Seven years ago, I wrote 10 Things to Say Instead of ‘You’re So Talented’ after giving a TedX talk called Forget Talent and Get To Work. The talk proved popular and amassed over 80,000 views. It was one of my most popular columns and even a decade later, readers are still checking in and asking for more suggestions on how to compliment and motivate their employees.
Recently, I’ve noticed that the way most Americans (myself included) tend to compliment people is very different than how my local Swiss neighbors speak. I’ve noticed that people in the German-speaking area of Switzerland for the past 16 years tend to focus on the work and give specifics far more often than I instinctively would.
If I saw someone had a gorgeous flower garden, my instinct is to say, “Wow! What a beautiful flower garden you have!”
My Swiss friends, however, would be far more likely to say, “Wow! You take such great care of your garden!”
To keep reading, click here: 11 Better Ways to Praise Employees Besides Saying ‘Great Job’
