Show gratitude with “Thank you for your leadership and vision” message examples

A great boss is a valuable asset. 

If you’re lucky enough to have a strong leader at the helm of your team, showing heartfelt gratitude with a card or message gives them the appreciation they deserve.

Kind words can go a long way to uplift someone’s mood. And while employees are often on the receiving end of kudos for their performance, bosses might miss out on the same appreciation. But a great leader deserves thanks for their hard work. They’re the team’s backbone and support everyone, every day.

Writing an effective “Thank you for your leadership and vision” message lets you show your boss, manager, or mentor how much you value their contribution to your career — and your life.

The importance of thanking your boss or mentor

Receiving gratitude in the workplace feels good, no matter who you are. And that’s especially true when you work long hours and feel burnt out — two common side effects of being in a leadership role. 

It’s easy to take a great leader for granted and forget to tell them how much you care. In a 2018 study, nearly 50% of unappreciated employees said they no longer cared about doing great work, while only 16% of appreciated workers said the same. Giving the people around you words of encouragement helps them stay motivated and perform. And when your leader does their job well, you’ll learn and achieve more together.

On a similar note, almost 80% of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving. If your leader doesn’t feel like their actions have value, they may be more likely to quit. Showing gratitude towards a great leader helps them see their impact and the exact reasons why they’re an important part of your team. If you work well together, you want them to stay — so tell them.

And besides the impact saying “Thank you” has on your boss, expressing gratitude positively impacts your own psychology. According to a report from Harvard Health, showing gratitude supports greater happiness. When you pinpoint the things that bring you joy, you’re even more likely to find the joy in them. And that benefits everyone.

3 tips for saying thank you to a boss or mentor

Knowing how to properly thank someone isn’t always easy, especially if you’re unsure what’s work-appropriate. If you’re writing a thank you letter to a boss or mentor, your praise should be professional and focus on their strengths. Here are some more tips:

1. Express gratitude

Whether you’re writing a message alone or as a team, the most important part of your thank you letter is to express gratitude. Let your positive comments be the bulk of the text. Be sincere and allow your feelings to shine through. 

2. Give examples 

Include examples of situations that your boss or mentor helped with. This provides insight into how their actions make a difference and gives them a sense of accomplishment. You can write down some stories from specific company projects or personal achievements you’ve made under their guidance. 

3. Include the context

To make your message more meaningful, reflect on how the examples above taught you something new or aided your day-to-day responsibilities. Explain why their actions were so impactful. Mention specific roadblocks you’ve surpassed together and how their positive traits inspired you not just in those moments, but in general.

Crafting effective appreciation messages

Showing thanks is a valuable skill, and doing it well takes time and thoughtfulness. Finding inspiration from thank you message examples makes it easier to gather your ideas and create a meaningful one of your own. 

Here are examples of “Thank you for your leadership and vision” messages to express your gratitude professionally. Fill in the blanks or use them as inspiration for drafting your own letter. You can adjust them depending on the reason for sending — whether it’s just because, after an important project, or when they’re moving on to a new opportunity. 

Thank you phrases to a great boss from you

When the message comes from you alone, you can include examples of how their leadership style has personally influenced your career and life. Here are 10 examples:

1. Having you as my leader has been exceptionally impactful on my career. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you and learn under your guidance. 
2. Thank you for being such a great leader. The way you lead our team is admirable and constantly inspires me to do great work. I know that under your supervision, I’ll continue to grow in my career.
3. Working under your leadership has shaped my career in numerous ways. I’ve learned how to [skill you’ve learned] and [skill you’ve learned], and I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for your guidance and constant support. 
4. Thank you for your outstanding leadership. The way you handle problems as they arise and find practical solutions with ease is inspiring. I’m grateful to have you as an example and for your guidance in shaping my career. 
5. The [project’s name] has been one of my most valuable career experiences. Thank you for trusting me to participate in such an important project and providing your guidance along the way. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me feel like a valuable part of the team. 
6. Thank you for being an amazing leader. You lead with humility and are a true inspiration. I value working under your direction, and I’ve seen my leadership skills grow thanks to your guidance and commitment.
7. You’re knowledgeable, decisive, and resilient, and I couldn’t imagine someone else leading this department. Thank you for offering your continuous support and bringing out the best work of my career. 
8. Thank you for your guidance throughout [project’s name]. You motivated me when challenges arose and gave me the encouragement I needed. Without your help, I know it wouldn’t have been such a success. Thank you for being such a great leader.
9. Thank you for your leadership and for making me feel like a valued employee. You make my work feel integral to the team’s success and make me proud to come to work each day and do my best. 
10. Your leadership and vision are incredibly appreciated. Thank you for making my ideas feel valued and encouraging me to step outside the box and get creative. I’m thankful to be a part of this team and contribute to the company’s overall success. 

