I’m a regular attendee at the local college’s band concerts and find myself mesmerized by the drummer. While not because of the drum music itself, the drummer is always so animated and passionate that he draws me in and becomes the focus of my attention.
I happened to run into this student in another setting and immediately recognized him. I shared a few words of praise and let him know that I always noticed his enthusiasm. He was so appreciative of my comments and of someone recognizing his devotion. Even though it was a two-sentence exchange, it meant something to him. We have seen each other in other settings, and there is a nod of recognition each time, reinforcing that he has a fan.
So much of our output goes unacknowledged by others. He plays his heart out on stage without applause solely for him. I write dots with little to no feedback. It’s assumed that people will handle projects at work as part of their responsibilities, with no commentary provided.
If you have occasion to provide an unsolicited, genuine piece of praise or compliment, please do so. You can’t beat it as a morale-booster.
