Praise Where Praise is Due

Seven years ago I worked as European IT Manager with a City law firm.

As a manager, one of the things you need to do is to keep your staff motivated and a great way to do this is by providing praise where it's due.  This principle holds true outside the corporate world, too.  Many of us are quick to complain and slow to praise, but why not try a little experiment...

For example, two weeks ago when my cleaner, Caroline, came, I was out presenting for the day so I didn't see her.  I returned home that night to a lovely clean house that smelt fresh and felt great so I sent a short "thank you" text to her.

Last week, not only did she tell me how wonderful it was to receive that text from me, but I do believe she made an extra effort to get the place sparkling even more than usual.  So my praise not only benefitted her, making her feel valued and appreciated, but it came back to benefit me too.

By the same token, I received an email from one of my clients who commented on how pleased he was with the job I did at his presentation under very difficult circumstances. Now how do you think I feel about that client compared with those who take me for granted?

It's also very satisfying when I receive emails from subscribers thanking me for the free tips and advice I send them on crafting great presentations. Thank you all.

So who should you be thanking more often?
Who are you taking for granted?
Why not resolve to be a little slower to complain and faster to praise and see how it comes back to you?

Try it for a week or so. I'd love if you'd post a comment here and let me know how you got on.

DON'T MISS OUT:  The Powerful Persuasive Presentations training weekend takes place on April 22 & 23, 2006.  Learn to communicate with passion and persuade with pazzazz.

Comments

[Keithanthony Taylor]

I'd like to give all credit to you Maria for some great writings that thus far I have read here and there, where Google has found you, after I noted your upcoming event at the Thistle Hotel London on 06th October 2007 where my colleagues/friends the blue shirt volunteers will greet you!

Unfortunately I shall not this time be among them since it is a smaller venue! Although I’m hoping they will allow me, and pony tail, in as a short notice booking when I arrive as guest rather than volunteer!

I have to agree that praise goes a long way, and is part of the process that found me in a reserved seat with the directors at the six-figure uVme pre launch day! This was after only 14 days since the name flashed up on my screen for the first time bringing with it that feeling of another sinking ship! Only MLM could previously do this to me!

However having joined the online presentation, noticing I had not only a facility to text, but also a microphone button that guests seemed nervous of, I was throughout the presentation using text in a positive manner much of it praise for the presenter, my timely anecdotes, and famous quotations also backed his great delivery and he told the room I was noticed, and that he much appreciated my surprise assistance!

At the end of the presentation I went vocal to the World for the first time on the first day to thank him for his great and clear delivery of a company, thanking him for changing my mind about another MLM this one now giving myself and many others an incredible future using Web2!

Now after only 3 months leading the North America presentation in place of Linda Tangarone while she is recovering from surgery! Linda is also now a good friend of mine I understand No1 one East Coast America with Avon!

I cannot see my audience however I always praise them at the start for joining the audio visual conference since they join from all around the World in many time zones, some of them attending at 04:00am which shows tremendous commitment to a better future!

Always at the outset of my presentation my praise directs their minds to think of themselves as leaders since they have taken the time to support the conference where many others are content to enjoy their beds or TV! I praise and thank them in advance for the honour they bestow upon me to address them, and encourage them that I am like them, an ordinary person not a super presenter! I do not wish to show them what a super presenter I am because in order for my team members to progress I need my team to feel, “I could do that!” rather than, “Wow he’s so good I could never emulate that!”

I always try to set the scene and encourage them to see themselves stepping up to the plate to present as easily as do I, finding praise works like oil! Praising them that they too are capable because they are ordinary, ordinary is good, ordinary is ok, has encouraged many of them to interrupt me with their first press of the scary button that says mic!

I only wish that I had their faces before me, since an appreciative audience that you know has grown a little from our words gives me no greater joy!