Thank you phrases to your boss from the team

If you’re part of a team, maybe you’ve received a team thank you letter or email from your boss for all of your good work. Now it’s your turn to return the favor and show your words of appreciation.

Messages of gratitude from a team should be broad yet meaningful so they apply to everyone’s experience. Ensure the message’s content is something your whole team can get on board for. Include your boss’s contribution to a larger project’s success or how they positively impact the team as a whole — not just an independent experience. 

Here are 10 examples of thank you letters to a boss from an entire team:

1. Thank you for being an exceptional leader and inspiring every team member to do their best. We appreciate having you as our boss and your constant support as we grow together.
2. Thank you for fostering a work environment where we feel valued for and encouraged to do our best. You inspire us to learn from our mistakes and push our limits. We are forever grateful for your leadership. 
3. You’ve made it your mission to ensure each team member reaches their full potential, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. We see your tremendous efforts and appreciate your commitment to our growth. Thank you for your leadership and belief in us all.
4. Thank you for being an amazing boss. Your role as our leader has brought out the best in all of us. Your dedication is immensely appreciated as we strive to [name one thing your team aims to accomplish].
5. This quarter has been challenging, and we couldn’t have accomplished what we have without your leadership. Thank you for leading with resilience and always having our best interests at heart. We appreciate all that you do to help us reach our goals. 
6. We want to let you know that your hard work and determination don’t go unnoticed. We value the time you take out of your day to provide us with guidance and encouragement. Thank you for your leadership and for bringing us closer together as a team.
7. We wanted to send you our appreciation and thank you for being such a great leader throughout [project’s name]. Even when challenges arose, you never gave up and ensured the team stayed motivated. We couldn’t have done it without you as our leader.
8. We’re lucky to have you as our leader. No matter the project, you steer our team to success and teach us valuable lessons along the way. Thank you for being so committed to our growth and leading us with humility.
9. We want to thank you for everything you do for the whole department. You’re such a supportive boss and bring out the best work in each of us. Thank you for leading with empathy and taking the time to hear our ideas.
10. It’s a great pleasure to work in an environment where everyone’s opinions and ideas are valued. We sincerely appreciate your outstanding leadership and are grateful to be a part of your team. 

Thank you phrases for a mentor 

If you’re lucky enough to have a mentor, you’ve probably seen their positive impact on your career and life in dozens of ways. The mentor-mentee relationship has endless value.

Whether your mentor helps you build confidence, provides advice, or leads you to new job opportunities, they deserve proper thanks. Here are 10 thank you message examples:

1. Thank you for your advice on tackling [explain your work situation]. Your lesson on [explain the lesson they gave you] helped me to [explain how their lesson influenced how you handled a situation]. For this, I’m incredibly grateful to you. 
2. Thank you for providing me with guidance throughout my career transition. The resources you provided helped me understand my work goals better and create actionable steps for my next moves. Your mentorship gives me the confidence to succeed no matter what comes my way. 
3. Thank you for being an inspiring mentor and helping me unlock my potential. Your advice and valuable insight have helped me greatly whenever I felt imposter syndrome about myself or my career. I’ve learned to believe in myself more and found a position that matches me perfectly.
4. Before your mentorship, I felt lost in my career and unsure of my skills and capabilities. Thank you for helping me see my potential and guidance in finding a job that best suits my personality. The lessons you’ve taught me will stick with me throughout my career.
5. Thank you to an outstanding mentor and friend. I appreciate all of the lessons you’ve shared and the advice you’ve given me. You’ve helped me to gain the confidence I needed to set goals and the knowledge to achieve them. You have shaped my professional success in many ways, and I thank you for your continued support. 
6. Thank you for guiding the trajectory of my career. I will forever be grateful for the advice you’ve given me throughout the years we’ve known each other. You’ve taught me how to turn my mistakes into lessons and that no matter how far I come, there’s always room for improvement. 
7. I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to you for being a great mentor and person. I appreciate your commitment to my success and the valuable lessons you’ve taught me. You helped guide me through many difficult decisions in my career, and I couldn’t have reached my full potential without you. 
8. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor. I value your insight and advice, and every time we meet, I learn something new. You’ve shaped who I am and given me the guidance necessary to achieve more in my career than I thought possible.
9. Thank you for always encouraging me to put my best foot forward. No matter what situation arises, I remember your advice to [explain the advice they gave you]. It helps me to [explain how the advice helps you]. Without you, I couldn’t [explain a personal accomplishment].
10. Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a leader who guides others instead of directs them. I’ve taken all of the advice you’ve given me throughout my career and finally feel like I’ve become a great leader. I attribute much of my success to you.

Show your gratitude

A good leader makes you a better person. They’re more than a boss or mentor — they’re a role model who you can look up to. 

A thank you for your leadership and vision message is a great way to give gratitude to an exceptional leader. It shows your boss or mentor appreciation for their hard work and makes you reflect on their positive impact on your career and life. Even a short message can make their day.