Have you ever noticed how dogs react to praise? Just a simple “Good boy!” and their tails wag, their energy lifts, and they’re ready to do even more to make you happy.
Here’s the thing—humans aren’t all that different. We thrive on encouragement and recognition. So why do we sometimes withhold praise, especially in professional environments?
For many lawyers and other analytical professionals, it’s not intentional. We get busy, hyper-focused on results, and praising others just slips off the radar. But sometimes it’s deeper than that. There’s a mindset that praise might reward mediocrity or set the bar too low.
In reality, the opposite is true. Praise reinforces excellence. It motivates people to keep striving, to take pride in their work, and to feel valued. And when your team feels valued, they perform better.
Offering praise to people in your network is also a great relationship building tool.
Earlier in my career, I didn’t appreciate this. As I’ve gotten encouragement along the way, I’ve seen personally how valuable it is to receive praise. And as a coach, I try to use praise as a motivator.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. So here’s a challenge: make praise a priority. Notice the effort, the small wins, and the big ones, and let people know when they’ve done a great job. Congratulate your clients, referral sources, and other professionals in your network.
The impact will ripple far beyond what you might expect.
Because honestly, who doesn’t want to hear they’re a “good boy” every once in a while? 🐶
The ancillary benefit is that helping others (by making them feel good, etc.), is also good for our own mental health.