Should I send a “thank you” email to a colleague in the same office?

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I was temporarily relocated to a different location by my company and people at the new location have helped me to set everything up. I interrupted one colleague a couple of times because of minor questions (e.g., how do I connect to this printer? Who is responsible for this and that? May I get a different keyboard and so on).



Sometimes, I would walk back to my office and make use of whatever information he gave me. I'd then like to thank him, but I don't really want to interrupt him again. Should I send a short "thank you" email although he is just a couple of steps away? Or just mention it the next time I see him?







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  • 12




    I would feel really weird if someone sent me "thank you" email for some basic help (like showing where the toilet is). Asking for help and helping others is a part of the job. But if you really want to thank someone, you should mention it next time you see him.
    – jusio
    Aug 1 '12 at 20:51






  • 3




    Dude, take him to lunch. I would! Then you have an opportunity to continue to get more intelligence on your location, while paying him back at the same time!
    – Aaron Hall
    Mar 24 '14 at 15:55

















up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1












I was temporarily relocated to a different location by my company and people at the new location have helped me to set everything up. I interrupted one colleague a couple of times because of minor questions (e.g., how do I connect to this printer? Who is responsible for this and that? May I get a different keyboard and so on).



Sometimes, I would walk back to my office and make use of whatever information he gave me. I'd then like to thank him, but I don't really want to interrupt him again. Should I send a short "thank you" email although he is just a couple of steps away? Or just mention it the next time I see him?







share|improve this question


















  • 12




    I would feel really weird if someone sent me "thank you" email for some basic help (like showing where the toilet is). Asking for help and helping others is a part of the job. But if you really want to thank someone, you should mention it next time you see him.
    – jusio
    Aug 1 '12 at 20:51






  • 3




    Dude, take him to lunch. I would! Then you have an opportunity to continue to get more intelligence on your location, while paying him back at the same time!
    – Aaron Hall
    Mar 24 '14 at 15:55













up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1






1





I was temporarily relocated to a different location by my company and people at the new location have helped me to set everything up. I interrupted one colleague a couple of times because of minor questions (e.g., how do I connect to this printer? Who is responsible for this and that? May I get a different keyboard and so on).



Sometimes, I would walk back to my office and make use of whatever information he gave me. I'd then like to thank him, but I don't really want to interrupt him again. Should I send a short "thank you" email although he is just a couple of steps away? Or just mention it the next time I see him?







share|improve this question














I was temporarily relocated to a different location by my company and people at the new location have helped me to set everything up. I interrupted one colleague a couple of times because of minor questions (e.g., how do I connect to this printer? Who is responsible for this and that? May I get a different keyboard and so on).



Sometimes, I would walk back to my office and make use of whatever information he gave me. I'd then like to thank him, but I don't really want to interrupt him again. Should I send a short "thank you" email although he is just a couple of steps away? Or just mention it the next time I see him?









share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited Aug 1 '12 at 21:10









yoozer8

4,10442955




4,10442955










asked Aug 1 '12 at 20:34









mort

31248




31248







  • 12




    I would feel really weird if someone sent me "thank you" email for some basic help (like showing where the toilet is). Asking for help and helping others is a part of the job. But if you really want to thank someone, you should mention it next time you see him.
    – jusio
    Aug 1 '12 at 20:51






  • 3




    Dude, take him to lunch. I would! Then you have an opportunity to continue to get more intelligence on your location, while paying him back at the same time!
    – Aaron Hall
    Mar 24 '14 at 15:55













  • 12




    I would feel really weird if someone sent me "thank you" email for some basic help (like showing where the toilet is). Asking for help and helping others is a part of the job. But if you really want to thank someone, you should mention it next time you see him.
    – jusio
    Aug 1 '12 at 20:51






  • 3




    Dude, take him to lunch. I would! Then you have an opportunity to continue to get more intelligence on your location, while paying him back at the same time!
    – Aaron Hall
    Mar 24 '14 at 15:55








12




12




I would feel really weird if someone sent me "thank you" email for some basic help (like showing where the toilet is). Asking for help and helping others is a part of the job. But if you really want to thank someone, you should mention it next time you see him.
– jusio
Aug 1 '12 at 20:51




