How to Give Praise That Means Something
How this collection works
- Who watches this
- You — the person showing up. These videos aren't for the recipient.
- When
- Before a conversation, when you're not sure what to say. Watch alone, take a beat.
- What each beat is for
- Caption orients you before watching. Takeaway is the line to hold onto. Reflection questions turn watching into a small decision.
Adam Grant's #1 phrase to unlock potential
A Wharton psychologist on the difference between cheering someone on and helping them grow.
Cheerleaders praise the strengths someone already has; critics only name what's wrong. Coaches do the harder thing — they name how far someone has come, and how far they can go.
Pick one person you’re proud of. Name out loud (or in a text) the distance they’ve traveled — where they started vs. where they are now, not just where they landed.
Are you a cheerleader (only their strengths), a critic (only the gaps), or a coach? Draft one sentence that does both: names a strength AND points at what they’re still capable of.
Think of someone whose potential you’ve quietly underestimated. Tell them one specific thing you believe they could become — today, before you talk yourself out of it.