Having a great boss or manager can be a wonderful experience. So take a few minutes to write your boss a thank you note message to show your appreciation today!
Sometimes we can forget that the bosses are people too. Showing them gratitude can make you feel happier, too, according to Harvard.
This guide will help you write a thank you note to your boss without making thank you note mistakes.
Usually, you will put your thank you message into an email to your boss. However, you could give your boss a handwritten thank you note card. I only recommend a handwritten note if you can hand the card to your boss or leave it on their desk (asking for their address is not professional).
Note: This post contains affiliate links. By using my links, I (Heidi) will receive a commission.
Thanking Your Boss
I’ve written many articles about thanking your boss for specific reasons, each containing thank you message examples for that situation.
Following this list will be tips and a thank you note to a boss template. Then there will be some general appreciation messages for the boss. Then there will be more examples grouped by themes. Also, At the end of this post is a full-length thank you letter to a boss example.
- Thank you note to the boss for gifts
- For a cash gift, read the thank your boss for the cash section in the Thank you for money guide.
- Thank you for the promotion
- Thank you messages for appreciation FROM boss
- On Boss’s Day (celebrated on October 16 or the closest working day).
- Thank the boss for a team lunch
- Thank the boss for lunch with only you
- Thank your boss for a raise
- Thank your boss for a bonus
- Farewell messages when leaving a job
- To thank your boss after a funeral, please see the coworker examples in the thank you messages after funeral guide.
- To thank your boss for a holiday party, see the examples at the end of the thank you for the Christmas party thank you post.
- Retirement thank you messages for the retiring boss.
- Thank You for your Guidance and Support Messages For The Boss.
Writing A Thank You Message To Boss Tips
Here are some general tips for when you want to thank your boss with a thank you note or thank you email.
- Simple can be okay. If your boss sends you an appreciation email or tells you in person, a simple reply of “Thank You” may be enough. The examples below will be longer messages as I imagine different situations when a boss may express appreciation.
- Don’t compare. Don’t make unfavorable comparisons to other bosses. For example, don’t write, “You are so much better than John as a boss.”
- Compliments are good! As long as you feel they are true to your relationship with your boss, you can include compliments like you’re a great boss, a supportive boss, an amazing boss, etc.
- Be specific. The examples below are based on hypothetical situations, so if you can be more specific, your note may be perceived as better (you can also review my 9 tips for writing a better thank-you note.
- Spelling Matters. Be sure to spell your boss’s name correctly. Is it John or Jon?
- Read them all. Read through all of the examples for inspiration. If you are copying and pasting into an email, you could combine bits for different examples. Words like project, process, program, or position could be replaced with what is relevant to your situation.
- Email or Hand-deliver. It’s not appropriate etiquette in most workplaces to ask your boss for their home address. Write your message in an email, or if you are writing a handwritten note, hand the boss the notecard or leave it on their desk.
- Free PDF Cards. If you want a quick, printable card for a handwritten note, there are some thank your boss printable cards here.
- Check your grammar. For perfect grammar, you can check your message in a tool like Grammarly. Click here to sign up for Grammarly for free (affiliate link).
Related: Don’t Make These 5 Dumb Mistakes When Thanking Your Boss
Thank You Note to your Boss Template
Your thank-you note or letter to the boss can follow the below format. You may also want to read How to write a thank-you note in 5 easy steps.
[Boss’s Name],
Thank you for help (or another reason you are thanking the boss). Then write 1-3 sentences about why, how, or what you learned, etc. You can also compliment your boss (ex. You’re a great boss).
Thanks again! (other closings could be Sincerely, Kind regards, etc.)
[Your Name]
Note: With so many things that you could be thanking your boss for (help, supporting, mentoring, anniversary wishes, opportunity, raise, etc.), Please read through the example messages for wording ideas as the wording is the challenging part of writing a thank you message.
The examples below are for the center section (the 2-4 sentences). Replace words in [brackets] as appropriate for your situation. Of course, you’ll still want to include the greeting, closing, and your name in your thank you note or email.
Thank You Message To Boss Examples
Read through some general thank you messages for a boss. Boss and manager can be switched out as needed for your thank you note.
#1 Thank you for being such a great boss. You are a true leader. I’ve learned many valuable lessons from you this year. The way you encourage everyone on the team is an excellent example. I feel that it is an honor to work on your team.
#2 I want to let you know that you a great manager. I see the tough decisions you make daily and have great respect for how you handle difficult situations. Thank you for being so kind and demonstrating the right attitude.
#3 Thank you so much for helping me out last week when I was stuck on the last project. You a wonderful boss for making time to give me extra instructions. I have much appreciation for your enduring support.
#4 You have an amazing ability to finesse tough decisions. I appreciate all that I have learned from you during my professional career. Thank you for giving me guidance as I work to become a manager myself.
