From time to time, after a big day like Easter or a Friend Day, our staff sit down and wrote hand written thank you notes to everyone who made that Sunday happen (often 100+ thank you notes).

We write, pray, write and pray some more.  It’s a powerful reminder that you aren’t in this alone . . .and its a powerful connection for your people to receive them too.

I recently read this story in the new Tom Peters book (Little Big Things) – he captures the spirit of ‘saying thank you’ perfectly:

“During my brief White House stint in the mid-1970s, I did something similar, spending eight or nine straight hours one New Year’s Eve on my office phone. I called close to 100 people I worked with—in agencies all over Washington and in embassies around the world—to thank them for their help the prior year.

In addition to enjoying the chats, which I did . . ., I admit that I was purposefully engaging in an ADRE…an Act of Deliberate Relationship Enhancement. I’m not suggesting false sincerity here, as I fully buy the argument that ‘If you aren’t sincere, it’ll come through as if you were using a megaphone.’

I nonetheless urge you to develop some similar ritual. Moreover, I urge you to start it in the next couple of weeks, then get into the New Year’s Habit. Think ADRE. Twelve months a year!”

I love the idea of ADRE – an Act of Deliberate Relationship Enhancement.

Now quit reading this blog and go write 3 thank you notes . . . now.  Go!

With thankfulness for you,

Nelson

P.S. I recommended Tom’s book, Little Big Things, in the April Church Leader Insights Newsletter.  Did you get it?  You can subscribe to the Newsletter for free by clicking here.

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.