As a manager, asking your team to take on emotionally taxing tasks is sometimes unavoidable. Thanking someone before they begin can help ease their emotional burden, make them more resilient, and improve outcomes. Here’s how to express anticipatory gratitude.

Acknowledge the challenge. Recognize the emotional difficulty of the task. A simple, empathetic statement like, “I know this is incredibly hard,” validates their feelings and shows you’re aware of the burden they’re carrying.

Express tailored gratitude. Be specific and genuine in your thanks. Avoid generic phrases; instead, focus on why their effort matters. For example, “Thank you for handling this with such care—it makes a real difference to the team.” Authenticity is key to making your gratitude meaningful.

Check in afterward. Follow up once the task is complete. Ask open-ended questions like, “How did it go?” or “What support do you need?” Acknowledging their experience helps them feel supported and provides valuable insight into how to better assist them in the future.

Encourage a culture of gratitude. Promote peer-to-peer gratitude within the team. Simple acknowledgments like thanking colleagues for their contributions strengthen relationships, improve morale, and build a sense of shared purpose.
This tip is adapted from “When Expressing Gratitude to Employees, Timing Matters,” by Hooria Jazaieri and Olivia (Mandy) O’Neill.
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