Why Hey and Thanks still matter

Why Hey and Thanks still matter

Hey,

I don’t have any actual data, but I know when I started working almost a decade ago the probability of getting an email or message that began with “Hey” and ended with “Thanks” (or their equivalents) was 10x what it is today.

Over that time, something has shifted culturally in the work world where even external communications are dropping the pleasantries and “getting right to it”.

I don’t know if this is a symptom of the 10x increase in communications we get today and we simply don’t have the time to type 10 more characters, or if it’s from an increase in worshipping the Steve Jobs direct style of communication, but we need to swing back the pendulum.

I know it’s not efficient, I know we’re all busy, and before you call me out I know I do it too — but I still believe saying Hey and Thanks matters.

Saying Hey and Thanks reminds the receiver that you see them as human first, and a co-worker/producer-of-value second. It’s subtle, but important.

Sometimes I hear the argument that:

“Because everyone in our company knows we trust and respect each other, we no longer need to be shackled by these archaic rituals.”

That’s bullshit. A company value saying “we respect each other” doesn’t mean people do. Respect is still given and earned in the everyday interactions between you, her, him and I.

Now, when a group of people really do go through the ringer together, and build genuine camaraderie through that experience, then I think it’s natural to forgo the pleasantries because that respect has been earned together.

But until you’ve done that with someone, don’t assume how they interpret your directness. Instead, remind them you see them as a person first.

Thanks,

Brandon