- "It was fun!"
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I write a thank you email after an interview?Community AnswerThank them for their time and tell them you enjoyed talking to them, but don't say "I hope I get the job!" or "Thanks in advance!" because you'll be seen as begging for the job. Remember to be formal! No matter how nice the interviewer was, they're an interviewer, not your friend.
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QuestionMy family wrote a thank you note for the special dinner and hospitality, what do I respond back?Community AnswerYou could just say something like, "You're very welcome for the dinner! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. It was a privilege having you, and I hope we can do it again soon."
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QuestionShould I put a comma after hello and the name?Community AnswerYes. You should put a comma after the greeting, which in this case, is "Hello ____". Normally, you would put a comma after the "Hello", but since we have one at the end of the greeting, it is not needed there but rather after the name. To simplify things, you could put "Dear _____," in place of "Hello ______," if you'd like.
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/get-lucky/201206/is-punctuality-a-virtue-or-a-vice
- ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-messages-letters-lists/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/give-and-take/201311/why-you-shouldnt-say-youre-welcome
- ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/how-to-express-gratitude/
About This Article
To respond to a thank you email, let them know you appreciate the sentiment by writing something like “You’re welcome” or “I appreciate your note.” If you’re answering a work colleague, tell them that you enjoyed doing the task they’re thanking you for, which will set you up to benefit from future opportunities. Remember that responding to a work thank you note isn’t always expected, so you should keep your note brief. If you’re answering a thank you note from a business client, offer them an incentive to continue the relationship. For example, you could write, “I’m so glad you’re enjoying your artwork, Mr. Martinez. As a token of gratitude, I’d like to offer you a 10 percent discount on your next gallery purchase.” Whoever you’re responding to, make sure to write the email in a timely manner, which shows the other person that you prioritized them. For tips on how to answer a thank you note from a relative or friend, read on!
