Unlock goodwill with genuine, specific praise

At the small digital marketing firm where Natalia worked, morale had dipped after a string of late nights and tight deadlines. Her manager, Marcus, knew he needed a quick morale boost. During a tense strategy meeting, Marcus stopped the conversation. He caught Natalia’s eye and said, “Natalia, your ability to break complex analytics into three bullet points is outstanding. I’ve seen colleagues struggle for hours, but your summary gave everyone clarity in minutes.” The room paused. Everyone felt the warmth of Marcus’s praise. Natalia’s shoulders straightened; she smiled. She volunteered to help refine the next deck. Her colleagues, inspired by that specific recognition, chimed in with their own solutions. The meeting ended on a high note, and that single moment of heartfelt praise echoed through the next week’s tasks.

Decades of organizational psychology demonstrate that employees who receive specific, genuine recognition are 79% more engaged and 65% more likely to stay with their company. By highlighting real achievements, you unlock not just goodwill, but also enhanced productivity.

You single out a concrete achievement, name it, share its positive impact and invite the person to keep going. By making that effort visible, you light a spark of pride that illuminates the whole team. Try it today.