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The Lost Art of Accepting Thanks

February 5, 2007 By Joe Rawlinson

When is the last time someone graciously accepted your thanks?

If you say “thank you” or “thanks,” what is the usual response?

  • sure
  • no problem
  • yup
  • uh-huh
  • a smile
  • a head nod
  • a grunt

Or are you met with silence? No reaction?

How should you accept a person’s thanks? Let’s look at two examples:

My Pleasure

During every trip to my local Chick-fil-a restaurant, I say thanks to the cashier. The response is always the same: “my pleasure.” Since I never hear this response elsewhere it always catches my attention.

It should be our pleasure as businesses to serve our customers. After all, they do pay us and are really the whole reason we are working and surviving.

By saying “my pleasure,” you have to actually think about what you’re doing. Are you taking joy and satisfaction in how you work? Are you really happy that you can help customers?

You’re Welcome

In the movie Take the Lead, actor Antonio Banderas portrays a dance instructor who goes out of his way to say “thank you” and actively encourages others to say “you’re welcome.” If someone he thanked didn’t respond, he’d say a dramatic “you’re welcome” for them.

Banderas’ character reminds us that it is a common courtesy (although not so common nowadays) to accept other’s expressions of gratitude with a hearty “you’re welcome.”

Respond

Any way you choose to respond to customers, saying “my pleasure” or “you’re welcome” will force you to:

  • Talk to the customer as a real person
  • Remind you why you’re working
  • Remind you of who you are serving
  • What’s a Return Customer?
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