Let’s Catch People Doing Something Right in 2024

Catching people doing things right and praising them is a timeless principle I learned and began practicing and teaching years ago. It is a powerful tool for bringing out the best in others. So instead of making a personal New Year’s resolution this year, I want to make one to share with leaders everywhere: Make 2024 “The Year of Catching People Doing Something Right.”

I don’t want this resolution to pertain solely to our direct reports, though. Let’s also catch our peers doing something right. Let’s catch our bosses doing something right. Let’s catch our partners, kids, relatives, and friends doing something right…and let’s catch ourselves doing something right!

As an example of how to praise someone for doing things right, here are the basics of the One Minute Praising from my bestselling book with Spencer Johnson, The One Minute Manager.

1.   Praise someone as soon as possible after you see praiseworthy behavior.

2.   In very specific terms, tell the person what they did right.

3.   Relate their good behavior to the broader picture by telling them how it made you feel.

4.   Now pause briefly to give the person a chance to feel good about what they did.

5.   Encourage the person to keep up the positive behavior.

This is a concept that still holds true—in fact, it’s woven into all of our company’s training programs and most of my 70 published books. When you catch somebody doing something right—or approximately right—praise them.

Catch your people

To great leaders, acknowledging people’s efforts and encouraging their progress is common sense. These leader behaviors set up a positive cycle: Their praise helps people feel good about themselves, people who feel good about themselves produce good results, and people who produce good results feel good about themselves.

Think about a time when you were proud of something you did, but nobody seemed to notice. How did it make you feel? Now think about a time when you did something well and were praised or otherwise recognized for it. How did you feel then? What was the difference between the two?

Note: a One Minute Praising is not the same as flattery. It’s a statement that builds trust and improves communication because it’s based on facts and data. The phrase “nice job” isn’t specific enough to build rapport. But if a leader says, “William, I appreciate your sending me your weekly report on time. It provided accurate information and allowed me to meet my deadlines. Keep up the great work,” it clearly states the leader’s appreciation, which will boost William’s morale and help him realize he is an important member of the team. Catching people doing things right provides satisfaction and motivates good performance.

Catch your coworkers

Encourage your teammates to catch each other doing things right and praise each other’s progress. This kind of camaraderie can go a long way toward building trust among peers, which helps everyone feel good about their job. People never tire of sincere praise. It’s good for motivation, morale, and momentum.

Catch your boss

When was the last time you praised your boss? Even if you are good at praising direct reports and coworkers, you may have to think long and hard to remember the last time you recognized the efforts of your manager.

It’s easy for people to picture their leader getting positive feedback from their own bosses. But think about how meaningful it would be for your manager to hear you say, “By the way, thanks for letting our team know about the exciting new client we just landed. It felt great to get this news directly from you rather than reading it in an all-company email.” Depending on your relationship, it could also be appropriate to give your boss a compliment on a blog post they wrote or on their caring leadership style.

Catch your family

This principle can also help relationships flourish at home. It’s important to express positive feelings we have about our family members and friends, so that those relationships stay healthy. Catch your partner, your kids, or your parents, siblings, or friends doing things right on a regular basis. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—do it as soon as you see or hear about something good that they have said or done, or even when you have a positive thought about that person.

For example, if your school-aged child makes his bed or does his homework without being asked, let him know right away that you notice and appreciate his efforts. Call and congratulate your nephew on his new job. Or send a card to thank a friend for helping you through a tough time.

Catch Yourself

Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? If not, you have company. A new You Gov poll shows only 34% of adults in the US made a resolution for 2024. Why? Because people believe New Year’s resolutions fail more than they succeed. They grade themselves on a pass/fail basis—there’s no in-between.

But many people who think that a previous year’s resolution failed may, in fact, have made great progress in that area of their life during the year even if they didn’t technically achieve the original goal they had set.

Remember, in The One Minute Manager, Spencer Johnson and I state that a praising can be given not only when you catch someone (including yourself) doing something right, but also when you catch someone doing something approximately right. So if you stick to your resolution well enough to make key improvements in that space, that’s praiseworthy in my book! Now put your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder and give yourself a hug.

Well done! Bring on the new year!

Catch everyone!

Good feelings generated from catching people doing things right can be habit-forming. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself passing along praise to your next-door neighbor, your yoga teacher, your postal carrier, or the cashier or bagger at the grocery store.

Good thoughts not communicated are meaningless. But positive praise creates a significant energy boost in both the giver and the receiver. So let’s all catch people doing something right in 2024!

Written by:  Ken Blanchard, Author, for HowWeLead.org Blog.