Listicle: Six easy ways to say thanks

Expressing gratitude to others takes a certain kind of noticing. When first meeting someone, it's common to ask about their background. Once you pick up on something that person cares about, showing gratitude can be pretty easy – and fun. Consider these practices.

1 Send a specific thank you note An old-fashioned, handwritten thank you note on nice paper still goes a long way. Be specific, say why you are thanking them, and show them how your conversation made an impact on you.

2 Send something fun Busy people get a lot of inbound communication; if you want to stand out, make your communication stand out. People get fewer handwritten notes than emails, so notes always win. But people get even fewer FedEx packages. So consider a package – or at least something beyond a note.

3 Make an introduction Bringing two people together can be a serendipitous and generous act – that can spawn companies, friendships and even marriages.

4 Offer to help – and deliver At the end of a meeting, ask your colleague if there is any way you can help. For example, if a firm is looking for a new analyst, circulate the job post within your network and pass along interesting candidates.

5 Circle back at a later date For nearly everyone, meetings are forgotten within a few weeks. Consider staying engaged by setting yourself a reminder to do something at a later date.

6 Send a video note Sending a video lets you convey emotion, enthusiasm and context in a quick note. At Able, a tech company committed to helping small businesses around the United States, the cofounders send a thank you video to their customers – whom they literally have to thank for their jobs and a chance to build their company. – Copyright Harvard Business Review 2015