I would feel really weird if someone sent me "thank you" email for some basic help (like showing where the toilet is). Asking for help and helping others is a part of the job. But if you really want to thank someone, you should mention it next time you see him.
– jusio
Aug 1 '12 at 20:51




3




3




Dude, take him to lunch. I would! Then you have an opportunity to continue to get more intelligence on your location, while paying him back at the same time!
– Aaron Hall
Mar 24 '14 at 15:55





Dude, take him to lunch. I would! Then you have an opportunity to continue to get more intelligence on your location, while paying him back at the same time!
– Aaron Hall
Mar 24 '14 at 15:55











6 Answers
6






active

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up vote
28
down vote



accepted










If you are saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, there is no need to send an email once you get back to your office. If you're not saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, you should start.



If one person in the office goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping you get settled in, you may want to bring in a token of appreciation for him once you're all settled in. It should generally be relatively inexpensive-- the gesture is the important part. Cookies, cupcakes, a gift card to the local coffee shop, etc. are common choices depending on the recipient.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    12
    down vote













    I send thank you emails all the time (at least three so far this week). If someone has helped me, I want it on record for them. It makes people feel good to be appreciated. If you write the thank you, it is something they can use in their performance evals to show what a fine and stalwart employee they are. I certainly mention the number of thanks yous I get in my eval.



    If someone goes out of his or her way to help (or the help was critical on a high priority project that the client is particularly interested in), I send the email to his or her boss as well.



    We have an awards program that we can submit such things to as well and I make frequent use of it (although that is overkill for someone helping you get set up). Thanking people this way has helped me have good relationships with my co-workers and makes them more likely to want to help me the next time I need it.



    It would be a rare case indeed where someone would not be pleased to get a written thank you.






    share|improve this answer




















    • Just for the record, my boss was at one point getting annoyed with me for taking out time to help people with their hardware issues (I'm supposed to be doing software, you see). I wasn't about to let them sit there for a week until someone would come to, say, get their monitor to display correctly instead of rotated 90 degrees. But I really didn't want him to get CC'd that I had helped.
      – sq33G
      Aug 2 '12 at 8:31

















    up vote
    4
    down vote













    It is never a bad practice to be polite, and to thank people for their help. Politeness is an underrated thing in the workplace.



    A big reason some people leave an otherwise good position is because of feeling unappreciated. Your acknowledgement of this person's help is good for the helper, and spreads good will for you, the helpee.



    If you feel like thanking people for their help, do it. Whether you feel it merits a small gift (as others have said), or just an email is up to you.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      Say it in person. That's generally the best way to go about things like this. Or, if it's just the people in your section of the office in general, go out and pick up a dozen bagels from dunkin donuts or someplace like that, and bring them with you in the morning.



      In Philadelphia, it's generally soft pretzels, but the idea is the same.






      share|improve this answer




















      • With cream cheese. And preferably tomorrow, thanks. I like the ones with everything on them. ;-)
        – David Navarre
        Aug 2 '12 at 21:27

















      up vote
      1
      down vote













      He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he tied up on a critical task. When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.



      Be a pal and send him the email, so that he can read it whenever it's convenient to him i.e. uninterrupted.






      share|improve this answer


















      • 2




        .... why? This doesn't even attempt to give any justification for "why" you should do this.
        – Elysian Fields♦
        Mar 24 '14 at 15:37






      • 1




        Re-read the first sentence of my long, boring two-sentence post: "He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he is tied up on a critical task" If you still don't understand the justification, don't come back to me.
        – Vietnhi Phuvan
        Mar 24 '14 at 15:42







      • 2




        I have no idea what that means nor how it answers the "why."
        – Elysian Fields♦
        Mar 24 '14 at 15:43






      • 1




        When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.
        – Vietnhi Phuvan
        Mar 24 '14 at 15:44


















      up vote
      0
      down vote













      For simple tasks, a "thank you" or "thanks" after the info should be enough. To some degree this is expected of them. But if someone really goes out of his/her way to help you out and you feel you want to acknowledge that, then I would try to do a public thanks.



      For example; If you have a team/department meeting, you might ask to say something and thank everyone for helping you get settled "... and especially thanks to X who took the time to help me understand system Y, without you I would have been lost. Thanks".



