The Praise Playbook

Four moves to keep handy:

• Swap the verdict for a description. Trade "Good job" for "You stacked those blocks until they balanced."
• Credit effort and strategy, not talent. "You worked at it" travels further than "You're a natural."
• Don't praise on autopilot. Easy, routine wins can get a nod or quiet attention instead of a fanfare.
• Aim the big praise at the hard wins. Save the warmth for effort, risk, and real growth.