The Importance of Saying Thank You

I admit it. Since I teach etiquette, I say thank you a lot. Before E-ZPass started, I would say thank you to the ticket machines on the New Jersey turnpike!

My son knew at an early age the importance of saying thank you. One night when he was a toddler, I said to Jacob, "It's time for bed." He smiled and responded, "Oh, no thank you, Mommy."

If someone helps you, goes above and beyond for you, or gives you a compliment on your work, it's polite to say thank you. Plus, there can be negative consequences if you don't. One woman said that she gave a reference for a colleague looking for work. The man got the job, but he never thanked her. She said she would never help him again.

Recently, I received an email from a seminar participant that had me rethink the concept of saying thank you. The woman wanted to know if someone could say thank you too many times.

The answer is yes. It is true that you can say thank you too often. You only need to say it once or twice. Otherwise, it can dilute its value and make you seem helpless and needy.

Thank you for being part of my blog.