Example Thank-You Messages for Your Boss

A thank-you message can be a good way to express your gratitude to a manager you enjoy working with who has impacted your career positively. You can send a n appreciation message for various occasions, be it to thank your boss for a promotion, support for a project or bidding goodbye when you leave the company or during retirement. A customised, handwritten thank you note is meaningful and can leave a good impression.

Related: How to Write a Thank-You Letter for a Mentor (With Tips)

In this article, we explore reasons you may consider sending a letter, offer tips to write a thank-you letter and provide examples you can reference when writing your own.

Why send a thank-you letter?

There are many reasons to send your manager a thank-you letter. Some suitable reasons you may want to draft a note to thank them include:

• Professional growth

• Help in overcoming a challenge

• Expansion of your network

• A bonus or raise

• A promotion

• Guidance and support

• A special opportunity

Related: How to Practice Gratitude While Working Remotely

21 ways to say thank you to your boss

Here are some samples of thank-you messages you can include when writing a letter to your boss:

For a promotion, raise or bonus

Here are some examples of messages you can send to thank your boss for a promotion, raise or bonus:

• "I'm looking forward to bringing my abilities and skills to this new role. I am thankful that you've recognised my work over the past five years and am eager to demonstrate my capability in my new position."

• "Thank you so much for the raise. It's exciting to be recognised for my hard work and dedication this way, and it empowers and encourages me to do my best for the business for many more years to come."

• "I am thrilled by this promotion! This position has been my goal for nearly a decade, so it is beyond amazing that I can finally get here. Thanks for helping me achieve this position, and I will continue working hard to show the confidence and trust you have in me is not unwarranted."

• "Thank you for your generosity during the holiday season. It was a great reminder of our company's belief in generosity and compassion. Your thoughtfulness has encouraged me to continue striving for my best this season and beyond. I will definitely pay this forward with my work."

• "I'm grateful for my recent salary increase. An increment is always nice and especially so with the new year around the corner. I hope you have a great start to the year!"

• "I want to sincerely thank you for this year's raise. I've enjoyed working with you this year and have learned so much from your guidance. I'm proud to be a part of such a hardworking and creative group."

• "I'm reaching out to thank you for promoting me to sales manager. You've been incredibly patient with me, and I've learned a lot from you over these past years. I am eager to work even more closely with you in this new role. I'm confident in my ability to deliver in this position and appreciate your trust in me."

• "Thank you for the opportunity to be the marketing team lead. Your support and mentorship has helped me immensely in being able to secure this position. You've been a great example of what successful leadership looks like, and I can't wait to apply the skills I've picked up from you in this role."

Read more: How To Demonstrate a Strong Work Ethic to Your Employer

For an opportunity

Below is a list of examples of messages you can send your boss to thank them for an opportunity:

• "This trip to Germany has been nothing short of amazing. Thank you for recommending me to the team lead to represent our company on this business trip. I have learned many things which I hope to share with our team. I've also made some promising business connections."

• "Thank you for letting me take on additional duties in the cafe. I know that there were others interested in this too, so I'm appreciative that you've chosen me. I'm looking forward to learning more and growing with the business."

• "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me earlier and explain the new positions opening at our company soon. I feel confident I could be a strong contender for the new managerial position and welcome the opportunity for a change."

• "I wanted to express my gratitude when you chose me to take on the corporate social responsibility project. I know it is a significant project for the company. Thank you for your confidence in me. I'm excited to prove myself and exceed everyone's expectations."

• "I'm reaching out to thank you for connecting me to Amy Ng. We met for a meal, and I'm sure she will be a great mentor as I brush up on my data analysis skills. Thank you for your continuous support in my professional development."

• "I wanted to say thank you for getting me to present at the department meeting last week. Although you knew I was fearful of public speaking, you guided me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I feel like I now have more confidence to speak in front of people."

• "Wow! I can't believe I have been awarded top achiever of the month. It felt incredible to be recognised at today's meeting. I know I couldn't have achieved this without your support and guidance. Thanks for all your help."

Read more: How to Deliver a Farewell Message to a Coworker (With Examples)

For support

Here are messages you can send your boss to thank them for their support:

• "I'm so thankful to have a manager like you. Thank you for being so flexible with my schedule and letting me work remotely during my child's school term."

• "I am blessed to be working with you! You're always listening to feedback. Thanks for allowing me to work on new projects that are in line with my strengths."

• "I am so appreciative of your kind words at today's meeting. Thank you for sharing with me and the team that you're pleased with the work I've done this quarter. It only motivates me to do even better and hit our targets next quarter!"

• "You have always led with respect. I'm proud to have learned this trait from you. Thanks for guiding me professionally and personally."

• "You really know how to bring out the best in us! It can be hard finding a boss who is so understanding, so thank you for always listening to our concerns and making us feel heard."

• "Thank you for your support. Your confidence in me is my biggest motivator."

Read more: How To Write a Formal Farewell Message to Your Boss

Thank-you note format

While there are many styles you can adopt to write your thank you note, it's best to use a traditional format to keep your letter professional and thoughtful. Here's a template that you can use:

Dear [Boss's name],

[Thank you message here. You may want to keep your message short, so a paragraph or two is ideal.]

[Closing],
[Your name]

Read more: Business Letter Formats: Overview and Examples

Tips for writing a thank-you message to your boss

Here are some tips to craft an appreciation message to your boss:

• Be timely. If you're sending a thank-you note related to an event that just happened, such as a celebration of your promotion, you can send the note as soon as possible. Try to send such thank-you notes within two working days so that the person remembers the event well.

• Get to the point. When working on your thank-you letter, select one thing you're most grateful for and make that the focus of the message. Be concise and express your gratitude succinctly.

• Be personal. A successful thank-you note can feel personal and written from the heart. A handwritten note written in the form of a card can come across more genuine and sincere.

• Maintain professionalism. Although you may be adopting a light tone, make sure you write a letter that is polite and respectful. How you write it can vary depending on your relationship with your boss and how close the both of you are.

• Include a complimentary close. A complimentary close is a word or phrase you use to end the letter just before your signature, such as "Best wishes," "Respectfully yours," "With appreciation" or "With sincere thanks."

• Proofread. Take the time to proofread your thank-you note before sending it to your manager. Ensure you write your letter with good grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure so your manager understands your message and intentions.

Related:

• How To Write a Personalised Appreciation Letter

• How To Write a Personal Thank-You Letter