Craig Wilson is a columnist for USA Today. He writes a column called The Final Word. I always enjoy his writing.
Last week, he wrote a column called Only Losers Lack the Manners to Thank the Finder. In the column, Mr. Wilson told several stories about finding things – credit cards, cell phones, driver licenses – and how ungracious some people are when he returns them.
Mr. Wilson says “there have been hundreds of stories written about how manners are a thing of the past, how no one says ‘thank you’ anymore…In this age of e-mail and cell phones, there’s really no excuse… A new book, To the Mannner Born: A Most Proper Guide to Modern Civility, says that an e-mail thank you is now acceptable.”
Good for you, Mr. Wilson. I agree. Thank you notes are increasingly rare these days – and shame on us. Saying “thank you” is the most important courtesy of all. All interpersonally competent people thank others who have done them a kindness – taken them to dinner or lunch, introduced them to a business contact, returned something they lost, gave them some good advice, whatever.
Next to their name, the words “thank you” are the words people most like to hear.
The common sense point here – thank people for the things they do for you. As Mr. Wilson points out, e mail is OK. But I still prefer handwritten notes. Handwritten notes are so uncommon these days that they get people’s attention. I don’t know about you, but handwritten notes are the first thing I open when I get my mail. They just look different – and that captures my attention.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
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