When was the last time you stopped and REALLY said 'Thank You'? - I mean REALLY say 'Thank You'

I know from my 15 year career in HR that valuing employees is key. As a Leader and Manager we often find ourselves saying ‘Thank You’ on the hoof, to be polite, tick the box and move on. Our heads elsewhere as we say it, often not giving eye contact or because we’re so busy and under pressure ourselves we find ourselves walking past someone at their desk as we shout back over our shoulder as we walk away ‘Thank You’. We’re all busy, right? You're in one of the many emergency meetings and end by saying 'thanks, keep up the great work, you're doing great' ... but do your team feel the sentiment behind the words?

Talking to you as Business Leaders, Directors, Managing Directors, CEOs, Heads of Function, Senior Managers .... it’s times like this when your teams (esp. your Middle Managers, your HR teams, your people leaders etc) are stepping up for you, their colleagues and their organisation. That sense as a middle manager that everyone (up, below, alongside you) is relying on you. The sleepless nights, the worry, the pressure, the immense desire to ‘do the right thing’, yet terrified you’ll get it wrong, let people down, or have to ask for 'just one more' favour (worried that might be enough to push that person into a downward spiral mentally, one request too far) ... or in this case even worst ... that heavy feeling in the pit of your stomach as you ask loyal staff to put their lives at risk. I know you feel the same as a Senior Leader/Director, but just stop for a moment ....

Today, say a heartfelt 'Thank You' - 'I See You, I Care for You, I Thank You'

So, today video call someone, phone someone or if you’re still at work go up to someone (obv. keep 2 m away) ... look them in the eye and REALLY say ‘Thank You’. OK it might take 60 seconds to do it properly, rather than the 15 seconds on the fly, but boy will it make a difference. Given them a heart felt 'Thank You'. Share a moment with them ... show your deep sense of gratitude for them & what they're doing, let them know you see, hear and feel their sacrifices, you see the stress in their eyes, the exhaustion on their face. You hear the worry in their voice. Tell them you value them as a person, tell them you care. Tell them we’ll get through this together, tell them to hang in there, tell them they’ve got this.

Don't let another day pass when you don't stop to say a PROPER 'Thank You'.