      This way others, presumably including his boss, will hear how helpful he has been.






      share|improve this answer




















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        6 Answers
        6






        active

        oldest

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        6 Answers
        6






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        28
        down vote



        accepted










        If you are saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, there is no need to send an email once you get back to your office. If you're not saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, you should start.



        If one person in the office goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping you get settled in, you may want to bring in a token of appreciation for him once you're all settled in. It should generally be relatively inexpensive-- the gesture is the important part. Cookies, cupcakes, a gift card to the local coffee shop, etc. are common choices depending on the recipient.






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          28
          down vote



          accepted










          If you are saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, there is no need to send an email once you get back to your office. If you're not saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, you should start.



          If one person in the office goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping you get settled in, you may want to bring in a token of appreciation for him once you're all settled in. It should generally be relatively inexpensive-- the gesture is the important part. Cookies, cupcakes, a gift card to the local coffee shop, etc. are common choices depending on the recipient.






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            28
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            28
            down vote



            accepted






            If you are saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, there is no need to send an email once you get back to your office. If you're not saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, you should start.



            If one person in the office goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping you get settled in, you may want to bring in a token of appreciation for him once you're all settled in. It should generally be relatively inexpensive-- the gesture is the important part. Cookies, cupcakes, a gift card to the local coffee shop, etc. are common choices depending on the recipient.






            share|improve this answer












            If you are saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, there is no need to send an email once you get back to your office. If you're not saying "thank you" verbally at the end of your conversations, you should start.



            If one person in the office goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping you get settled in, you may want to bring in a token of appreciation for him once you're all settled in. It should generally be relatively inexpensive-- the gesture is the important part. Cookies, cupcakes, a gift card to the local coffee shop, etc. are common choices depending on the recipient.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Aug 1 '12 at 20:56









            Justin Cave

            34.9k9112136




            34.9k9112136






















                up vote
                12
                down vote













                I send thank you emails all the time (at least three so far this week). If someone has helped me, I want it on record for them. It makes people feel good to be appreciated. If you write the thank you, it is something they can use in their performance evals to show what a fine and stalwart employee they are. I certainly mention the number of thanks yous I get in my eval.



                If someone goes out of his or her way to help (or the help was critical on a high priority project that the client is particularly interested in), I send the email to his or her boss as well.



                We have an awards program that we can submit such things to as well and I make frequent use of it (although that is overkill for someone helping you get set up). Thanking people this way has helped me have good relationships with my co-workers and makes them more likely to want to help me the next time I need it.



                It would be a rare case indeed where someone would not be pleased to get a written thank you.






                share|improve this answer




















                • Just for the record, my boss was at one point getting annoyed with me for taking out time to help people with their hardware issues (I'm supposed to be doing software, you see). I wasn't about to let them sit there for a week until someone would come to, say, get their monitor to display correctly instead of rotated 90 degrees. But I really didn't want him to get CC'd that I had helped.
                  – sq33G
                  Aug 2 '12 at 8:31














                up vote
                12
                down vote













                I send thank you emails all the time (at least three so far this week). If someone has helped me, I want it on record for them. It makes people feel good to be appreciated. If you write the thank you, it is something they can use in their performance evals to show what a fine and stalwart employee they are. I certainly mention the number of thanks yous I get in my eval.



                If someone goes out of his or her way to help (or the help was critical on a high priority project that the client is particularly interested in), I send the email to his or her boss as well.



                We have an awards program that we can submit such things to as well and I make frequent use of it (although that is overkill for someone helping you get set up). Thanking people this way has helped me have good relationships with my co-workers and makes them more likely to want to help me the next time I need it.



                It would be a rare case indeed where someone would not be pleased to get a written thank you.






                share|improve this answer




















                • Just for the record, my boss was at one point getting annoyed with me for taking out time to help people with their hardware issues (I'm supposed to be doing software, you see). I wasn't about to let them sit there for a week until someone would come to, say, get their monitor to display correctly instead of rotated 90 degrees. But I really didn't want him to get CC'd that I had helped.
                  – sq33G
                  Aug 2 '12 at 8:31












                up vote
                12
                down vote










                up vote
                12
                down vote









                I send thank you emails all the time (at least three so far this week). If someone has helped me, I want it on record for them. It makes people feel good to be appreciated. If you write the thank you, it is something they can use in their performance evals to show what a fine and stalwart employee they are. I certainly mention the number of thanks yous I get in my eval.



