{"id":127,"date":"2023-12-13T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T10:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/changing-ourselves\/?p=127"},"modified":"2023-12-11T17:51:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T17:51:52","slug":"the-power-of-praise-a-leadership-hack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/changing-ourselves\/2023\/12\/13\/the-power-of-praise-a-leadership-hack\/","title":{"rendered":"The power of praise: a leadership hack"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every Friday at 4:00 pm, like clockwork, my Teams app chimes with a reminder: \"Review your week and send praise to your colleagues.\" No, it's not some random notification; it's my self-set alarm to make sure I never forget to appreciate the incredible support I receive from the team. Wondering why I do this?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter \"Leading Without Authority\" by Keith Ferrazzi, a guide to effective leadership in today's collaborative work environments. I like this book because it challenges traditional hierarchical models and promotes a more inclusive, network-based approach to leadership. (It\u2019s a good book. Read it if you like the topic.) I'm here to highlight one golden nugget from this book: \"praise and celebrate.\"<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why does it matter?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

A sprinkle of positive energy can yield exponential benefits. Psychologist Dan Ariely discovered that praise is valued even more than money, and research confirms that positive vibes foster creativity, flexibility, and open-mindedness. Who doesn\u2019t like them all together?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ferrazzi believes we should all dedicate a few minutes each day to set aside critical thinking and acknowledge the friendship, hard work, and significance of those around us (not just at work but at home too). In fact, offering praise and celebration boosts our own spirit too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you do it?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Here are some suggestions from Keith Ferrazzi:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n