Two Little Words

Most people understand the importance of a well-timed "thank you." But Corporate America is learning that these two little words are also good business.

It turns out that Mom was right, but for more reasons than she knew.

We're referring to all those times in your childhood when she instructed you to say "thank you."

It may have been when someone gave you a gift or a compliment or extended some act of kindness toward you. Your first impulse may have been to enjoy the good thing that had come your way but your mother's words made clear that your first priority should be to thank the other person.

As we said, Mom was right, but not just because uttering those two little words was a matter of politeness. A recently released 10-year study of 200,000 managers and employees revealed that saying "thank you" in the business world results in bigger profits. When people are thanked for what they do, they are more motivated, and often, their productivity improves. This, of course, translates into more dollars. What's more, those leaders who do the thanking often gain competitive advantage in the workplace because others like them and tend to...