#5 You are such a wonderful, caring boss. Thank you for your words of encouragement and support when my mom passed. I feel that you are the most supportive boss ever! I greatly appreciated the extra time off.
#6 The whole department thinks that you are the best! Thank you for being a great leader and providing a wonderful experience here at [company name]. I am delighted that you’ve been my boss for the past five years.
#7 I consider you not only a great boss but a friend as well. Thank you for being such a wonderful boss with excellent leadership abilities. Also, I appreciate your full support as I look to move to another position with the company.
#8 My job life has been awesome with you as my boss. Thank you for creating a positive team environment. The past year has been amazing, and I’ve learned so much from you and the others.
#9 Thank you for helping me out on the client call last week. I was not prepared to answer their difficult questions. I really appreciate your support as I continue to learn everything on this project. You’re the best manager ever!
#10 My time working at [Company Name] has been amazing because of you. You’re an excellent boss, and I appreciate everything that you’ve done for me. I can only hope to be half the person that you are someday.
#11 Thank you for providing me with the best training as a new hire. After only a few months, I can see that you are an excellent boss. I’m so thankful to have been placed on your team. I look forward to learning as much as possible from you.
Thank Your Boss for Help or Support
The examples below will help you say thank you to your boss when you’ve received help or support. And there are examples to thank your boss whose been your mentor.
Related: 50 Thank You For Your Support Messages
#1 I am grateful for your support during the time I was out sick. Your support helped me not to worry. I was able to rest and feel confident that you and the team could do my work that couldn’t wait for my return. Thank you for making sure nothing was missed.
#2 Thanks for all of your support when I needed to be out of the office unexpectedly when my dad had a stroke. Not having to worry about what was happening at work or who would be doing my job was a blessing. You make it easy to feel confident when someone on the team needs to be out, as you always make sure the work gets covered. I am lucky to have you as my manager.
#3 You are an outstanding boss. I was concerned about having to be out on short-term disability. Thank you for your understanding and support. I will be sure to pay it forward someday when given the opportunity.
#4 I want to tell you how much I appreciate the time you’ve spent mentoring me during my first few months on the job. The training classes have been okay, but your extra insights added to my understanding. Because of you, I feel that I got up to speed faster. I look forward to being able to work independently soon and sharing my ideas with the team.
#5 Thank you for being a great mentor! I appreciate all the help you’ve given me with [new skill/project name]. I am also thankful that you have been patient will all my questions as I strive to learn everything I can. You are a wonderful boss!
#6 Thank you for being a great mentor and pushing me to learn new skills. I am appreciative of your time and commitment to helping me grow in my career since my first day. I love your passion for [focus of job] and am glad you are helping shape my professional life. You’re a terrific boss!
#7 I appreciate all the help you’ve given me. Your support and encouragement with this new project have been fantastic as the customer’s expectations have been much higher than anticipated. [Client name] told me last week that the level of service is unlike any they have had previously. While they don’t know how much extra time you’ve been giving to help out, I do! Because of you, we’ve been able to secure the new contract.
#8 Thank you for helping me with [whatever the boss helped with]. I admire your dedication to not only me but the entire team. Our team is better because of your continued involvement.
#9 I am thankful for your support with [whatever/how the boss is supporting you]. I am confident enough to do the process independently next month! I appreciate the valuable skills that I am learning from you.
#10 Thank you for your help and support while I was out recovering from being ill for a few weeks. I am grateful that you could coordinate with the team to get my work covered and not have and that they were not any disruptions with the clients. You are a wonderful boss. I look forward to returning to work on [return date].
Thank your boss for work anniversary wishes
If you’ve made it a year or many years at the same workplace, there is a good chance that your boss will wish you a happy anniversary! The below examples will help you write a thank you message for work anniversary wishes.
#1 Thank you for the anniversary wishes! It was kind of you to recognize my 10th year of working here. I hope for many more successful years!
#2 The certificate for my 15th anniversary is terrific and will look lovely framed. I will display it proudly on my desk. Thank you for organizing the card from the team as well.
#3 Whew! I’ve been on your team now for three years. Thank you for wishing me a happy work anniversary!
#4 I am glad to be on your team! I appreciate the “happy anniversary” for my eight years of working here. It’s been quite a journey, and I’ve learned a great deal. [Company Name] is a good and enjoyable place to work.
#5 Your kinds word about me during the past four years on your team made my day! You are gracious and kind. Thank you for recognizing my work anniversary.
#6 Thank you for wishing me a happy 10th anniversary! The time sure did fly by as I love working here and what I have the privilege to do each day.
#7 I am thankful for your anniversary message! You said such kind things about my work performance. I am happy to be on your team, and you are a great boss.
#8 You are such a thoughtful boss! Thank you for wishing me a happy anniversary!
