Your mom was right: Everyone appreciates a thank-you note.
Nowadays, that note is less "tortured compliments for Grandma about the hand-knitted hat" and more "genuinely appreciative email to an acquaintance who scored you a job interview."
"It makes people feel warm and fuzzy inside to know they have helped someone," writes Jocelyn Glei, author of "Unsubscribe: How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distractions, and Get Real Work Done." "... It also makes them more likely to help you or someone else again next time."
Plus, a thank-you note is just polite. Think about the last time you hooked up a work contact with a meeting or covered for a colleague on a big project: Isn't it nice to have your effort recognized? And if, for instance, you helped someone secure a job interview, don't you want to know how it turned out?
You don't need to write an essay to express your gratitude. Glei provides the following scripts:
Hi Carla — Thank you so much for taking the time to review my bio and offer detailed feedback. I just posted the revised version on my website, and I feel much more confident pitching new clients now. I owe you one!
Or:
Hi Mark — We've been getting tons of positive feedback on the new responsive website you coded for us. Traffic is up 50% on mobile! We could never have done it without you. Much appreciation for all of your great work on the project.
