How to thank your boss.
 

I'm coming up on 18 months at my job. I'm basically a career changer, getting my start in software development at the ripe old age of 45.

My boss made it happen. He gave me the time and space to develop. He defended me when things didn't go as well as they could have. He also have given oceans of damn good advice.

I want to write him a note and let him know I appreciate what he has done for me, basically a long form of the paragraph above. Any thought on things I shouldn't say?

Any input appreciated.

I love you, man.....

Ya, don't say that!

I try to leave "fookin' A!" off most professional correspondence.

Seriously, skip the note and take your boss to lunch. Say it in person. A note is too impersonal.

Take him to lunch and thank him in person and send him a letter afterward. He will read and re-read the letter many many times.

He will appreciate both.

A simple card and his favorite cigar if he indulges.

The note can say,

"All it takes to change someone's life is believing in them. Thanks for believing in me."

Two words. "Knee pads".

A wise old(er) colleague once told me "People will forget what you say but they will always remember how you made them feel"

I think lunch is a great idea to show your appreciation

just keep doing a kickass job. make him not regret his decision..

Erotic booby cake, delivered to work. trust me

please stop. please stop now.

my coffee is really piping hot now. you almost got me..hahaha..

I understand the impulse, but don't send him a note or buy him anything. It is awkward for the boss to receive anything like that. All the boss wants is to see you are happy and continuing to succeed in the position. You just don't give the boss gifts to say thank you for giving me this job. Maybe after work you can buy him a beer if you go to an office happy hour, but nothing more than that.

If you want to say a word of thanks, wait until you are in a meeting on something routine, and at an appropriate moment, say, "Bill, I just want to say how much I appreciate you giving me this opportunity. It made a big difference in my life and I hope to be a contributing member of the team for a long time." He'll appreciate that and it won't be awkward. Don't do anything more.

Easy: A bottle of West Cork single malt Irish Whiskey and put a post it on saying Thanks.

Fully agree, giving your boss a gift is like saying he paid you too much so you're giving some back!

A quick heartfelt thanks is the best way to go.

This

As a boss, I would feel uncomfortable with anything more than a verbal, "I want to thank you for the opportunity and the support. It means a lot to my family and I"

Usually what happens on our crew is that someone will bring in a bunch of food to feed the whole crew. Or their parents come in and want to shake my hand. They want to show their family and friends where they work. It's a pride thing. They take pride in their job and want to show that. It's all the thanks that I could ever want. I think I got one gift other than a thank you card, and that was a coffee mug that says "I am the Boss". I keep that in my bathroom, haha!

Agreed. I had an employee bring me a very expensive bottle of scotch last year which I had to turn down. It wasn't really uncomfortable, but it was unnecessary

So popping out of giant cake at the staff meeting wearing a thong is the wrong approach?

Ummm, not what I would like to hear. "Hope to be a member of the team for a long time," sounds like sucking up and trying to make sure he doesn't get fired. My response would be to wonder what he'd screwed up.

performance...... loyalty...... always look to lighten his load......