You might want to express gratitude toward your boss for any number of reasons. Perhaps you want to thank him or her for promoting you, to recall fond memories prior to leaving for another position, or to commemorate National Boss Day. The trick is being able to do it without causing major waves in the delicate game that is office politics. You do not want your thanks to alienate you from your coworkers, and you certainly do not want to appear disingenuous. How do you walk this fine line? You simply follow the tips provided in the thank you letter to boss templates provided here. These resources will help you show your appreciation in the right way and eliminate any questions as to the intent of your message.
Thank You Letter to Boss Template
Loni sent the thank you letter shown below to her boss right before she left for another company. In such a scenario, Loni does not necessarily need to worry about how her coworkers might perceive her comments, as she will no longer be working with them. Yet, pay attention to how careful she is not to burn any bridges on her way out the door.
Dear Ms. Venable,
Before leaving Lone Star State Healthcare, I would like to thank you personally for all that you have done for me during my tenure here. A great many people have supported during this time, but none more so than you. I contribute all my success and that of our department to your influence and direction.
I came into this position ready to tackle a new challenge yet wholly unsure of my analytical skills. You helped me take the talents I brought to the table and easily transition into this role, allowing me to feel as though I was a valued contributor from day one. You also helped me open up to my coworkers and realize their individual skills and expertise could support my professional growth and development. I can, with all confidence, say the skills that now allow me to progress in my career are largely due to your guidance.
Again, thank you for all that you have done for me. I will always look at you as a mentor who valued my skills. I sincerely hope our paths cross again in the future.
Warmest Regards,
Loni Larson
How To Write a Thank You Letter To Boss
There are far too many working professionals who feel as though “it’s a small world” has no meaning outside of a popular string of theme parks. In reality, the world is really small, especially within a working industry. The person that you worked with yesterday could be the one you are interviewing with tomorrow. It is always important, then, to maintain good working relationships. Your boss may remain a valuable resource for you to turn to in the future, even if you are not working for the same organization. Therefore, thank him or her at every appropriate occasion.
As the thank you letter to boss template demonstrates, your note does not need to be a novel. Simply start with a short paragraph stating your reason for expressing thanks, and share the impact the leader has had on your career. If you are leaving the company or the department, summarize how much the supervisor has contributed to your growth and success. If you are celebrating a promotion, convey thanks for all of the guidance and support you have received.
While people do not necessarily need you to point out the positive impact they have made, they do not want to have their contributions downplayed, either. If the body of your thank you letter simply contains clichés and generic references, your reader might question how much you truly value what he or she has provided. Therefore, be sure to reference specific examples that support your show of appreciation.
You want to ensure that no occasion impacts your professional and personal relationship with your boss. Thus, you should always close a thank you letter expressing your excitement at continuing your association in the future.
What To Avoid in Your Thank You Letter To Boss
Most expect that any information shared through correspondence will remain confidential. That may be why some see the chance to send a thank you letter to their bosses as the ideal chance to throw other employees under the bus. However, your boss will likely see this action as extremely unprofessional since you are attempting to build yourself up by stepping on others. Your coworkers may also become suspicious of your actions if they believe that you are sharing impertinent information in this manner. Therefore, omit any such language from your thank you letter, and only mention your coworkers in an appropriate way.
Another element to avoid is making your thank you letter too personal. While you may have developed a good relationship with your boss, do not include any personal stories in your thank you letter. You never know who else might see it if you transmit it through company channels (even through something as seemingly secure as a corporate email server). Instead, keep confidential interactions for face-to-face communication.
When you were growing up, your parents might have told you that you should not give thanks expecting something in return. Rather, you are returning gratitude for what someone has already done for you. The same principle holds true for your thank you letter to your boss. He or she has helped to put you in a position to succeed. If not, why would you be writing him or her a thank you letter? Thus, your thanks on this occasion is reciprocal. Any attempt to follow up on whether or not he or she received your letter may appear awkward and call your true motives for sending it into question.
Top 5 Thank You Letter To Boss Writing Takeaways
1. Consider the appropriateness of the occasion
A thank you letter to your boss can be very impactful, but only in the right circumstances. Reserve it for rare moments in your professional development, and use other methods to show your thanks on more conventional occasions (e.g., birthdays, holidays, and minor achievements).
2. Send your letter at the right time
The further you get away from the event your letter recognizes, the less impactful it will be.
3. Be genuine
People might expect you to send a thank you letter in certain cases. Thus, your boss might think that you are only thanking him or her in order to meet those expectations. You can avoid this situation by being genuine in your comments and sharing experiences and details that adequately convey the thought you put into them.
4. Send a handwritten, signed letter
Most people will compose a quick email to all colleagues on their last day working together. Do not just forward a copy of that to your boss. Write a separate letter, sign it, and slip it under his or her office door. Better yet, mail it the old-fashioned way.
5. Offer future assistance
If you hope to be able to reach out to your boss for guidance again in the future, offer the same sort of assistance yourself. Your continued collaboration may help benefit your career down the road.
