Chapter 54
Giving and receiving praise
‘I can live for two months on a good compliment.’
Mark Twain
How often do you find yourself praising someone? Your spouse, children, friends, work colleagues? How much are you on the receiving end of praise – in your private and working life? We’re all potentially giving and receiving praise.
Yet many of us have trouble accepting praise as well as giving it – and knowing how to deliver it effectively. Many people treat praise with the same unease as critical comments. They think it’s going to be followed by some criticism. Small wonder, since many parents and managers in companies are fond of using the ‘praise sandwich’ when wanting to deliver negative messages (see #48).
Studies have shown that it is in ...
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