Thank You from new tech writer

[McLauchlan, Kevin]

Here's another thing to put in a tickle-file or calendar reminder that
will pop up for you every once in a while:

Give credit.

It's nice that you sent us a thank-you. It makes us all warm and tingly.

Now, when you have created some docs that people actually use, you
probably will have several persons _inside your company_ to thank for
various kinds of assistance at acquiring information, figuring out the
best way(s) to present it, and (especially?) verifying that it's correct
and useful. There might even be a volunteer hand-model if you were
taking photos to illustrate techniques and safety issues.

I suggest two things.
If your docs will be confined to the company premises - viewed and used
by people who work for the same company - then consider including an
acknowledgements section in which you name names. 

If the docs might go outside the company - say, for end-users of your
products (where the company probably doesn't want to publish individual
identifying information), then post a thank-you note on the company
bulletin board or in-house website or wherever employees will see it,
expressing appreciation for the helpful and knowledgeable assistance of
whoever was... well... helpful and knowledgeable on your behalf while
you were compiling the wonderful docs that everybody is now
using/referring to.

This will encourage others, the next time you need to create or update
some material.  It will also be of real benefit to some (if not all)
co-workers who are singled out in writing (see below).

If your company is "not that kind of place", then send private e-mails,
commending each deserving person to their immediate supervisor(s) and to
at least one manager higher up the chain (include a CC to Human
Resources).  This will likely go into the employee's file and will
likely help her/him at her/his next evaluation. If the shop is
unionized, the written accolades in the personnel file will not be of
immediate help, but will help in future when that person tries out for a
non-union staff job.  Don't gush, of course, but indicate briefly if the
person saved time and effort, helped locate and correct errors and
omissions, or otherwise contributed useful assistance.
In that kind of situation, I prefer to not send a copy to the person
being lauded. That could be embarrassing and could look like sucking up.
Better that they should have a pleasant surprise at their next employee
evaluation when the supervisor trots out the letter/e-mail from you and
gives the employee a higher evaluation - it's also useful ammunition for
a supervisor who wants to see an employee get a bonus or better
pay-increase, and needs some third-party validation for that submission.
There's an extra little frisson when the supervisor, in turn, discovers
that her/his own evaluation is bolstered by a glowing letter about the
supervisor that was sent to his/her manager.

Obviously, don't over-do. Well-considered written praise of cow-orkers
is valuable. Making an every-day habit of it will devalue it.

Kevin
The information contained in this electronic mail transmission 
may be privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected 
from disclosure. If you have received this communication in 
error, please notify us immediately by replying to this 
message and deleting it from your computer without copying 
or disclosing it.