Recently I dropped my wallet while on a walk. Then I got to the grocery store only to find out I did not have my wallet. At the same time my mobile phone rang. It was my wife… someone had found my wallet with my driver’s licence and all my credit cards in it. They had found it and graciously returned it to the address on the licence, our home. I am extremely grateful.
I know I have a great deal to be grateful for… my health, my family, my friends, our clients and the success we and our clients have enjoyed. But how do we or can we show gratitude. For the finder of my wallet, I called him and thanked him profusely (my wife was very on top of it all and made sure to get his name and phone number so I could follow up). On top of thanking him I asked him if I could buy him a bottle or something. He said no, just pay it forward. And that I will do.
But it got me to thinking… how can we or might we show our gratitude to those we partner with or work with? I asked around to see what people thought and here are some the ideas. It was important to note most people had great ideas of ways to show gratitude, but a couple of people noted (and not wrongly) that our partners are receiving value for their partnership (whether they be on the buying or selling side) and thus do not need to be show “additional gratitude”. I beg to differ. Anyway, here are some of the ideas…
- Send them a handwritten note or small gift or flowers or such halfway through the contract (if it is an annual or multi year contract) or before the event or program launch they are aligned with. Just a note to say, “thanks for being our partner, we appreciate it”. Nothing more.
- Recognize something they have done in-market that they deserve kudos for such as made a major donation to a cause (other than perhaps yours) and note how grateful you are to be associated with a partner that does so much for so many in the community.
- Take then for coffee or lunch and DON’T talk about business.
- Ask about their holiday, family, son or daughter’s recent recital or tournament and if they won, send a congrats note or gift to the child through your partner.
- On Valentines send them chocolates or flowers and a note that says how much you love the partnership you have with them.
- On Administrative Assistant’s Day, send the EAs of your key relationship parts a gift or note to say how much YOU appreciate them (and do the same for your applicable staff)
These are some ideas. Think of your own as well… but most importantly… show your partners gratitude.
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