                If someone goes out of his or her way to help (or the help was critical on a high priority project that the client is particularly interested in), I send the email to his or her boss as well.



                We have an awards program that we can submit such things to as well and I make frequent use of it (although that is overkill for someone helping you get set up). Thanking people this way has helped me have good relationships with my co-workers and makes them more likely to want to help me the next time I need it.



                It would be a rare case indeed where someone would not be pleased to get a written thank you.






                share|improve this answer












                I send thank you emails all the time (at least three so far this week). If someone has helped me, I want it on record for them. It makes people feel good to be appreciated. If you write the thank you, it is something they can use in their performance evals to show what a fine and stalwart employee they are. I certainly mention the number of thanks yous I get in my eval.



                If someone goes out of his or her way to help (or the help was critical on a high priority project that the client is particularly interested in), I send the email to his or her boss as well.



                We have an awards program that we can submit such things to as well and I make frequent use of it (although that is overkill for someone helping you get set up). Thanking people this way has helped me have good relationships with my co-workers and makes them more likely to want to help me the next time I need it.



                It would be a rare case indeed where someone would not be pleased to get a written thank you.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Aug 1 '12 at 21:12









                HLGEM

                133k25227489




                133k25227489











                • Just for the record, my boss was at one point getting annoyed with me for taking out time to help people with their hardware issues (I'm supposed to be doing software, you see). I wasn't about to let them sit there for a week until someone would come to, say, get their monitor to display correctly instead of rotated 90 degrees. But I really didn't want him to get CC'd that I had helped.
                  – sq33G
                  Aug 2 '12 at 8:31
















                • Just for the record, my boss was at one point getting annoyed with me for taking out time to help people with their hardware issues (I'm supposed to be doing software, you see). I wasn't about to let them sit there for a week until someone would come to, say, get their monitor to display correctly instead of rotated 90 degrees. But I really didn't want him to get CC'd that I had helped.
                  – sq33G
                  Aug 2 '12 at 8:31















                Just for the record, my boss was at one point getting annoyed with me for taking out time to help people with their hardware issues (I'm supposed to be doing software, you see). I wasn't about to let them sit there for a week until someone would come to, say, get their monitor to display correctly instead of rotated 90 degrees. But I really didn't want him to get CC'd that I had helped.
                – sq33G
                Aug 2 '12 at 8:31




                Just for the record, my boss was at one point getting annoyed with me for taking out time to help people with their hardware issues (I'm supposed to be doing software, you see). I wasn't about to let them sit there for a week until someone would come to, say, get their monitor to display correctly instead of rotated 90 degrees. But I really didn't want him to get CC'd that I had helped.
                – sq33G
                Aug 2 '12 at 8:31










                up vote
                4
                down vote













                It is never a bad practice to be polite, and to thank people for their help. Politeness is an underrated thing in the workplace.



                A big reason some people leave an otherwise good position is because of feeling unappreciated. Your acknowledgement of this person's help is good for the helper, and spreads good will for you, the helpee.



                If you feel like thanking people for their help, do it. Whether you feel it merits a small gift (as others have said), or just an email is up to you.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote













                  It is never a bad practice to be polite, and to thank people for their help. Politeness is an underrated thing in the workplace.



                  A big reason some people leave an otherwise good position is because of feeling unappreciated. Your acknowledgement of this person's help is good for the helper, and spreads good will for you, the helpee.



                  If you feel like thanking people for their help, do it. Whether you feel it merits a small gift (as others have said), or just an email is up to you.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    4
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    4
                    down vote









                    It is never a bad practice to be polite, and to thank people for their help. Politeness is an underrated thing in the workplace.



                    A big reason some people leave an otherwise good position is because of feeling unappreciated. Your acknowledgement of this person's help is good for the helper, and spreads good will for you, the helpee.



                    If you feel like thanking people for their help, do it. Whether you feel it merits a small gift (as others have said), or just an email is up to you.






                    share|improve this answer












                    It is never a bad practice to be polite, and to thank people for their help. Politeness is an underrated thing in the workplace.



