In the workplace, gratitude is more than just good manners—it’s a cornerstone of a healthy, thriving team culture. Taking the time to thank your colleagues can build stronger relationships, boost morale, and foster collaboration. 

Expressing and receiving gratitude has been linked to better emotional health. It reduces stress, increases happiness, and builds resilience. A simple thank-you can brighten someone’s day and improve overall workplace morale.

However, unless you craft a personal and heartfelt message, the thank-you card can be left feeling like an empty gesture. 

Handwritten messages have a more genuine and lasting impact

Including your message in a handwritten card,  really does have a lasting impact.  Unlike an email,  which can be read  but then quickly forgotten,  a thank you card will sit on your colleague's desk or fireplace at home for a week or two.  It's a real tangible reminder that you appreciate them. 

It also means that others in the office can see they've received a card and may ask them what it's for.  This can all help to contribute towards a positive workplace culture of support and appreciation.

Writing such messages doesn't come naturally to everyone, so in this guide you'll find 50 example thank you messages to inspire you.

50 Example Thank-You Messages for Colleagues

Here are some examples of genuine thank-you messages that you can adapt if you plan to send someone a message to let them know how appreciated they are.

For General Help and Support

1. Thank you for always being there when I need help. Your support means a lot to me  because [ Add an explanation of how the support your colleague gives you helps you in a practical way].
2. I really appreciate your guidance on the project—it made all the difference  because [ an explanation of how your colleagues input made the difference. For example did it make you see things from a different perspective;  save time;  or reduce costs].
3. Thanks for stepping in and helping me meet the deadline. You’re a lifesaver! [ Explain why it was important for you to meet the deadline,  and how this helped you either in a work capacity, or to balance work and home life.]
4. I’m so grateful for the way you explain things clearly and patiently. [ Explain how it makes you feel when you truly understand a problem or a concept,  because of the way your colleague has explained it to you,  and how and how this helps you to move forward]
5. Thank you for lending an ear when I needed to talk [ Explain how you felt after you had spoken to your colleague,  and how this improved your day,  or even your week].

For Teamwork

1. Working with you on this project was a fantastic experience—your ideas were brilliant! [ Highlight one concept or idea that you were really blown away by.  This will help to demonstrate that you truly notice the input your coworker has made]
2. I appreciate how you always collaborate with a positive attitude.  It's really infectious and lifts everybody's spirits.
3. Thanks for making teamwork so seamless. You’re an amazing team player and role model to us all, especially the junior team members who have told me in the past that they really look up to you.
4. Your contributions to the client meeting last week were invaluable because  without you we wouldn't have realised that [ add an explanation of what your colleague bought to the table]. Thank you for sharing your insights.
5. Thank you for being such a reliable partner. I couldn’t ask for a better teammate.  I know if you say you're going to do something that it will get delivered.

For Going Above and Beyond

1. Thanks for going the extra mile to make sure the presentation was perfect. I could tell that people were particularly impressed when you spoke so passionately about…
2. Your dedication is truly inspiring—thank you for staying late to help wrap things up last week. It meant I could get home that bit earlier too, in time for my sons school concert. That meant a lot to me.
3. I really appreciate how you took the lead on the project. Your hard work didn’t go unnoticed by me, and you deserve the credit for its success.
4. Thank you for handling the difficult situation we faced in the team so gracefully—it’s clear you always give your best  and care about people's feelings.
5. I’m grateful for the extra effort you put into making the event a success.  The feedback we've had has been so positive, and this is thanks to your contribution.

For Mentorship and Guidance

1. Thank you for being such a great mentor. Your advice has helped me grow so much [include an example of an action you took forward that you might not have otherwise done, such as applying for a promotion, or speaking up at a meeting]. 
2. I appreciate all the time you’ve invested in helping me learn new skills [ Be specific about the skills your colleague has taken the time to show you].  This is going to save me lots of time in the future.
3. Thank you for your constructive feedback—it’s helping me improve all the time, especially in relation to the way I [put your own genuine example here].
4. Your encouragement and wisdom mean so much to me. Thanks for believing in me, it gives me confidence to speak up in meetings.
5. I’m so grateful for the opportunities you’ve given me to develop my career. Without you…[insert your own genuine example].

For Administrative or Behind-the-Scenes Work

1. Thank you for keeping everything organized—it makes my job so much easier. I no longer spend time hunting for the latest versions of documents since you put the new system in place - So much better!
2. I appreciate all the effort you put into coordinating schedules. You always make sure I have time for breaks, travel, and personal development which makes me feel valued. Thank you [insert recipients first name].
3. Thanks for always being one step ahead and keeping the team on track. It meant you were able to spot the clash in client meetings which would have been difficult to manage. You really prevented an own goal!
4. Your attention to detail is amaze. Thank you for ensuring everything runs smothly :-) 
5. I’m so thankful for all the little things you do that make a big difference in the office. The plants you've brought in and water each week really make the office a nice place to come into. Visitors often comment on how nice they are.

