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Are you ready for Boss’s Day on October 16, 2024? Though it might seem like a frivolous item to add to your agenda, recognizing leaders is important. Studies show that leaders with a strong sense of purpose are nine times likelier to be engaged in their roles. They also bring in 9% more profit when they receive feedback on their strengths. All of this starts with the recognition of a job well done.
When recognition flows both ways — from manager to employee and employee to manager — it reinforces a positive workplace culture, leading to higher retention, productivity, belonging, and engagement. So, whether you want a thoughtful, heartfelt, or quirky message to show your appreciation for your boss’s hard work, we’ve got you covered with 35 ways to say thanks.
When is National Boss’s Day 2024?
National Boss’s Day is on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Boss’s Day is celebrated on this day each year unless it falls on a weekend, in which case, it’s celebrated on the next working day.
What is National Boss’s Day?
National Boss’s Day is a special day to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication that bosses exhibit throughout the year. It is a national holiday that not many people are familiar with, but it is a good idea for companies to know how to celebrate it meaningfully. This one-day event started in the U.S., but recently, other countries, like Canada, Australia, England, and South Africa, have also adopted it.
Why celebrate Boss’s Day?
Recognizing employees on Employee Appreciation Day is crucial, but it’s equally important to show appreciation to your boss. Here’s why:
- It builds a stronger, more positive working relationship
- It expresses gratitude for their hard work and leadership
- It acknowledges their role in mentoring employees both personally and professionally
- An appreciated boss can lead to improved workplace culture
- Openly expressing appreciation can improve communication and feedback
How do you write a Boss’s Day message?
It’s not difficult to write a Boss’s Day message. Here are some pointers to help you get started:
- Make it personal: Your messages shouldn’t sound like another greeting card. Tailor your message to be sincere and authentic.
- Formal vs. informal: Consider your relationship with your boss and adjust your tone to be more formal or informal accordingly.
- Make it specific: Avoid generalities like “thanks for all you do.” Instead, give specific examples on why you appreciate them.
- Highlight contributions: Call out a time when your boss’s action benefited the team.
- Keep it concise: Bosses are busy! One or two paragraphs is more than enough to express your gratitude.
The history of Boss’s Day
National Boss’s Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1958 and was the brainchild of Patricia Bays Haroski, an employee at State Farm Insurance in Deerfield, Illinois. Haroski chose October 16 as the date to honor her boss, who was also her father, and to highlight the often-overlooked appreciation that employees have for their supervisors. She registered the day with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in hopes of fostering better relationships between employees and managers. The observance has grown in popularity over the years, spreading beyond the U.S. to countries like Canada, Australia, England, and South Africa. Today, it serves as an annual reminder to acknowledge the hard work and leadership of bosses, enhancing workplace morale and encouraging a culture of mutual respect and recognition.
35 sample messages for Boss’s Day
Celebrate Boss’s Day beyond just a treat, free coffee, or lunch. To help you kickstart this special occasion, we’ve compiled a list of 35 messages you can use to show your appreciation in a meaningful way. Feel free to use them as they are, tweak them, or mix and match as you see fit.
Messages for bosses that listen
- Your ability to listen without judgement creates a safe space for open and regular communication. I truly appreciate your leadership style.
- I know it’s called Boss’s Day, but that doesn’t quite fit. I think of you as a coach, a mentor, and a leader. Thank you for your constant willingness to listen to my perspective — and to do something about it when you can.
- Thank you for always making time to listen to my feedback. Not only do you do your best to make me feel heard through our regular conversations, but you show you really care by following up and taking action on my feedback.
- One day isn’t enough to recognize the work you put in all year-round. Thank you for always being willing to listen, helping us to meet our goals, and showing us how much you appreciate our efforts — even when things don’t go as planned.
- Whenever I have a down day, I know I can count on your support. Thank you for making me feel like a priority, no matter how busy you are.
- Leaders that truly listen are rare. Thanks for being one of them.
Messages for bosses that motivate
- Thanks for embodying our core values every day with such passion and enthusiasm. Your energy is contagious and inspires both me and our team to put our best foot forward each day.