                    A big reason some people leave an otherwise good position is because of feeling unappreciated. Your acknowledgement of this person's help is good for the helper, and spreads good will for you, the helpee.



                    If you feel like thanking people for their help, do it. Whether you feel it merits a small gift (as others have said), or just an email is up to you.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Aug 2 '12 at 13:30









                    Jennifer S

                    45858




                    45858




















                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote













                        Say it in person. That's generally the best way to go about things like this. Or, if it's just the people in your section of the office in general, go out and pick up a dozen bagels from dunkin donuts or someplace like that, and bring them with you in the morning.



                        In Philadelphia, it's generally soft pretzels, but the idea is the same.






                        share|improve this answer




















                        • With cream cheese. And preferably tomorrow, thanks. I like the ones with everything on them. ;-)
                          – David Navarre
                          Aug 2 '12 at 21:27














                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote













                        Say it in person. That's generally the best way to go about things like this. Or, if it's just the people in your section of the office in general, go out and pick up a dozen bagels from dunkin donuts or someplace like that, and bring them with you in the morning.



                        In Philadelphia, it's generally soft pretzels, but the idea is the same.






                        share|improve this answer




















                        • With cream cheese. And preferably tomorrow, thanks. I like the ones with everything on them. ;-)
                          – David Navarre
                          Aug 2 '12 at 21:27












                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote









                        Say it in person. That's generally the best way to go about things like this. Or, if it's just the people in your section of the office in general, go out and pick up a dozen bagels from dunkin donuts or someplace like that, and bring them with you in the morning.



                        In Philadelphia, it's generally soft pretzels, but the idea is the same.






                        share|improve this answer












                        Say it in person. That's generally the best way to go about things like this. Or, if it's just the people in your section of the office in general, go out and pick up a dozen bagels from dunkin donuts or someplace like that, and bring them with you in the morning.



                        In Philadelphia, it's generally soft pretzels, but the idea is the same.







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered Aug 2 '12 at 13:35









                        acolyte

                        3,0531632




                        3,0531632











                        • With cream cheese. And preferably tomorrow, thanks. I like the ones with everything on them. ;-)
                          – David Navarre
                          Aug 2 '12 at 21:27
















                        • With cream cheese. And preferably tomorrow, thanks. I like the ones with everything on them. ;-)
                          – David Navarre
                          Aug 2 '12 at 21:27















                        With cream cheese. And preferably tomorrow, thanks. I like the ones with everything on them. ;-)
                        – David Navarre
                        Aug 2 '12 at 21:27




                        With cream cheese. And preferably tomorrow, thanks. I like the ones with everything on them. ;-)
                        – David Navarre
                        Aug 2 '12 at 21:27










                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he tied up on a critical task. When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.



                        Be a pal and send him the email, so that he can read it whenever it's convenient to him i.e. uninterrupted.






                        share|improve this answer


















                        • 2




                          .... why? This doesn't even attempt to give any justification for "why" you should do this.
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:37






                        • 1




                          Re-read the first sentence of my long, boring two-sentence post: "He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he is tied up on a critical task" If you still don't understand the justification, don't come back to me.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:42







                        • 2




                          I have no idea what that means nor how it answers the "why."
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:43






                        • 1




                          When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:44















                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he tied up on a critical task. When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.



                        Be a pal and send him the email, so that he can read it whenever it's convenient to him i.e. uninterrupted.






                        share|improve this answer


















                        • 2




                          .... why? This doesn't even attempt to give any justification for "why" you should do this.
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:37






                        • 1




                          Re-read the first sentence of my long, boring two-sentence post: "He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he is tied up on a critical task" If you still don't understand the justification, don't come back to me.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:42







                        • 2




                          I have no idea what that means nor how it answers the "why."
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:43






                        • 1




                          When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:44













                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote









                        He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he tied up on a critical task. When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.



                        Be a pal and send him the email, so that he can read it whenever it's convenient to him i.e. uninterrupted.






                        share|improve this answer














                        He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he tied up on a critical task. When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.



                        Be a pal and send him the email, so that he can read it whenever it's convenient to him i.e. uninterrupted.







