Most of us often look for things that are going wrong in order to prevent possible damages. However, how often do you pay attention to things that are going right? And do you show appreciation for people who are performing well and praise them?
Praise is one of the most powerful forms of human communication. The English word praise has its origin in French word preisier, which means “to prize”. Being praised is one of the basic needs of every human being. Everyone likes to be praised for their good job, including team members, colleagues, customers and even your boss. Effective and sincere praise can improve someone’s performance, it can also change someone’s self-image, or it can even alter their life.
However, giving praise appropriately and effectively isn’t as easy as it might seem. This is a whole art that needs to be learned nearly the same way that social manners are learned. Wrong praise at the wrong time in a wrong manner can be devastating because the recipient will then either think that you want something from them in return, or that you’re just trying to get noticed.
Let’s find out why it’s beneficial to give praise and how you can do it effectively.
Why is giving praise so important?
The reasons why to praise someone are numerous.
First of all, people whose efforts are appreciated and praised are much more motivated to work than those who think their work is unnoticed. People who are praised are more engaged in the job they do and they are more commited to their organizations because they feel like they are contributing. This is especially true if you are working for a company with tight budgets, where you cannot praise people with raises and bonuses.
Some studies have demonstrated that when we are praised, there is a chemical reaction in our brain in a form of a dopamine release. Dopamine is a substance that is associated with a bunch of positive feelings like joy, satisfaction, pride and well-being.
An individual who is praised not only feels great, but he or she would also like to experience such a feeling again. All in all, praising is responsible for good working habits and behaviour.
However, when it comes to praising, pay attention not to praise someone just for praising. Give compliments only when they come deeply from your heart and because you enjoy it and its positive effects on the people.
Are there any difficulties with praising?
The act of giving compliments is very difficult for some people. For instance, people who grew up in an environment that isn’t praise-friendly usually have problems with praising other people. There are also people who feel uncomfortable showing appreciation because of a low self-esteem, or because they feel ashamed when it comes to showing appreciation.
If you are among people who aren’t prone to praise others, the first step is to think about the root of the problem. After this you can take next steps to try to overcome the problem.
If you are uncomfortable with praising someone, then try to recognize someone’s good work once a day for a start. Try to look for the opportunities to show appreciation for someone’s efforts.
You can also try to adjust your work habits and create opportunities for praising others. For instance, you can walk around or eat lunch in the break room with other colleagues and team members instead of at your desk all alone.
Praising someone is also possible if you aren’t face-to-face with him or her. You can do that by sending an e-mail, calling that person, or you may even praise that person to others when he or she isn’t present.
In the following lines you are going to read what an effective praise looks like and you will also find out about some useful tips in praising.
Different types of praises
Actually, there are different kinds of praises. Let’s see what they are.
Basic praise (specific and genuine). Basic praise refers to giving a simple compliment, which isn’t difficult to learn at all. You are always surrounded by so many people you can deliver a compliment, a word or a simple praise that will make someone’s day.
When giving a compliment, try to address the person by name. For instance, if you are an employer, take time to notice something that your employee is great at and mention it, as well as his or her name (“Tom, the cakes you made look so beautiful and delicious. It’s very kind of you to contribute to our job.”)
Advanced praise. When you have mastered the skill of praising in a simple way, you can move to the next level of praise. Besides mentioning the person’s name and praising them on something specific they did, you can also emphasize the talent or quality you notice in them. For instance: “Tom, you made the cakes so that they look very beautiful and delicious You really have a talent for making cakes.”
This way you both praise Tom’s efforts to do the job well, and you also let him know about the quality you noticed in him that he may not recognized in himself. If a praise is sincere and warm, it will bring out the best in a person. When you praise Tom, not only will you raise his self-esteem, but you will also benefit because Tom will be attentive to the decoration and motivated to make cakes as better as possible. Then the customers will enjoy eating your cakes.
Praise for an achievement. This kind of praise is very important for a person who has been working hard to reach some personal goal. A sincere appreciation is a kind of reward for the days or years of hard working and he or she will then think that all the effort was worth it. A praise for an achievement can be verbal or written, but it’s essential to acknowledge it and to be completely honest.
Tips on how to praise properly and effectively
Praise doesn’t always have to be in a verbal form. You can give a compliment to someone by just asking him or her to work on an important project because it conveys to that person that you notice a talent or quality in them you admire. Other ways to praise someone can be a gift, a cash bonus, or a special parking place.
Make sure not to over-praise. Try to avoid over-praising someone since it may cause him or her to feel insecure. They may feel then that they have to live up to your praise.
Practice is essential. It’s really possible to master the art of giving a sincere, warm, and effective praise. You can practice this at home with your husband, wife or kids, at work with your colleagues, and whenever you have an opportunity to do this.