Let’s take a closer look at each pillar:
1. Praise
Praise is the universal source of motivation that fuels the fires of human effort and energy. The best news is that it is a renewable, free and infinite source of energy! Unfortunately, the majority of people today don’t receive any feedback, let alone unsolicited positive feedback, in their in their daily lives. Let’s do something to change the status quo and praise our co-workers, spouses, and children when they least expect it. However, we must temper our enthusiasm to ensure that it does not become bland, empty praise.
Effective Praise is:
- Specific. Look for a certain action or accomplishment to point out, the more obscure the better!
- Sincere. People can spot empty or fake praise a mile away. Be sure to only offer praise when you truly mean it. Also, don’t hesitate to point out something that seems obvious to you; oftentimes people are “blind” to their own talents because they come so naturally to them.
- Solo. Steer clear of qualifying a praise statement with a lingering “but” and never offer praise and ask for a favor in the same conversation. It makes the praise seem like a set-up. Let the praise stand by itself!
2. Recognize
Recognition is similar to praise, but can encompass both positive and negative emotions. The act of recognizing someone is an acknowledgement that you “see” them, that you empathize with their situation.
There is immense power in looking someone in the eye and celebrating a recent promotion or holding the space for them during the death of a family.
The time spent isn’t necessarily important; the magic of recognition is sharing an authentic exchange that reinforces each person is important and their lives have meaning. This recognition gets harder and harder as our society moves towards more digital interaction and face-to-face contact decreases. Whenever possible, connect with others in person. If in-person meetings are not possible, try and set aside the proper time for that recognition.
3. Encourage
Encouragement is the act of giving someone support, confidence or hope when they are faced with a challenging situation. By authentically conveying your belief, you can inspire action in others. This non-judgmental source of motivation also sets people up for success by allowing them to focus on what they can control (the effort itself or what they learned from the experience) instead of the variables (personal opinions or outcomes). Look for instances where you can be a positive source of encouragement to those around you.
