Feedback Strategies: Giving Praise

Maybe we shouldn't praise giving praise...

The first article I read was "The Trouble with “Amazing”: Giving Praise that Matters" by Jennifer Gonzalez. I didn't necessarily agree with everything in the article, and maybe at some points how it was worded, but I liked the takeaway message: just giving a one word vote of praise isn't substantial feedback and in fact, often produces the opposite effect. I thought her analogy of saying just "amazing!" was like "Paula Praise" was funny, but very true. Without meaningful feedback that offers the person not only an honest opinion but also ways to improve, you usually discredit your own opinion. I have experienced this with many people and seen it happen, where people are quick to say 'that was absolutely wonderful' even when everyone else knows it really wasn't. I don't think there's anything wrong with praising with 'amazing!', but only using that word is perhaps more of the problem. Not only should you point out what was amazing (and as Gonzalez points out, particularly not the who because it focuses on the person rather than their effort), but you can also offer points on what was not and how they can improve it if you have suggestions. Nobody is perfect, and that's ok. I think making mistakes and improving from them is what growth is about. 

The second article I read was "A Troubling Side Effect of Praise" by Youki Terada. I found this one interesting because it was based on a recent Psychology study on the effects of praise on cheating in children below the age of 6. In this article as well, they discuss how one of the problems with praise is it directs attention to a person, instead of their effort, which goes back to Carol Dweck's work on growth mindset. I think we often discuss the types of people who cheat as 'lazy', 'not willing to put in the work', and so on. But many people who cheat, even at the university level, are those that succumb to the pressure on them from unrealistic expectations. Yes these expectations may come from people around them, but often may be their own difficult expectations on themselves from internalising the status that always comes from the 'praise' of being the 'smart one'. This is of course not always the case, but I liked how this article pointed out that this was a potential side effect of praise, which is meant with good intention.

At the end of the day, I think that praise certainly isn't bad, but agree that how we do it, and whether or not praise goes along with meaningful feedback, perhaps what one other article suggested as 'constructive praise', is more important. I am definitely hoping that I will be able to give good constructive praise as well.

"Praise", constructing meaningful praise. Source: Pixabay