Establishing a positive organizational culture, one in which employees and managers support one another, should be a top priority for organizations. Expressing praise and gratitude is particularly important for keeping up morale. Gratitude makes people feel valued, and positive feedback has been shown to mitigate the negative effects of stress on employee performance. Neuroscientists have even shown that the brain processes verbal affirmations similarly to financial rewards. As Alan Mulally, former CEO of Ford, has been quoted as saying of his employees, “It’s all about appreciating them, respecting them and thanking them at every step of the way.” While the importance of expressing praise and gratitude for establishing a positive organizational culture is clear, our research suggests that people may not follow Mulally’s advice because they underestimate the positive impact of kind words on others.
A Simple Compliment Can Make a Big Difference
Research shows that giving someone a boost can lift you up too.
February 24, 2021
Summary.
There is ample evidence that giving someone else a boost, whether giving compliments or expressing gratitude, has a mood-lifting effect and contributes to well-being. But we often hold back, unnecessarily, because we aren’t well calibrated to the actual effects our positive messages have on others. When it comes to deciding whether to express praise or appreciation to another person, doubt often creeps in. We are overly concerned about our ability to convey praise skillfully (“What if my delivery is awkward?”), and our anxiety leaves us feeling overly pessimistic about the effects our messages will have. Sadly, people’s pessimism causes them to refrain from engaging in this behavior that would make everyone better off.
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