Make praise usable

Career · Little Light original

You tell a colleague they did a good job, and they smile. Then you explain what you noticed: they caught the unanswered question, brought the right people together, and stayed patient while the answer took shape. This time, they pause. They had not thought of that as a skill. Specific appreciation can help someone recognise an ability they use so naturally that they overlook it. It gives them something they can deliberately bring to the next assignment. You do not need to invent praise or turn every conversation into a review. When someone makes a useful difference, a clear description is often enough. Name the action and the effect it had. Over time, people build an understanding of themselves partly from what others help them see. If you have influence, spend some of it on accurate encouragement. A person may carry your observation into a challenge long after you have forgotten saying it.

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