I was recently working with a team that from the outside looking in was high performing. Quality deliverables, goals were met, customers were pleased, and sponsors knew the team was committed.

When I sat with the team, their truth was a little tender. Team members were tired, some had trouble sleeping, frustration with the leader was high, the number of deliverables didn’t equate to impact and results, partnership with sponsors felt day by day.

What the team wanted most from their leader was a Thank You.

This team is not alone.

A study of 200,000 employees from a consultant named Rainer Strack identified that what employees were most looking for in an employer is Acknowledgement.

The team I worked with shared that when their leader did say Thank You, they couldn’t hear it, it felt empty, too much other noise.

How does a leader say Thank You so it is heard?

By noticing the true contribution the employee made.

Go below the surface Thank You. Acknowledge what the employee said or did that truly made a difference. Next time you are tempted to say thank you, pause for a moment, and go for a deeper acknowledgement, step it up for your employee. Prepare for the conversation. Ask yourself:

• What skills or talents did this person use?
• What did they bring that no one else did?
• What qualities did they demonstrate?
• What makes them unique?
• What did you notice about them and their commitment?

Then thank them with the answers to these questions, give it to them with specifics. Spend a few minutes with them describing exactly what they said or did in an environment where they can hear you.

Notice your thank you.

Observe what happens after it is delivered.

A thoughtful thank you can have a ripple effect. Researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania found that employees who heard a message of gratitude made 50% more fund-raising calls than those who did not. Another side benefit is that Oxytocin is released when someone is thanked.

The benefits can be contagious.

Saying thank you is an art that deserves your attention.