- You consistently walk the talk in all you do at the workplace. The high standards you set for yourself are an inspiration to our team. Thank you!
- Happy Boss’s Day to a mentor and leader who knows how to keep us inspired!
- You are more than a boss. You challenge us to think bigger, step outside our comfort zones, and take smart risks to reach our full potential. That makes you a leader, and we appreciate everything you do.
- I have heard it said that average leaders raise the bar on themselves, good leaders raise the bar for others, and great leaders inspire others to raise their own bar. You are clearly a great leader, because you have motivated me to raise my own bar again and again. Thank you.
Messages for bosses that sets clear expectations
- Your clear direction and guidance allow us to work independently with confidence. Thank you for placing that trust on us to do the best work possible!
- Having a clear understanding of our roles and objectives makes all the difference. Thanks for your leadership!
- I especially appreciate your willingness to revisit goals and adapt as needed. It fosters a sense of flexibility and collaboration that’s much appreciated.
- Your ability to break down complex business needs into actionable steps is an incredible gift. It allows us to be more efficient and effective at doing our jobs well.
Messages for bosses that appreciate their employees
- It’s said that a good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, and a little less than his share of the credit. I’ve noticed that you live this every day. Thank you for being my biggest fan!
- You always make it a point to recognize my efforts. It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity to recognize yours. Thank you for your constant support and leadership.
- Thank you for making it a priority to recognize my contributions every day. I appreciate the hard work and dedication you put into our team’s success.
- Thank you for always sharing words of appreciation and being a recognition champion for me and the team. Your support means the world.
- I’m always motivated to go the extra mile because I know you appreciate my work. Thank you for putting a priority on recognizing my efforts each day. I’m grateful for your consistent and ongoing support.
- I’m grateful to work for a boss who always recognizes and celebrates the team’s wins — big or small. You make it a pleasure to come in and give my best effort each day. Thank you!
Messages for bosses that are mentors
- Thanks for taking the extra time and effort to advise, guide, and grow me as a professional. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for your mentorship.
- I truly appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and experience. It’s made a real difference in my development.
- Thanks for always believing in me. I’m inspired to push myself further and I’m grateful to have you as a mentor.
- Your mentorship has helped me discover new strengths and navigate challenges. Thanks for everything!
Messages for bosses that care
- Peter Drucker said, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right thing.” Thanks for being our leader through even the most complicated situations.
- I know how busy you are, and I appreciate that you’re never too busy to provide guidance and support when I need it. Thank you!
- Lots of people complain about work, but you never do. I know how fortunate I am to have a thoughtful, caring leader like you in my corner. Thank you!
- It’s been a challenging year, but you never let it show. Thank you for your calm, thoughtful handling of complicated problems. Your advice, support, and guidance has helped us thrive, no matter what obstacles came our way.
- I know we can sometimes be a tough team, but somehow you make managing us look effortless! Thanks for sticking with us through thick and thin — we know we can count on you.
And finally, messages to bosses that are a bit fun
- Happy Boss’s Day to someone who does the job no one else wants — managing me!
- Sorry I was late — I stopped to buy you this beautiful Boss’s Day card!
- Happy Boss’s Day to a person I would speak to even if you didn’t sign my paychecks!
- In honor of Boss’s Day, I think you should declare a half-day for the whole office!
- Thanks for answering my endless questions! You are better than Google!
Send your boss an appreciation card
With 35 heartfelt messages at your fingertips, expressing appreciation to your boss on National Boss’s Day 2024 is a breeze. And to make it even simpler, you can use our Appreciation Card tool.
Simply pick a message from above, personalize it if you like, and send it directly to your boss’s inbox as a digital card. It’s a quick and heartfelt way to celebrate Boss’s Day.
Whether it’s recognizing your boss or your peers, the Achievers recognition platform makes recognition easy whether you’re in-office, remote, or on-the-go. With the highest active usage in the industry, users of the Achievers platform are four times more likely to recognize multiple times per month compared to other providers. We’ve partnered with over 500 companies across nearly 190 countries to build a culture of recognition in the workplace, and we’d love to partner with you too.
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