#9 Wishing me a happy anniversary was a pleasant surprise! I will enjoy the gift card to [restaurant name]. Thank you!
Thank You Note to the Boss for the Opportunity Messages
You can thank your boss for a job opportunity with a thank you message. The examples below could work for your current boss or perhaps for a new boss as well.
Also read: Thank you for the opportunity messages
#1 Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work on [project]. The challenge took me out of my comfort zone. I learned a lot about [topic], and I looked forward to coming to work every day. I am grateful that you choose me for the project.
#2 I am grateful to you for offering me so many opportunities to try out. The variety of positions and tasks are helping me to identify where I went to go next in my career. I appreciated that you didn’t keep me only doing [position] since I was good at it. I am excited to learn and try different types of work as I search for a new role.
#3 You’ve been a wonderful boss! Thank you for alerting me to the new opportunity on the new team that is being formed. As you know, I am looking for a new challenge and look forward to starting on the new team in a couple of weeks. Also, thank you for recommending me to [new team’s boss’s name]. Since I didn’t know her at all, I think your words helped her decide that I am a good fit for the new team.
#4 The conference was amazing last week! Thank you for giving me the chance to go along with [name of the person you went with]. I learned many things just from being on the plane with him! I also made some promising connections at the event.
#5 I am so excited to be able to help with the special project. Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I look forward to utilizing my skills in [program/your skill area] to help the project be a success.
#6 Thank you for looking for opportunities for me among your network of connections. Your recommendation has helped me to be awarded some of the new contract work. I hope to be able to “pay it forward” someday as I build my network.
#7 I enjoyed our lunch meeting last week. Thank you for taking the time to join me and explain the new positions that are coming open on your team. I welcome the opportunity for a change in position with different types of work than I’ve been doing for the past three years.
#8 Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with [person’s name]. I have learned so much from [him/her] during the past few weeks. You were right to partner us together as we’ve worked so well together. The project is more successful with both of our contributions.
#9 I am enjoying the challenges in the new position! Thank you for letting me about the opportunity, as it changed my life. I didn’t know how much I would love this type of work. I appreciate that you encouraged me to give it a try.
Thank You Best Boss Quotes
Note: By naming your boss the “best boss ever,” that implies that every other boss you’ve had wasn’t the best. So, be careful what you say as you never know who else will see the note. And it’s also possible that different bosses can be the “best boss ever” in different ways.
#1 Thank you for being the best boss I’ve ever had. You are great at organizing the team and projects. I also like how you look out for opportunities for not just me but everyone on the team that will help us to grow our skills.
#2 Working for you makes the job feel less like a job. I enjoy working with you and others on the team. Your integrity is admirable, and by far, you are the best boss I have worked with. Thank you for being an awesome, fair, and motivated boss!
#3 You are the best boss ever! Thank you for your ongoing flexibility with my schedule and for letting me work from home whenever I need or want to. Not having to make the long commute every day of the week is nice as I can spend extra time with my family on those days.
#4 Thank you for being an awesome boss! Being on your team is an outstanding experience. I also appreciate that I can come to you with any issues or concerns and know that I can trust you to help solve the issue or direct me to the correct person that can help.
#5 I am grateful to have you as my boss. You’ve been excellent to work for and a good boss. I am thankful that you do not micromanage me or others on the team and trust us to complete the work as needed.
#6 Have I told you lately that you are the best? I feel fortunate to have ended up on your team during the latest reorganization. Your leadership and guidance have proved quite valuable as I have excelled in the position.
#7 I like having you as my boss. You are kind, and friendly, and manage the team well, which makes for a pleasant working environment. Thank you for being awesome!
#8 Thank you for always being so willing to help me. You are the best boss ever! I admire your leadership skills and knowledge of all of the products we work on. And I always appreciate your words of encouragement.
#9 You are amazing! Thank you for being the best boss ever! I will feel fortunate to have been placed on your team. Your management style works well for me.
#10 Thank you for being the best boss. I love working for you and being on your team. I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you for your leadership and guidance.
Thank You Letter to Boss example
Here is a thank you letter to a boss example that thanks the boss for more than one thing. Remember to be genuine in your letter. In most situations, it’s fine to email the letter to your boss.
In your letter, replace Dear Boss with your boss’s actual name, for example, Dear John. And leave off Dear if you are not comfortable using dear in your greeting.
Dear Boss,
I want to thank you for being an excellent boss for so many years. Your leadership and overall support have helped me to do my best work. I appreciate that even on a busy day, you will take the time to help me.
Also, I am grateful for the mentoring you provided me during [Recent Project Name]. The way you explained things helped me understand the purpose of the project and the best way to go about it. Thank you for taking me under your wing.
Because of you, my capabilities have expanded so much. You are a wonderful boss and inspiration. As I take on working with new team members, I will be as encouraging to them as you have been to me.
I look forward to continuing to work with you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]