                        share|improve this answer














                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer








                        edited Mar 24 '14 at 15:49









                        Elysian Fields♦

                        96.9k46292449




                        96.9k46292449










                        answered Mar 23 '14 at 16:03









                        Vietnhi Phuvan

                        68.9k7118254




                        68.9k7118254







                        • 2




                          .... why? This doesn't even attempt to give any justification for "why" you should do this.
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:37






                        • 1




                          Re-read the first sentence of my long, boring two-sentence post: "He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he is tied up on a critical task" If you still don't understand the justification, don't come back to me.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:42







                        • 2




                          I have no idea what that means nor how it answers the "why."
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:43






                        • 1




                          When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:44













                        • 2




                          .... why? This doesn't even attempt to give any justification for "why" you should do this.
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:37






                        • 1




                          Re-read the first sentence of my long, boring two-sentence post: "He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he is tied up on a critical task" If you still don't understand the justification, don't come back to me.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:42







                        • 2




                          I have no idea what that means nor how it answers the "why."
                          – Elysian Fields♦
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:43






                        • 1




                          When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.
                          – Vietnhi Phuvan
                          Mar 24 '14 at 15:44








                        2




                        2




                        .... why? This doesn't even attempt to give any justification for "why" you should do this.
                        – Elysian Fields♦
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:37




                        .... why? This doesn't even attempt to give any justification for "why" you should do this.
                        – Elysian Fields♦
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:37




                        1




                        1




                        Re-read the first sentence of my long, boring two-sentence post: "He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he is tied up on a critical task" If you still don't understand the justification, don't come back to me.
                        – Vietnhi Phuvan
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:42





                        Re-read the first sentence of my long, boring two-sentence post: "He is two steps away but he might as well be two million miles away if he is tied up on a critical task" If you still don't understand the justification, don't come back to me.
                        – Vietnhi Phuvan
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:42





                        2




                        2




                        I have no idea what that means nor how it answers the "why."
                        – Elysian Fields♦
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:43




                        I have no idea what that means nor how it answers the "why."
                        – Elysian Fields♦
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:43




                        1




                        1




                        When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.
                        – Vietnhi Phuvan
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:44





                        When somebody is tied up on a critical task, the last thing you want to do is interrupt his train of thought, even to say "thank you" - I don't want to be interrupted either.
                        – Vietnhi Phuvan
                        Mar 24 '14 at 15:44











                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        For simple tasks, a "thank you" or "thanks" after the info should be enough. To some degree this is expected of them. But if someone really goes out of his/her way to help you out and you feel you want to acknowledge that, then I would try to do a public thanks.



                        For example; If you have a team/department meeting, you might ask to say something and thank everyone for helping you get settled "... and especially thanks to X who took the time to help me understand system Y, without you I would have been lost. Thanks".



                        This way others, presumably including his boss, will hear how helpful he has been.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          For simple tasks, a "thank you" or "thanks" after the info should be enough. To some degree this is expected of them. But if someone really goes out of his/her way to help you out and you feel you want to acknowledge that, then I would try to do a public thanks.



                          For example; If you have a team/department meeting, you might ask to say something and thank everyone for helping you get settled "... and especially thanks to X who took the time to help me understand system Y, without you I would have been lost. Thanks".



                          This way others, presumably including his boss, will hear how helpful he has been.






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            For simple tasks, a "thank you" or "thanks" after the info should be enough. To some degree this is expected of them. But if someone really goes out of his/her way to help you out and you feel you want to acknowledge that, then I would try to do a public thanks.



                            For example; If you have a team/department meeting, you might ask to say something and thank everyone for helping you get settled "... and especially thanks to X who took the time to help me understand system Y, without you I would have been lost. Thanks".



                            This way others, presumably including his boss, will hear how helpful he has been.






                            share|improve this answer












                            For simple tasks, a "thank you" or "thanks" after the info should be enough. To some degree this is expected of them. But if someone really goes out of his/her way to help you out and you feel you want to acknowledge that, then I would try to do a public thanks.



                            For example; If you have a team/department meeting, you might ask to say something and thank everyone for helping you get settled "... and especially thanks to X who took the time to help me understand system Y, without you I would have been lost. Thanks".



                            This way others, presumably including his boss, will hear how helpful he has been.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Mar 25 '14 at 9:15









                            Fredrik

                            4,33521429




                            4,33521429






















                                 

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