A reader writes:
I’ve a particularly low-stakes query: Is there a solution to say “did you obtain my reward?” that doesn’t come off as aggressively asking to be thanked however as an alternative expresses what I actually need to know, which is, “FedEx/and so forth mentioned it was delivered however was it actually? Or do I would like to analyze?”
My office has a really versatile work-from-home coverage so I don’t essentially see the small staff I handle in individual on a predictable schedule. This was sophisticated this 12 months by me catching a chilly and dealing from dwelling the entire final week earlier than our two-week winter break.
I despatched the identical sort of reward I ship yearly (usually very enthusiastically acquired). I bought emails from the seller that they have been delivered, and just one individual texted to say she acquired it. I waited two days after which despatched texts to the three others to make sure the presents arrived. Everybody responded that they’d and “thanks” and “sorry, I used to be ready to thanks in individual (which might have been in over two weeks at that time). Then I felt like I’d been pushy. I actually simply needed to know if I wanted to analyze a problem!
This has occurred in my private life as nicely. Proper now it has been over a 12 months since attending my buddy’s marriage ceremony and I haven’t acquired a thank-you word for the reward I despatched. I’m questioning he thinks I’m low-cost or unmannered and simply opted out of gifting. I don’t need to ask as a result of a number of years in the past I did ask a buddy a couple of reward greater than a 12 months after his marriage ceremony and I acquired a unexpectedly written thank-you word the following week. I don’t want thanks! I simply have to know you bought it!
I used to be in a position to resolve this with my trouble re: presents for my niblings simply sufficient; I mentioned that it was necessary to me to get a “hey, bought the package deal” textual content, even when it’s not necessary to him to ship one. However I can’t say that to my staff members or when it’s a one-off reward. Am I the one one who worries about this and I simply have to tamp down my anxiousness? Begin gifting in individual?
You aren’t the one one who worries about this, and you might be proper that it’s onerous to navigate with out coming throughout as should you’re fishing for a thank-you.
The simplest solution to keep away from it’s certainly to present the reward in individual, however that’s not all the time doable or sensible.
The subsequent best strategy is to ship a word near the time you count on the reward to reach, saying one thing like, “I despatched you one thing small within the mail — it ought to arrive this week.” That means, they’ll know to let you already know if nothing arrives. In order for you, you possibly can even add, “I’m all the time nervous concerning the mail at the moment of 12 months so please let me know if it doesn’t arrive.” However after that, you don’t have to observe up; you’ve alerted them that it’s coming, and so the half you’re apprehensive about is taken care of.
In fact, it’s nonetheless doable that they may not warn you if the reward doesn’t arrive — as a result of they’re forgetful or they really feel awkward about telling you they didn’t obtain something — however you’ll have taken cheap steps and don’t really want to cowl each doable base. The exception can be if the reward is one thing so useful that it warrants further follow-up — however I’m guessing you’re not sending staff members diamond jewellery or something like that.
Alternately, it’s not that massive of a deal if you wish to simply say, “Hey, did you get the package deal I despatched you?” However because you’re in search of alternate options, these are some.
