How to Thank Your Community and Team
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When I first began managing communities, I was hesitant to express gratitude for community members’ contributions. I worried that saying "Thank you" might make others complacent or make me appear weak. However, I learned the hard way that showing gratitude actually has the opposite effect.
Failing to recognize others' contributions leads to a complacent team and community, diminishing their emotional investment in their work. If your goal is to connect people toward a shared purpose, this is the worst possible outcome.
I started thinking more about sharing the importance of saying "Thank you" in large and tiny ways after I posted a comment on the 99u piece, "The 5 Most Dangerous Creativity Killers". In the comment, I said:
"Not being recognized for a huge achievement… is a HUGE creativity killer. That person will immediately think, why bother? Then they'll dedicate their creative energy to something else entirely. And if they don't think it immediately, it'll still slowly start to seep in over time…"
What I’ve learned over the years is that it’s difficult to feel inspired when you feel unrecognized. Even the best of us go through moments of deep self-doubt. Our inner voices often act as our own worst critics. That’s why it's important to receive encouragement from others now and then, reminding us that we are doing better than we think.
All managers (and all community managers especially!) need to say thank you constantly for reasons others would probably never consider.
Say it with swag, say it with an e-mail, say it with a thank-you Instagram story and mention. Just say thank you. With this in mind, here are some concrete ways to thank your employees and community members.
Believe me, everyone wants to feel appreciated. Share the love.
When someone accomplishes a small task, pitches in to the community you're nurturing, or does something for the first time (e.g. when my associate ran VLOOKUP for the first time or wrote his first blog post):
Write a thoughtful and specific LinkedIn recommendation based on that experience.
Mention them in the community or on social media publicly and shout out a quick, "Can't believe how quickly you finished writing that newsletter! You're awesome!"
Write them an endorsement that they can use on their website or in their portfolio (if they have one). If you're unsure if they have one, ask!
Send them a quick e-mail to let them know how amazing they did and to express your appreciation for their work.
Give them concrete metrics to stand behind (e.g., "Your post garnered 1,030 views and generated a discussion of 100+ comments that helped us all learn and make progress. You, my friend, are a superstar.")
Recognize firsts, especially if you watched this person struggle to get to that point. Knowing that you appreciate that work will encourage them to continue that type of work/behavior in the future.
Handwritten notes are always nice. Even a Post-it note can become an office decoration. At my first in-office job, I kept all the kind Post-its my co-workers left me, and I would look at them when I was doubting myself.
If the person doesn't work with you in person, send them swag with a note!
Send them a Giftagram.
Celebrate key anniversaries and accomplishments, such as a 100th commit or an anniversary of joining the team (I put my team members’ birthdays and anniversaries in my own calendar).
Take them to lunch or coffee and ask them what they want to accomplish next!
There are so many ways to say “thank you.” Find your own way to say thank you that fits your style. It's not that important how you say it. It's just important that you say it.
Then watch your team's motivation and morale skyrocket.
Looking for more ideas? Read some other enlightening articles on the topic:
"What to do when recognition never comes" via Savvy Intern
"How to Show Appreciation at Work" via Kommboutique
"Showing Appreciation at the Office? No Thanks" via Wall Street Journal
"Innovative Ways to Show Customer Appreciation" via B2C
Want to level up your community’s engagement? Gratitude is one piece of the puzzle, but there’s so much more.
Explore how The CMJ Community and its Engaging Your Online Community signature program can further your work as a community professional:
