Updated April 19, 2023
Memorable Ways to Thank Your Boss
It’s a myth about bosses that they’re bad. Few bosses are incredibly kind and help you succeed in life. Moreover, they mentor you not only in your work but in your life as well. So, if you have a boss like that, you would love to thank him with all your heart. What would you do? Would you try to charm him with some gifts? Or will you cook some food that he loves to eat? Or will you help him with the presentation he is not getting time to make? No matter what you choose to do, the first thing is your intention. If you intend to give back something, you should do it to stand out and make your boss feel at the top of the world.In this article, we will give you some ideas to impress your boss. No, it’s not to butter your boss to be likable; rather, it’s genuine gratefulness you feel for your boss. If you have any idea about getting something back from him and think thanking him for that reason is mandatory, drop the idea right now. If you have genuine thankfulness, the following creative ways will help you succeed. The idea is to make him feel like million dollars.
Let’s get started.
Send a thank you note
This is a great way to thank you if you don’t want to say it to your boss directly. Simply wait till he leaves. Take a piece of paper and make an arrangement for a cover. Write a genuine thank you note. You can write like this –
You made a real difference in how I worked and lived my life. I know I can’t thank you enough for saying anything. But I’m deeply grateful for your contribution to my career and life. Thank you!
With gratitude,
(Your name)
This simple gesture will create a havoc impact. When he comes the next day and reads this, think about how he will feel. He will feel at the top of the world, and at the same time, you will feel excellent.
Take more responsibility
If you feel shy about sending thank you notes, you can do something else too. You can take some of the work he is struggling with and help him complete the task on time. But make sure while doing extra work for him; your own work shouldn’t be hampered. Trying to help your boss is okay, but not before you finish your task. First, finish off your project or work. Then if you get time, simply go to your boss and say – “Hey, I have done with my work. I have some free time. Can I do something to ease up your day?” It’s great to do this kind of work. But make sure that you are not taken for granted. It shouldn’t be like that. As you said once, your boss will also keep pressuring you to do extra work in the future. It has a lot to do with the character of your boss. If he is one of those who are taskmasters, you should avoid this tactic as it may backfire, and after you do this, every day you need to sit at the office till night to finish off your work and the extra work of your boss. If you feel grateful for his contribution to your life, there are other ways you can thank him too.
Find out what your boss is passionate about and do something about it
If he is fond of books, you can take one of the best books of the year and gift it to your boss. But make sure what sort of book it is. So, know the choice of your boss. If he likes literary fiction, you can’t present his crime thrillers. To keep things safe, if you don’t know what he likes, buy a business book of your domain, and you can present the book to your boss. Inside, on the top of the first blank page, write a thank you note to your boss. There’s a downside to it as well. He may perceive it as a bribe if he is very honest and firm about his character. So make sure that you don’t slack in your work. You’re sending your boss a book, and you’re wasting time in the office. Don’t do that. As mentioned in the beginning, it’s all about the intention. If you feel that you are grateful, then only say thank you in different ways. Don’t expect any reward for saying thank you to him. Do it because you want to, not because you have something to achieve. And you can prove it by being ethical at work even after saying thank you.
Help one person
This is a great concept. Instead of saying thank you to your boss, you can do something else. To pass on the contribution to your boss, help one in need. And when s/he says thank you, ask her/him to do the same.
It’s a great way to spread goodness. It’s a good cycle. Imagine your workplace. What if everyone helps someone in need? It would become a great place. So, just go out and help someone else and ask him to do the same. If everyone follows it, the whole work environment would be something that people will love to come in every day instead of whining or bitching.
Do this favor to him. Help someone in need instead of saying thank you.
Arrange a small meeting to say thank you to your boss
You don’t need to do something drastic. You can arrange a meeting where people will share only who they are thankful to in the office. It’s a different concept. Arrange a meeting after work hours so the work is not hampered. Ask your team members to join in and discuss this with him.
