70 meaningful thank you quotes and messages for showing appreciation

We all know the feeling of being recognized for our hard work or a small act of kindness. But taking the time to thank others for their help in turn is something that’s easily overlooked. Perhaps because we’re so busy, or because “thank you” often seems implied. Sharing thank you quotes and messages can instantly make a difference.

It’s important to make the time to show your appreciation for neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, and any other individuals who brighten your day. A few words of thanks or a brief note goes a long way in solidifying life’s most important relationships. Here are 70 thank you quotes and messages you can use to show real gratitude to others in your personal life and on the job.

Thanking someone for their efforts

We all know the feeling of gratitude towards another person who has helped us in a time of need. Whether it’s a new acquaintance who performed a single act of kindness or a friend who has provided help time and time again, there’s probably someone in your world whose efforts deserve recognition. Here are a few easy ways to say thank you to others for all they’ve done for you:

1. Thank you for always being there for me when I need you.
2. Thank you for your help putting on last weekend’s bake sale, Jeff. I couldn’t have done it without you.
3. I appreciate you watching our sweet pup, Lasso, while we were out of town.
4. I’m grateful for the work you put into this project. Your dedication to our company is unparalleled.
5. I value the time and effort you put into this campaign, Marsha. We’ve already seen an uptick in new sales!
6. Thank you for volunteering with my organization this Tuesday. Your time really makes a difference!
7. Your dedication to our clients shows through your consistent engagement and attention to detail.
8. I appreciate your positive attitude during our home renovation. You’re a truly great roommate, Sarah.
9. Thank you for all your help onboarding our new cohort of developers.
10. Thank you for being a great manager, Liza. I can always count on you.

Saying thank you for someone’s time

Everyone is busy, which makes it matter all the more when someone takes time out of their day for you. Take a look at some ways you can let them know you appreciate it:

11. Thank you for helping me find my missing dog. We’re so glad to have her back.
12. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me today. It was great to get to know you better.
13. Thank you for spending some time connecting about our interests outside work. I never knew you loved Star Trek as much as I did!
14. I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me today. Having just moved into this neighborhood it’s wonderful to get to know some neighbors.
15. It was great having coffee with you today. It’s nice to feel like I have a friend in the office, especially since I’m new to the company.
16. Thank you for making time to babysit the kids today. We’re so lucky to have in-laws like you.
17. I’d like to recognize your willingness to spend the extra time needed to deliver excellent results on every assignment. It really speaks to your work effort and dedication to perfection.
18. Thank you for stopping by to help clean up after last week’s event. Having a few more hands makes the work go quicker.
19. I appreciate the opportunity to get to know coworkers I don’t have the opportunity to interact with regularly. Thank you for making the time.

Saying thanks to friends and neighbors

Aside from loved ones, our friends and neighbors are some of our greatest support. Take the time to say thank you to these heroes in your life:

20. Thank you for collecting our mail while we were away.
21. We appreciate you helping us move last weekend. Next time we’ll have things boxed up sooner!
22. The cake you baked for Lydia’s birthday was divine. Thank you!
23. Thank you for inviting us over to your BBQ last weekend. It was great to get to know you better.
24. It’s good to know I can always count on you, Bill. Let’s go fishing soon.
25. My tomatoes are thriving in the potting soil you gave me. Thank you for supporting my budding garden!

Thank you quotes

While thanking someone in your own words provides a personal touch, sometimes it can be helpful to see how others have shown appreciation and thought about gratitude in the past. Here are a few thank you quotes to get you inspired:

26. “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” – Randy Pausch
27. “The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.” – Douglas Wood
28. “Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life and you’ll find that you have more of it.” – Ralph Marston
29. “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy
30. “For my part, I am almost contented just now, and very thankful. Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms, but not to fever.” – Charlotte Bronte
31. “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – Oscar Wilde
32. “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa
33. If the world had more people like you it would be a better place. You do make a difference.” – Catherine Pulsifer
34. When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect towards others.” – the Dalai Lama
35. “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire
36. “Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it all into words is all that is necessary.” – Margaret Cousins

Thanking your co-workers

When it comes to co-workers and employees, data shows that employees who are recognized monthly are more engaged, productive, and feel greater belonging in their company. While certain team members are intrinsically motivated to do a good job, extrinsic motivation, like rewards, bonuses, and messages of appreciation go a long way. Whether you work for a large company or run your own small business, here are some meaningful words of thanks for your co-workers:

