The way you say ‘thanks’ matters at work

Many of us assume expressing gratitude is as simple as saying thank you. But the way you deliver those two words in the workplace—whether through a handwritten note, a shared coffee break, or a small gesture that lightens someone’s load—can affect how the receiver interprets them, according to new research. “We want to say thanks, and we do need to make people feel appreciated, but that is more likely to happen when we show responsive gratitude that is thoughtful and specific,” said Tony Kong, a professor of organizational leadership and information analytics at the Leeds School of Business and a co-lead author of the multi-study research, published in the Journal of Management in November 2025.