Something to doWorking with others
Say what worked
A micro exercise to give quick, specific thanks to someone who helped you recently
Why it’s worth your time
Most people go through their days not knowing when they're really helping. Telling someone exactly what worked, and why, reinforces the help you most need, builds their confidence, and strengthens your working relationship. It's one of the easiest ways to make the world around you a little better.
How to write a specific thank-you at work
You’ll come away with one specific thank-you sent, and a colleague who knows it mattered.
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
- Pick one person who helped you recently.
Someone who clarified something, gave you feedback, removed a bit of friction, or supported you when it counted.
- Write one or two specific sentences.
Say what they did and how it helped. The specific thing and the why are what make it land.
To: someone who helped youHey name, I just wanted to say thank you for specific thing they did. It really helped me with why it mattered. I really appreciate it!
Swap the highlighted parts for your thing. Works on Slack, in email, or said out loud.Tip: If you can't name the specific thing, keep thinking. Specific is the whole point.
- Send it however is natural.
Slack, text, email, or in person. Whatever you'd normally use with them.
- Make it a weekly habit, if you like.
One person, once a week. Knowing you'll write one makes it easier to notice the help in the first place.
Good moments for this: once a weekright after someone helpsat the end of a project
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
Keep going with Truest
Small actions add up. Truest helps you find the next thing worth doing, make the space to do it, and keep a record of your progress. It’s a private place to work on your career, and it’s yours, not your employer’s.
- It actually happensDo it now, and you’ve invested in your career today.
- Part of the check-inThe end-of-day text asks for two scores and a line; this fits in it.
- It’s yours to keepEach thing you do is saved to your private record, there when your next review or job search comes around.
Anything else we can help you with this week?
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
Thanks for everything is nice to hear and easy to forget. Naming the exact thing tells them what to keep doing.
What might make this harder
Keep it to one plain sentence in the channel you already use. Short and specific reads as sincere, not gushing.
Questions people ask
How do I thank a coworker for their help?
Name the specific thing they did and how it helped you, in one or two sentences, and send it the way you'd normally reach them. Specific thanks tend to mean far more than general ones.
What should I write in a thank-you message at work?
What they did, why it mattered to you, and a simple thanks. For example: thank you for walking me through the model, it helped me answer the client without guessing.
Is it unprofessional to thank people too often?
Not when it's specific and sincere. A short note once a week, to someone different each time, tends to build goodwill rather than wear it out.
Should I thank my manager?
Yes, when they've done something that helped. Managers often hear more about problems than about what's working, so specific thanks can be especially useful to them.
Why this works, and where it comes from
Most help at work goes unacknowledged. Not because people are ungrateful, but because a quick thanks feels like enough, or because we assume the other person already knows. Most people have no idea which of the things they do actually help you. They can guess, but they're often wrong.
That's why the specific version matters. Thanks for everything is kind and forgettable. Thanks for walking me through the pricing model, it meant I could answer the client without guessing, tells someone exactly what worked and what it made possible. It's information as much as appreciation, and people tend to do more of what they know is valued.
This is a familiar idea, the thank-you note, sharpened in two ways: name the specific thing, and say why it mattered. That second part is what most thank-yous leave out, and it's often the part the other person remembers. It's one of the few ways to shape your working life that costs almost nothing and asks nothing of anyone.
Done once a week, it also changes what you notice. When you know you'll be writing one of these, you start seeing the small helpful things people do, and your week tends to look a little kinder than it did.
Other simple things to consider
More in Working with others
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An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated September 25, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.