The art of praise

If you want someone to do something for you, praise them.

Compliment them on how well they do the task.

Appreciation not only makes the person feel good but also motivates them to do the task even better.

It's equally important to express what needs to be done more and what needs to be done less. Maybe even more important.

However, sometimes compliments can lead to misunderstandings and inflating egos.

That's why it's essential to learn how to give praise.

Be sincere:

Honesty is very important when giving praise. No one wants to be falsely praised.

I don't know how, but people can detect insincere compliments. So, don't praise someone just for the sake of it; don't make yourself sound insincere and foolish.

Be specific and clear:

Just as when giving criticism, you need to specify why and what you're praising when giving compliments.

Don't just say, "You did a good job," explain why it was a good job.

This shows that you care and are genuine in your praise.

Personal compliments do no harm:

In the previous tweet, I only talked about criticizing the task at hand, as criticism should not be personalised.

But when it comes to praise, you can also compliment people's personal qualities.

Be cautious with strangers:

Imagine a beautiful girl walking down the street, and a guy comes up and says, "You're so sexy."

Some girls might like it, but others might slap him or not care at all.

This is because we tend to value the opinions of people we know less.

Also, not all compliments will be well-received; some may inflate egos, while others may not.

So, it's beneficial to know the person you're complimenting.

Avoid being condescending:

"Your work must be good because I'm not firing you," or "Of course, you know everything."

Compliments like these won't get you anywhere (except maybe making enemies).

Most condescending compliments are detected through body language or tone of voice.

So, pay attention to your body language, tone, and facial expressions when giving compliments.

Don't mix praise with criticism:

Never use the sandwich method, a well-known feedback technique where you start with a compliment, then give criticism, and end with another compliment.

I have two reasons for advising against this:

1. It's very challenging to use: You must provide meaningful compliments before and after criticism. Some people throw in random, irrelevant compliments.

2. Loss of meaning: No matter how well compliments are given, the seriousness of the criticism is lost. The message you're trying to convey may not be fully understood.

Praise benefits you, the person you're praising, and even the whole community, without taking anything away from anyone.

With these methods, you now know how to influence people, get what you want, or simply be a better person through praise.