Letter of Encouragement Templates and Samples

What Is a Letter of Encouragement?

A Letter of Encouragement is a letter that is designed to offer words of encouragement to the recipient. This might be written to someone after a positive event, such as a promotion or graduating college, or it could be written as a form of sympathy, such as a way to encourage an employee after a poor performance review or not being accepted for promotion. Whatever the reason for an Encouragement Letter, the goal of the letter is to offer words of encouragement to a person to help them continue to improve.

Check out our library below to download printable Letter of Encouragement templates and samples.

Letter of Encouragement Types

1. Letter of Encouragement to a Friend. Celebrate your friend's recent success and let them know that they were always capable of achieving this milestone. 
2. Letter of Encouragement to a Child. Use this letter for major academic achievements or after-school activities such as sports or music. Focus on how proud you are of their achievements and that they are following a path that will lead them to a fruitful adulthood one day.
3. Letter of Encouragement to Students. Inspire students and support them during their studies with this Letter of Encouragement.
4. Letter of Encouragement for Spiritual Retreat. Use this letter to recommend a spiritual retreat to someone who has fallen on hard times. 

How to Write a Letter of Encouragement?

When writing a Letter of Encouragement in the context of a professional relationship (for your coworker, a job applicant, or a subordinate), you will want to include the following information:

1. The name and address of the recipient and the current date.
2. Begin the letter by expressing to the person that you recently heard about the positive or negative work event. 
3. If it is a positive event, express your enthusiasm for their achievement and how their past work has led to this new path in their career. 
4. For example, you could write, “Congratulations on your recent promotion to District Manager. As your former boss, I knew you were destined to be successful in your career path, and your hard work and determination have shown through.”
5. If the letter of encouragement is in regards to a negative event that occurred in the person’s career (such as being recently laid off or poor performance on a project), you can still offer encouragement as a way to tell the person this is a temporary situation they have encountered and you know they can move past it. 
6. For example, you could write, “I know that it is never easy to lose a job, but keep in mind your past success as an Office Administrator. While this job may not have been the right fit for you, I know you will find something that you will excel in.”
7. Make sure to keep the letter focused on the person it is addressed to, although you can include anecdotes about your own career path if it does not detract from the message.
8. End with a closing salutation, your full name, and signature.

Haven't found what you were looking for? Take a look at the related templates below:

• Farewell Letter;
• Gift Letter;
• Letter Templates for Kids.