We live in a technology-driven world that has seen the human touch get taken out of the way we communicate with each other. Think about it. Over the past decade, emails and text messages have in many ways replaced face-to-face conversations. Gone are the days of catching up with friends and family by actual phone calls, when you had the chance of hearing the warmth of someone’s voice, or laughing on the phone with a friend. And people don’t send handwritten letters anymore, outside of the annual holiday card. Now that we’re living in this technology-driven world, I strongly believe that the “old-fashioned” handwritten note is a breath of fresh air – and really cuts through the dullness of emails and texts. Here’s your reminder to say “thank you” or “hello” by handwritten note. It goes a long way! I’ve seen the handwritten note work wonders in the professional world as well as in Behavioral Health. Here are a few examples:
At work:
One of my Consilium colleagues hadn’t been able to connect by phone to one of his favorite locum tenens providers. He decided to send her a hand written note just to tell her he was there when she needed his support. It read, “Hello! I know how busy you must be. What can I do to help? Call when you have a moment in your busy day. Thank you for all you do.” She was so moved that he took the time to send her a note that she called him the next time she had a chance. She said no other company had ever written her a note, and she loved the personal attention. My colleague was able to connect with her on a human level. Writing hand-written notes to the providers on our rosters makes a difference. Writing notes to potential providers that are busy or hard-to-reach makes a difference. And thanking existing clients in writing goes a long way in telling them we care. It’s human, and at work, “human” matters.In the clinical setting:
One of our doctors called me to share that she received a thank you note from a patient. She was so moved by it, that she shared it with me. Not only did the note show the physician that her work truly made a difference in the patient’s life, but the love and gratitude expressed in the note went a long way in reminding the doctor why she does what she does. The note was moving and inspirational. And it meant so much, in so many ways.
From leadership:
There’s nothing like walking into work the morning after a really tough day and finding a hand-written note from my leader. It’s motivating and encouraging. Whether the note contains kudos for a job well done, or a “hang in there, keep going!” – it matters so much to feel seen by my leaders. And when they express their gratitude in a note that I can actually keep, and read over and again, it matters. It means a lot. As a leader myself, when I walk around our offices, I love seeing the notes that my team and my colleagues have pinned up in their work spaces. These notes mark personal achievements and career milestones. They are like badges of honor! Reminders of how hard they work. How important they are. And what they mean to our company and the people we serve. As a leader, I strongly believe that teams need to be thanked and encouraged by their leadership. And a handwritten note means so much more than an email (though there’s nothing wrong with getting a great email from a leader!)—but the handwritten note… there’s no substitute for it.And personally:
Whenever I write notes to people who are on my mind, I’ve found that it’s good for my own mental health! It’s deeply satisfying… and gratifying. Just by taking a few moments, stopping my busy day to reflect my thoughts on someone else, and the goodness in them, or the dedication they show, or on their grit and determination – and then to thank them or encourage them or just say hello—I get a sense of genuine goodness inside. It’s a personal, human connection to someone else. And it shows them that they matter. It’s human. So next time you need to communicate with someone, ask if it’s an opportunity to send a handwritten note. Who knows? You might just make someone’s day.
