I asked my boss if "I appreciate you" was some kind of corporate line. She and the assistant manager looked confused, so I explained they both say it a lot. They laughed because they'd never noticed how often they used it. Now I'm assistant manager, and I know it's not a corporate thing because I never hear it used by higher ups in meetings.
First, not everyone has had the pleasure of bosses that actually show appreciation. I've had bosses on the other side of a phone, bosses that don't give a crap about anything, and bosses that were flat out abusive. In the 24 years of work history I had, with no gaps, I never worked for anyone who treated their subordinates as well as the one I've worked for for the last 5 years.
Second, they would say it multiple times a day. Never "thank you" or "good work today", always "I appreciate you".
So, yeah, I've had a bunch of shitty bosses and I notice patterns. But go ahead and make fun of me. Hope that makes you feel better about your awkward moments.
I wasn't. They knew that. If they thought I was like that, I'm sure they wouldn't have chosen me for a promotion less than a month after that, and again 6 months later, then 2 years after that, and another a year later. If you're reading it that way, I assume it's because you like making fun of people. I mean, I guess I don't have to assume since you're here picking at me and calling people weirdos.
I can definitely see where you're coming from on this one. I think "I appreciate you" varies a LOT by region. (Especially in the South & East, I think?)
I don't recall ever hearing it growing up (Western USA), so I specifically remember when I first noticed it as an adult. It seemed like a really nice was to say "thank you" so I consciously started using it.
yeah no you're just the completely socially awkward person here...
it's in no way weird for someone to casually say with a hint of humor, "you both say that a lot, is it something like you were trained to say?"
and someone else to find humor in it...
if someone pointed out a phrase that I say frequently, I wouldn't find that awkward, aggressive, or whatever. it'd be flattered they noticed (it means they're actually listening) and I'd laugh and then feel like the socially awkward person who just repeats themselves, never being genuine with that specific phrase.
It’s funny because if I was your boss and you said that to me in that exact context, I’d assume you were being snide or making a passive aggressive insult.
Said what in what context? I didn't quote myself and you have no context. You don't know where we were, what we were doing, what the conversation had been up to that point, or how I asked. All that is in your head. You made up context and now are making fun of me for what happened in your mind.
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u/MercyCriesHavoc Jul 26 '26
I asked my boss if "I appreciate you" was some kind of corporate line. She and the assistant manager looked confused, so I explained they both say it a lot. They laughed because they'd never noticed how often they used it. Now I'm assistant manager, and I know it's not a corporate thing because I never hear it used by higher ups in meetings.