How to acknowledge ideas/clue/discussion/feedback/comment?

 

Sometimes our industrial partners, research partners and students ask us how they can acknowledge the favors, discussions, feedback or comments. It is totally obvious that a clue or feedback might have saved you a lot of time, effort and money. It could be the start of an inspiring discussion, project or funding plan. How can you acknowledge this kind of contribution? Is it enough to say thank you?

Here are some Professional ways to say Thank You and ideas how you can choose to acknowledge a professor, research group or whoever helped you in something.

Professional ways to say Thank You, The Rules of the Game

Rule Number 1: First offer help then request something

Always consider the priorities of the other side. Especially, the priority of your request for you is not the same as your priority from other person’s point of view.

Rule Number 2: Make it Real! Acknowledge through a Gift or Donation.

Saying “Thank you” or writing an Email with “I appreciate your support” is often not enough. There are hundreds of ways to return back a favor through tangible or intangible gifts.

Rule Number 3: Make it double. Prepare and offer multiple options

You never know whether your offer or gift is suitable or not. Stay on the safe side and always offer more than what you are requesting.

Rule Number 4: Repeat your offers.

Set a reminder for yourself to send a gift to the one who helped you. Let’s say, a Professor helped you with a recommendation letter and you found a good job in industry. You can set a reminder in your calendar to send an acknowledgement in 1 year or 2 years to show your appreciation. Also you can use other import dates or occasions such as a Birthday or New Year to repeat your appreciation and stay in touch. This is the secret and Professional ways to say Thank You in  your professional network.

Thank you gift for professor

Here are some ideas how you can appreciate a professor with real and Professional ways to say Thank You

• Offer Co-authorship
• Donate your Time
• Donate your Network
• Acknowledge in Public
• Donate Staff, support for student working in the team
• Donate Knowledge
• Donate Hardware, Software or sponsor your Lab Facilities
• Donate Your Company Stock or your product share
• Give something related to their field

Clever Ways to Give Intangible Gifts

Here are some ways you can donate an intangible gift:

• Relevant Digital Media, Audio book, Technical Movie, e-Book
• Library Subscription, Netflix / Hulu Subscriptions, Amazon Prime
• Invitation to a Dinner, public event
• Holiday or Travel Gift Card
• Membership in a sport Club

 

How to acknowledge a contribution; support discussion, etc in a publication?

“We would like to acknowledge Prof. … and his colleagues at … University for the numerous discussion and supports during the projects.”

 

 

How you can offer help and acknowledge in advance?

Considering a public figure or professor that receives tens or hundreds of requests per day (students, academic partners, industrial partners, event organizers, public relations, etc.). Certainly the Person does not have time and resources to answer and fulfill all requests. So, they typically prioritize the requests. Here are some hints how you can increase your rank and priority when compared with other people.

• First offer something then request some thing
• Do not only talk about your

How to promise an official acknowledgement in the future

“We would like to appreciate your efforts through a donation or gift. Please choose your preference”

“We would like to make a citation to your works and acknowledge your support in the forthcoming publication, please let us know your preference”. However you should be careful about this. If you do not really know the person, you might be putting them into an awkward situation.

“We will be … in our forthcoming publication”.

“We would like to have you as an invited speaker joining our conference …”