When you find the courage to believe in yourself and your journey
and work hard to embrace all the future has in store,
others will find the passion and the voice to sing your praises from the rooftops.
___
Since time immemorial, people have carried out good deeds and been praised for them. Can you think of people in your community who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of your neighborhood? People who have made a real and positive contribution? Maybe you’re one of those people! Praise is a definite motivator.
Throughout history, countless people have struggled, often against mounting odds, to improve themselves and those around them. They’ve worked tirelessly to advance their lives and add value to others. As a consequence, so many have been lauded for their immense contributions.
Too often however, many individuals go unrewarded for the contributions they make to a business or community. They’re not thanked, supported, encouraged or praised in the workplace.
So many people work incredibly hard for the greater good, only to be overlooked. It erodes trust and creates an atmosphere of disharmony and resentment.
According to Chris Widener (Personal Development and Leadership Specialist) (1), ‘There is power in praising people. Something begins to happen in them, in you and in your relationship when you praise someone.’ That just about sums it up. There are immense feelings of good in praise.
In the workplace too, a position of authority should carry the same positive principles. Staff must be made to feel respected and valued. Extraordinary changes begin to take place as staff members feel a part of the organization.
Praise is also crucial in the workplace for the following eight reasons:
- An employee will only ever work as hard as he/she is encouraged to
- Praise is designed to make people feel good about themselves
- An employee is never tied to a workplace
- Individuals respond to positive re-enforcement
- Employees require praise, encouragement and positive interaction
- Happy and optimistic employees work harder and smarter
- Sick leave is predictably reduced when the work environment is positive
- Productivity inevitably improves
When you encourage and reward your employees, they are more inclined to support you and work harder to ensure the longevity of the organization. The alternative is that they simply decide to cash out and walk away taking their knowledge, experience and skills with them.
You also have those feelings of immense achievement. You feel enriched as you watch others evolve from those few simple words and actions of support you offer.
Praise brings down barriers, it builds strong bonds of friendship and respect and it inevitably leads to greater improvements across a broad spectrum of the community.
Become proactive and focus on the mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of your employees. Build them up and encourage them. Let them know they’re appreciated. Respect them and give them the desire to remain with you.
Negative behaviors are too often visited upon children by parents, guardians and coaches who suffered under negative influences during their developing years and as a consequence, the destructive cycle continues.
Children become accustomed to the influences in their lives and as they grow into adulthood, they become the people they are conditioned to be. For the following reasons, it really is important to praise children for the many positive things they do, no matter how small:
- Children mimic the behavior of adults in their lives
- They inevitable repeat the lessons they learn in childhood
- Empowered and enriched children become informed, positive and enthusiastic adults
- Children are more sensitive to conditioning
- Positive influences empower children to become powerful role models
- Praise lifts children to extraordinary heights
- It builds a strong a d positive connection
- Praise builds bridges of love and acceptance
No matter who you are or what has impacted your life, each moment of every day offers myriad opportunities to do something special and lasting for your children. They then mirror your behavior and the cycle of goodness continues.
It’s important to have rich and positive conversations with children. We enrich their lives through teaching them the difference between right and wrong and praising them when they act in a warm and constructive way.
It stands to reason then, if children are constantly subjected to a certain set of behaviors, they will carry the effects into their adult years. As they too become parents, guardians and coaches, the cycle will inevitably continue.
Praise is a fundamental aspect of positive re-enforcement. The more affirmative influences in a child’s life, the more likely he/she is to grow into an informed, positive, focused and optimistic adult.
It’s those early years—the love given, respect shown and time afforded to children—which has the capacity to add depth, color and meaning to the lives of our young people.
When you understand the power of praise, you will have begun a cycle of empowerment and enrichment which employees (and your children) repeat in the community and the family environment.
Try and praise at least three people every day: It’s an outstanding motivator which builds and nurtures confidence. Pick specific things on which to comment. Ensure the responses are genuine and heart-warming. Make the recipient of the praise feel special. Watch as the behavior of the person changes.
Each person will inevitably play it forward as they encourage others to pursue their dreams and goals and suddenly, their lives are much more exciting and fulfilled.
You’ve now evolved into a life-changing Spiritual Leader—an extraordinary force for good in the global community.
Imagine the possibilities ….
Photo credit: iStockPhoto
- http://chriswidener.com/the-power-in-praising-people/