Catch me if you can, but catch me doing something right! Tom Peters wrote about this philosophy in his book In Search of Excellence. During my good fortune to work for Sylvan Learning Centers I had opportunities to perpetuate this good philosophy. Let me tell you about it.
When I worked for Sylvan Learning Centers in Texas we adopted this philosophy of “Catch People Doing Something Right”. Not only were we in the business of tutoring students and helping them fix skill gaps in their learning in specified subjects, but a huge part of our philosophy was to build up the self-esteem of our students.
We would look for small things a student might do in a positive behavioral way and then reinforce this good behavior by some kind of “reward in the moment” method.
This philosophy has huge implications for students and adults as well. Some of the behaviors we looked for and rewarded were:
-If we saw a student pick up a piece of paper and deposit it in a nearby trash can
-A student who kept all four legs of their chair on the floor during the learning session
-Smiling and a good attitude
-Trying their very best, even if they were struggling and not getting it perfectly
-Staying focused on one’s own assigned school work without daydreaming
When a student was caught doing something right, we would reward them instantly with a positive word specific to the act and then give them a token which would be used to purchase small toys in our Sylvan store after each class session. The verbal praise was just as important as the token.
How about you? Do you appreciate it when someone in your life recognizes and acknowledges some action of yours? Of course, we all love that kind of recognition.
Have you mastered the art of catching people doing something right? Anyone can catch people doing something wrong. But to turn the tables and recognize them for doing something right and rewarding them instantly right on the spot, now that is fresh.
Tips for Catching People Doing Something Right
1. Do it as soon as possible and as close in time proximity to the actual good deed. Milk goes stale if left out of the refrigerator for a few hours. Don’t let too much time lapse between the deed and the acknowledgement. Your words will have the most impact the closer they come in connection with the deed performed.
2. Praise in public. Criticize in private. This is still great advice for catching people doing something right.
3. Make the acknowledgement fit the deed. Every act is not deserving of balloons, a brass band and a plaque. Sometimes just a simple few words lasts for days.
4. Make sure and spread around the good cheer and positive reinforcing words. Most of us will always have our favorite person that we love to heap praise and compliments on, but make sure and spread the positive praises around to include your whole team as often as possible.
5. Be sincere in your words of affirmation and be specific. “Carl, I loved the way you listened attentively to that nice lady just now. You head her out, let her speak her mind without interrupting and then provided the perfect solution. That was a model example of excellent customer service. Thank you.”
6. The more you catch someone doing something right the more they will want to do the right things, and that, my friends, oils the human relationship experience, improves the bottom line and makes for an enjoyable environment at home, at work and anywhere else we choose to practice this character trait.
7. If you point out something someone has done right, they are more likely to repeat and model the correct behavior. Can you relate to this statement? I can.
8. Use an indirect compliment. Once my manager asked my opinion on what I felt were some key mattresses we should have on hand in our store. About twenty minutes later I called him back and gave my recommendations. He thanked me, confirmed my choices and added that he agreed with my suggestions. I felt esteemed for that moment and it lasted much of the day.
Catch people doing something right, and tell the world!
When I worked for Sylvan Learning Centers in Texas we adopted this philosophy of “Catch People Doing Something Right”. Not only were we in the business of tutoring students and helping them fix skill gaps in their learning in specified subjects, but a huge part of our philosophy was to build up the self-esteem of our students.
We would look for small things a student might do in a positive behavioral way and then reinforce this good behavior by some kind of “reward in the moment” method.
This philosophy has huge implications for students and adults as well. Some of the behaviors we looked for and rewarded were:
-If we saw a student pick up a piece of paper and deposit it in a nearby trash can
-A student who kept all four legs of their chair on the floor during the learning session
-Smiling and a good attitude
-Trying their very best, even if they were struggling and not getting it perfectly
-Staying focused on one’s own assigned school work without daydreaming
When a student was caught doing something right, we would reward them instantly with a positive word specific to the act and then give them a token which would be used to purchase small toys in our Sylvan store after each class session. The verbal praise was just as important as the token.
How about you? Do you appreciate it when someone in your life recognizes and acknowledges some action of yours? Of course, we all love that kind of recognition.
Have you mastered the art of catching people doing something right? Anyone can catch people doing something wrong. But to turn the tables and recognize them for doing something right and rewarding them instantly right on the spot, now that is fresh.
Tips for Catching People Doing Something Right
1. Do it as soon as possible and as close in time proximity to the actual good deed. Milk goes stale if left out of the refrigerator for a few hours. Don’t let too much time lapse between the deed and the acknowledgement. Your words will have the most impact the closer they come in connection with the deed performed.
2. Praise in public. Criticize in private. This is still great advice for catching people doing something right.
3. Make the acknowledgement fit the deed. Every act is not deserving of balloons, a brass band and a plaque. Sometimes just a simple few words lasts for days.
4. Make sure and spread around the good cheer and positive reinforcing words. Most of us will always have our favorite person that we love to heap praise and compliments on, but make sure and spread the positive praises around to include your whole team as often as possible.
5. Be sincere in your words of affirmation and be specific. “Carl, I loved the way you listened attentively to that nice lady just now. You head her out, let her speak her mind without interrupting and then provided the perfect solution. That was a model example of excellent customer service. Thank you.”
6. The more you catch someone doing something right the more they will want to do the right things, and that, my friends, oils the human relationship experience, improves the bottom line and makes for an enjoyable environment at home, at work and anywhere else we choose to practice this character trait.
7. If you point out something someone has done right, they are more likely to repeat and model the correct behavior. Can you relate to this statement? I can.
8. Use an indirect compliment. Once my manager asked my opinion on what I felt were some key mattresses we should have on hand in our store. About twenty minutes later I called him back and gave my recommendations. He thanked me, confirmed my choices and added that he agreed with my suggestions. I felt esteemed for that moment and it lasted much of the day.
Catch people doing something right, and tell the world!
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