On the surface, it seems like your time spent at work is checking all the boxes: a steady paycheck, decent benefits, and the opportunity to learn a few new things. But the truth is that sometimes, coming into the office can feel downright mind-numbing—and if you aren’t careful, you might find yourself among the ⅔ of employees that are disengaged.

What really gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling of career fulfillment consists of more than just going through the motions. Instead, you need to be seeking out true connections with your peers. And while that might sound a bit off-putting, it’s easier than you’d think: start by taking a pen to paper. Handwritten thank you notes are one of the most effective ways to build trust, create a sense of community, inspire genuine connection—and above all, help you avoid getting stuck in a 9-5 rut.

RE-INSPIRE PURPOSE

Our digital world is noisy and overcrowded. It might seem like you’re connected all the time, but in reality, are you really absorbing that constant flow of communication? Considering that the average office associate receives around 120 emails per day, or that Americans spend an average of 11 hours per day scrolling through media, we’d bet you aren’t. A handwritten thank you note bucks that trend by creating tangible proof of human connection and re-inspiring meaningful conversation.

“Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” – Brené Brown

A recent study published in Psychological Science shows that people tend to underestimate the power of handwritten thank you notes. Feelings of self-doubt can creep up when stepping outside of our digital communication norm, but that’s exactly what makes handwritten notes so surprising and—ultimately—sincere.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

At EG, recognizing others is an important part of our day-to-day culture. (So much so that in Q4 of 2018, we took on the challenge of sending 1000 thank you notes amongst our team—and exceeded it!). Sure, handwritten thank you notes may take a bit longer to produce than an email, but if you have the opportunity to make someone’s day special, why not go for it?

Start bringing a little light into your own workplace by downloading our free thank you note printable now. Commit yourself to sending at least 1 thank you note per week for the next month – we promise, you’ll feel engaged with your team in ways you wouldn’t have expected.

For more workplace inspiration or to speak with someone on our team, contact EG. info@eg-us.com