37. Thanks for having my back in this morning’s meeting.
38. I really appreciate the quick turnaround on this deliverable, Angie. It made all the difference!
39. Thank you for getting the copier unjammed. Again.
40. I appreciate you taking a minute to provide some training when you could have just moved on.
41. The way you bring doughnuts to our Monday meetings – I’ll just say, “Not all heroes wear capes.”
42. It’s so good to have a work bestie. Thanks Martin!
43. Your drive to foster collaboration within our team makes our organization a great place to work.
44. Your project management skills keep us organized! Thank you! 🙂
45. Charles, you deserve all the recognition for getting this assignment done quickly on a tight deadline. Keep up the incredible work.
46. Thank you for always considering my opinion when making decisions. Having a real voice at this company is something I really treasure.

Saying thank you for listening

There are few things better than a great listener. But listening is a two-way street, and one of the best ways to show appreciation to skilled listeners is to practice active listening in turn. Whether it’s lending an ear to a friend during difficult times or processing and acting on feedback in the workplace, the people in your life will appreciate knowing that they’ve been truly heard.

If you know a great listener or two who deserves recognition, take a look at these messages of appreciation:

47. Thank you for listening to my concerns about our dog, JJ. We’re so glad to have you as our vet.
48. I appreciate your focus on creating a great employee experience by collecting and acting on input from our employees.
49. I appreciate your willingness to always listen to my ideas and concerns. Your openness is a big part of why I feel comfortable being my real self at work.
50. Thank you for listening to my complaints about school, Grandma.
51. Thank you for taking the time to consider my input. You’re what makes volunteering for this organization so enjoyable.
52. I’d like to recognize how you always reach out to other stakeholders when making key decisions about the business, Greg.
53. Thanks for taking my worries about Truman’s SAT scores seriously. It’s good to know he has an educator on his side.
54. Thank you for giving me a chance to make my voice heard during the transition, Carol. It’s been so exciting to be a part of this process.
55. You not only ask for feedback, but follow through on that feedback, and that means the world to me.
56. Not every manager takes the time to really listen to their employees. When I speak with you I feel heard.

Thanking employees for their service

One of the most obvious times to thank an employee is when they celebrate a big milestone. Whether it’s one year or twenty, work anniversaries are a great time to pause, let employees know you appreciate their hard work and loyalty, and align on what the employee’s future with the company might look like.

Here are a few ways to thank team members for their years of hard work:

57. Thank you for your many years of service to our organization. Happy 10th anniversary!
58. I appreciate the institutional knowledge you bring to our team – we’re all the richer for it!
59. Your expertise in our industry and experience at our company make you a truly invaluable contributor.
60. I don’t know how we’d do it without you. Thank you for everything, and I hope the next five years are as rewarding as the last five have been.
61. I appreciate your tireless effort to deliver great value to our clients, year after year. Here’s to 20 more!

Saying thanks for great leadership

We’ve all had great bosses, team leaders, volunteer coordinators, and other folks at the helm who have gone above and beyond. Here are some words for saying thanks to the best leaders you know:

62. In my 30 years in the rotary, I don’t think we’ve had as strong a president as you, Hubert.
63. Thank you for the thorough feedback on my work. You’ve been a great mentor.
64. Your organization at the clothing drive was amazing. You really led us to success.
65. Thank you for creating a successful employee training and development program. I’ve learned so much!
66. You’ve done a great job prioritizing leadership development at our organization. Cheers!
67. You’ve excellent in your role as team captain of our ultimate frisbee team. Way to go, Dorcy.
68. I appreciate your commitment to growing our team and promoting or hiring from within.
69. During this challenging time at work, knowing we’ve had such a strong CEO at the helm has really kept me centered. Thank you.
70. Thank you for hiring and training me. This is the best yoga studio in town. Namaste!

Make saying thanks easy

While sharing a few words of thanks is always appreciated, it only goes so far, and many opportunities to show gratitude are likely to pass by unnoticed, no matter how attentive you are. Recognition has more of an impact when it’s shown routinely, especially in the workplace, so making it a daily habit is important.

One of the best ways to make recognition easy for you -and other team members – is by adopting an employee recognition platform like Achievers Recognize. It empowers everyone, from the C-suite on down, with the ability to show appreciation from within the apps they already use every day. And it democratizes rewards by letting employees give and redeem points for merchandise and experiences, with over 3 million options to choose from. Whether you’re celebrating a small victory or an employee’s long tenure with the organization, Achievers can help.

Discover how the power of thanks can transform your company with a free demo from Achievers.

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