The power of a Thank You Card

Expertise and Professionalism – sometimes they’re just not enough, but a Thank You Card can really make the difference.

Not long ago I met Eric. Eric is an up and coming young chartered accountant who has recently branched out on his own. He is at the stage of development and growth where he has enough clients to make it all worthwhile and risk moving into better premises and looking more professional, but with one little problem. You see, he had picked up the vibe that one of his key client companies, a partnership actually, were looking at other pastures so to speak.

His real problem had been that while their relationship had always been amenable, there has always been an undertow of tension and coldness, probably due to differences in their personalities. He knew they were happy with his expertise and professionalism but they just didn’t seem to gel.

Eric had learnt that one of the partners had a birthday coming up, and so with a little prompting from me, he sent him a birthday card and to the other partner, a thank you card, simply saying that he valued their association and having them as clients.

And remember, at this critical juncture, he couldn’t really afford to be losing any clients.

A few days later he got a call from the birthday partner thanking him for his birthday card and acknowledging the thank you card, and also how much they appreciated getting them. Things seemed to be improving.

Well. At the next scheduled meeting with his clients, Eric was quite taken aback. What had happened here? They were most welcoming; he was greeted with a firm, warm and friendly handshake. He was then told how he was the only person outside of family that had acknowledged the partners birthday. Even his business partner had forgotten until he saw him opening his card.

They also thanked him for his gratitude and the thank you card. They told him they had been looking around for another firm to work with, but they now wanted to stay put. Wow, a little card, expressing a little bit of thanks saved a valuable client and built a stronger relationship. More than worth the effort I’d say! Wouldn’t you?   

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