Then invite everyone to come on the dais and express their gratitude to the person (in office) to whom they feel most grateful. And when your turn comes, you can talk about him. This is a great way to create an environment where helpfulness will be openly celebrated.
By arranging this sort of meeting, you cannot only say thank you to him but also create opportunities for your colleagues and peers to thank the people (in the office) they’re most grateful.
Do ordinary things well
You always don’t need to do extraordinary things to say thank you. Rather you can keep doing the fundamentals so well that your boss becomes happy. You’re thinking of saying ‘thank you’ to him. But rather than saying ‘thank you’, why not simply do what he taught you well, day in and day out? Becoming something more than you were is also present to your boss. If you can simply do your work, improve your knowledge about what you do and impact the things that matter, your boss will not only be happier, but he will feel grateful for having such an employee like you.
Work on the fundamentals and keep things simple. We assure you that he will be impressed.
Emulate the success principle your boss taught you
Why do you feel so thankful to your boss? Is it because he has taught you something incredible? Is it because he practices something that you love to practice? Or is it something that makes you feel worthwhile again? The reason you’re feeling thankful can also be the effect.
Simply find out what you like about him and emulate that quality. Practice it whenever you find the opportunity. Don’t worry about the result in the beginning. You may fail initially. Adjust your sail and then try again. Practicing what your boss taught you is a great way to thank you. It doesn’t need words or verbal appreciation. Simply emulate and practice; you don’t need to say a word to your boss.
Cook for your boss
You’re a very good cook and can cook varied, delicious foods. So, you can think of offering your expertise and thank your boss. Simply arrange a lunch with your team members or invite your team members, including your boss, and your place, and you can cook lunch or dinner. And you can personally say to your boss that his contribution greatly impacted your life.
Even if you’re not a great cook, you can cook one part of the meal, order the rest, and invite your boss and team members to lunch or dinner.
Saying thank you is often a matter of being creative. Nothing can match you saying thank you while serving delicious food.
Solve a problem for your boss
Your boss is always solving problems. Some are big; some are petty. You can take time and find out what bothers your boss more. And then take action to solve that problem. Simply take a piece of paper and write down the problem your boss is facing in bold letters. Now brainstorm and find out ways and list things to do. Start doing one thing at a time. And see whether it’s helping your boss or not. If not, go to the next and do something else.
For example, let’s say your boss cannot easily manage his emails. You can gift him book/s on efficient email management or talk about software/app which eases up email issues. Finding a problem, your boss cannot handle can often backfire. Ensure your boss is open to new ideas and won’t take your help as something else.
Simply take permission from your boss before presenting your idea to your boss. If he allows you to share your ideas with him, only share and take the initiative. Before doing anything, you need to know who he is. If you’re new in the office, take some time to figure it out before doing something like this.
Talk good about your boss behind his back
Most people spread rumors this way. They talk about people behind their backs. They gossip about what people did wrong. You can use this simple process to pay back for the contribution your boss had in your life. Simply make a point to talk about him when anyone talks about him. Say something like – “Yes, he is terrific. I learned a lot from him.” But make it genuine. It shouldn’t be something you do when you try to butter someone. If you do it for some time, your boss will get to know about it, and he will feel good internally.
You want to thank your boss because first, you want to express your gratitude to him, and simultaneously, you want your boss to feel happy. If you create a reputation behind his back, your purposes will be achieved, and everything will fall into place without much effort.
The above are ways to say ‘thank you’ to your boss. But there are thousands more, even millions. You just need to be creative. You can use one of the above ideas and implement it and see how it works. If it doesn’t work, go to the next one and try it out. Or simply jot down new ideas when you have them and say ‘thank you.’ You can use the same not to thank your boss only, but you can say ‘thank you’ to anyone who you think made your life better. And once you begin to say ‘thank you’, life will pause before you and offer you more opportunities to say ‘thank you.’ Make it a habit. Say thank you, not only in words but also through different ideas. And you will see your professional life will transform before your eyes.
