The Power of Praise

Praise is like rocket fuel! Not just any old praise, but sincere praise from someone we admire. 

Getting Personal

I asked Claude about the best kinds of praise, and the answer rang true:

-Specific and detailed 

-Authentic and sincere

-Earned and deserved

-Unexpected and unsolicited

-From respected sources.

Not a bad list, but it misses the most important element of praise—getting personal. Praises like “Nice shoes,” “Great haircut,” or  “Cool car” might be nice to receive, but they aren’t very personal. Here’s what personal praise looks like (from a reader of this blog):

“You have made a very positive difference in my thoughts, in my outlook, in the way I interact with people, and in my life…you are reaching out and helping the World around you! …God bless you!”

That’s Rocket fuel!

The Missing Tile Syndrome

I’m not very good at praise. I am often critical of others, as well as myself. Years ago, I heard this described as the missing tile syndrome, characterized by someone who stands before a beautiful mosaic and points out the missing tile. 

That’s an unhelpful observation.

It’s easy to be critical, especially when someone thinks or behaves differently than we expect. Criticism is the midwife of judgment; judgment helps no one. 

The Blossoming Effect

Have you ever noticed what happens when someone receives sincere praise?

They blossom. It’s a beautiful thing to behold! I’ve seen amazing things accomplished by individuals in the workplace who were renewed with confidence following well-deserved praise.

I spend a lot of time writing. It’s cheaper than therapy. Sometimes I cringe when launching a post, sharing personal thoughts has never been my jam.  Every once in a while, I get a sincere compliment on a piece I was nervous about posting—rocket fuel!

Then I start thinking… when was the last time I provided a boost like that for someone?

It’s not hard, but it does require the right mindset. Rather than being critical, one must learn to truly see a person and accept them just as they are. Maybe their victory isn’t that important to us. That’s not the point, if it’s important to them.

Great vs. Good 

My professional career spanned 35 years and 11 bosses. I was lucky to have mostly good bosses; a few, however, were great. Do you know what distinguished the great bosses? In word, praise. In addition to providing direction and challenge, great bosses were exceptional at recognizing and praising work well done. 

It’s the rare person who doesn’t harbor insecurities. Well placed praise gets us over the hump, propelling us to new heights. Criticism has its place, provided it’s well-intentioned, private, and delivered in a caring manner. But it’s not rocket fuel. People generally know their weaknesses. Jackson Browne has a great lyric concerning that:

“Don’t confront me with my failures,

I had not forgotten them.”

Give Someone A Boost

Boosters propelled by rocket fuel carry payloads to new heights.

Everyone can use a little more of that.

When was the last time you gave someone specific, sincere praise? Who in your life could use some rocket fuel right now? 

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I am currently writing a second book, titled The Secret Within. Installments can be found here. 

Former blog posts can be found here by subject category and here chronologically. 

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My first book, Towards A Life Well-Lived, can be purchased by clicking this link. Proceeds from sales are donated to Peace In Schools, a Portland, Oregon-based organization that supports mindfulness training in high schools.