For Acts of Kindness

1. Thank you for covering for me when I was out—it means a lot to know I can count on you. Let me know how I can return the favour.
2. I really appreciate the thoughtful gesture when you [insert your example] —it brightened my day when I needed support.
3. Thanks for checking in on me during a busy week. It shows how much you care about your colleagues and sets a great example to everyone.
4. Thank you for surprising me with coffee! You made a tough day that much more bearable. I owe you!
5. I’m so grateful for your kindness and generosity. Taking the time to listen to me when I was feeling anxious helped me so much.

For Leadership and Inspiration

1. Thank you for leading our team with such confidence and vision. Although the future direction is unclear, you've kept the team informed all the way through.
2. I really appreciate how you inspire us to be our best every day. Thanks for putting me forward to  pitch my idea to the project team.
3. Your leadership during the project was outstanding—thank you for guiding us so effectively. I've learn a lot by watching how you handled some of the hurdles we encountered. You are an inspiration.
4. Thanks for being an approachable and understanding leader. I know that the team really value your management style.
5. I’m so grateful for your ability to motivate the team, even during tough times. Your enthusiasm during [insert your own example] was infectious.

For Celebrations and Milestones

1. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful celebration—it was unforgettable for me because [insert your personal reason here].
2. I appreciate how you always make birthdays and milestones special for everyone in the office. Now it's our turn to celebrate you!
3. Thanks for making the team feel valued with thoughtful gestures like arranging today’s lunch. Without your organisation skills, it simply wouldn't happen.
4. I’m grateful for your creativity and effort in making every event a success. I overheard a great comment from someone who attended: [add personalised feedback quote here].
5. Thank you for remembering the little details that make a big impact. At our last team meetimg I really noticed how you…[add a personal observation here].

For Specific Projects or Tasks

1. Thank you for the outstanding work you did on the report—it was top-notch. I was particularly impressed by the way you [highlight something specific here to show you've paid attention to the work].
2. I appreciate how you handled the client presentation so professionally.
3. Thanks for completing the project ahead of schedule. You’re amazing!
4. Your problem-solving skills really shone through on this task. Thank you for that.
5. Thank you for managing the logistics so seamlessly—it made everything easier for the team.

For Encouragement

1. Thank you for always believing in me and cheering me on.
2. I really appreciate your kind words during a stressful time.
3. Thanks for reminding me that I’m capable when I was feeling uncertain.
4. Your encouragement helped me push through a tough day. Thank you so much.
5. I’m grateful for your positivity—it’s contagious and uplifting!

Crafting your own thank you message

If writing personalised messages doesn't come naturally to you, simply stick to the four rules below and you won't go far wrong.

Be specific about the ‘why’ in your thank you message

Mention exactly what your colleague did and why it mattered to you or the team. Being specific about what you are thankful for proves that you were paying attention and truly value their contribution.

For example, instead of just saying “thank you for helping me with all the work we had to do last month”, explain why this mattered. You might include something along the lines of “ Thank you for helping me with all the work we had to do last month,  there's no way I could have got through that much on my own.  Having you help me out meant that I could leave work early on Tuesday to go to my son's concert after school”. 

Acknowledge the effort your co-worker made

Recognize the time, energy, or expertise your colleague put into their work. This acknowledgment reinforces the importance of their contribution. You might include something along the lines of “Thank you for the suggestions you put forward at the meeting last week. The background information you gave us about how the technology works  in practice really helped us to make a  more  informed decision.  I don't think we'd have reached the same conclusion without your input.  I'm really looking forward to taking this forward with you.”

Mention how they went about their work, not just what they did

Don't just focus on what your colleague did, also mention the way they went about it - their personality, attitude, or respect for others.  You might include something along the lines of “I really appreciated your positive attitude when we were up against it last week.  You always find a way of making the team smile.  Your positivity is infectious, and it makes such a difference to our culture”.

Express Authentic Emotion

Write from the heart. Avoid overly formal or generic phrases. If you’re genuinely grateful, your sincerity will shine through in your words.  Write your message in the same language you would use if you were speaking out loud.  This can really help what you write to sound authentic and heartfelt.

Key takeaways

Saying thank you to colleagues is more than just good etiquette—it’s a way to nurture relationships, enhance team spirit, and create a supportive work culture.

By focusing on sincerity, specificity, and personalization, your thank-you messages can leave a lasting impression. Taking the time to send them a handwritten thank you card, to expressing gratitude is a small gesture that can have a big impact.

Next time a colleague lends a hand, shares an insight, or simply brightens your day, don’t hesitate to let them know how much you appreciate them!