I’ve Never Seen This on a Zoom Call – Have You
I was surprised on a recent video conference call.
At the end of a technology check, for a recent online presentation, the team clapped. I’ve never seen that before. Have you?
They clapped because they got it right.
They let me know they were excited to hear my presentation.
A praise-filled environment is a safe place to say, “This could be better. Let’s keep trying.”
Praise or gratitude:
Gratitude is good. Praise is better.
Gratitude acknowledges benefit. You say thanks to the server in a restaurant. But praise is more personal.
Praise connects people with achievements. Praise acknowledges talents, virtues, strengths, and achievements in a personal way.
Gratitude focuses on something you did. Praise includes who you are.
Gratitude: Thanks for giving that presentation.
Praise: Your enthusiasm is infectious.
The 10 purposes of praise:
#1. Praise defines and honors what matters.
Praise makes people believe their work matters and, more importantly, THEY matter.
#2. Praise gives meaning to effort, progress, and achievement.
#3. Praise fuels energy and encourages continued effort, progress, and achievement.
You get what you honor.
Praise fuels excellence.
#4. Praise affirms desired behaviors to observers.
Praise to one is instruction for another.
#5. Praise provides focus for future effort.
#6. Praise lets people know they’re noticed.
The worst managers don’t constantly yell and criticize. The worst managers don’t notice people at all.
#7. Praise lowers anxiety and helps people believe in themselves.
Praise answers the question, “Am I doing a good job?”
#8. Praise reminds people of their strengths.
A loud inner critic magnifies weakness and ignores strength.
#9. Praise demonstrates an external focus.
Successful leaders focus more on others than on themselves.
#10. Praise proves you care about people.
“Nothing is more effective than sincere, accurate praise, and nothing is more lame than a cookie-cutter compliment.” Bill F. Walsh
Why praise people?
What forms of praise seem most effective?
Bonus material:
Can you Cope with Criticism at Work (CNN)
The Power of Praise in Business – and How to Do It Right (Entrepreneur)
The Superpower of Praising People (Thought Hub)
I often lead the initial applause during an online event to give participants permission/ encouragement to show appreciation. the idea then is that they then take up the mantle and applaud of their own bat at the next opportunity. Spontaneous applause is better than preorganised – but sometimes you just have to get the crowd going…
Thanks Martin. The idea of “priming the pump” seems important. Set the example. Your example gives others permission.
Never, in a Zoom meeting. Nor have I ever heard it at a face to face discussion/meeting/training session at team level. Anything below whole organisation/CEO level doesn’t attract any sort of response. The nearest we usually get is a sense of palpable relief that it’s over and we got away with it!
Thanks Mitch. I suspect many readers share your experience.
Praise is used to recognizes when someone exceeds your expectations.
Praise makes the giver and receiver feel good.
Praise need to be genuine and given in the appropriate amount relative to the person’s performance.
Thanks Paul. Your insight that praise should be genuine really rings true. Insincerity negates action. It’s necessary to do the right thing in the right way.
You might consider adding praise about the person to your tool box. “I notice that you stick to difficult tasks. I respect your grit,” for example.
The personal side of praise affirms character traits that produce future results. Just a thought.
Dan–good point.
Should you praise the work the person did or their personal traits he /she possesses that made it happen?
Or praise both.
Great question. Perhaps, when possible, praise both. But, sometimes ‘good’ people fall short or screw up. Praising a character trait might be useful then.
Awesomeness overflowing happiness multiplying 👍
Dan,
That’s a first for me to hear in regards to “Zoom”, but it makes sense when we connect to people and they acknowledge the effort/Topic it’s a win/win. You actually reached your audience in a feel/felt moment that created an approval which sounds genuine congratulations, although I have no doubts with your expertise and ways of reaching others. .
Thanks Tim. I was a little surprised. This is a big organization with a very public presence. To see this type of expression too me off guard. At the next call, I asked them about it. They confirmed that it’s something they do as a way of giving praise. Pretty impressive.
Where I work (in public safety), we focus a lot on character. So, when praise is given (such as letters of recognition, etc.), character traits are pointed out. When someone is recognized for helping someone above and beyond their normal duties, their character is recognized as showing “patience, compassion, and sensitivity”, or when an event occurs and people have to alter their schedules to suddenly fill shifts, character traits such as Loyalty, Endurance, or Enthusiasm are used. Pointing out character traits focuses on the person, not the task.
Thanks David. Great illustration of pointing out character traits in addition to going beyond the call of duty. Thanks for working to keep us safe.
If you practice looking for the good in others it shouldn’t matter when or where the praise is given. A lot of praise has been lost to others waiting for the right time to express it. The saying “strike when the iron’s hot” rings true. Several years ago I asked people in our dept. to list three good things about everyone else in our dept. I then took the best of the three comments and listed them on a sheet titled “Comments from the Team” for each individual. I then read each sheet and have the team guess who it was. I still see the sheet taped to several cubes. We all could use a little praise now and then.
Thanks Marty. So true. The best time to give praise is when praiseworthy character/behaviors are exhibited. Love your team exercise. I’m thankful you shared it.
Providing recognition is unfortunately usually a missing topic in leadership development programs. My favorite quote from Ken Blanchard “Good thoughts not delivered mean squat.”
Thanks Kim. Gotta love Ken Blanchard. He’s the real deal.
I love the idea of clapping at the end of a presentation on zoom! We praise people because it lets people know that they did something right. Praise is so important because it reminds the presenter/entertainer that they are doing something well and doing it strongly that others enjoy.
Thanks Sara. I must say that I was taken aback at first. It was a real example to me of creating an energizing environment.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs! Once the team feels they’re in a safe environment, the belongingness of a team and esteem boost through accomplishment are the next steps to the top of the pyramid; self actualization. Without positive recognition and recognizing the team’s success, can be incredibly demeaning, demoralizing and take the wind from the sails! Imagine winning the pennant or World Series and not celebrating?! What was the work for? Would the players want to work hard to get back to that place?