You can tell someone “Good job,” but how you say it, when you say, and the context of where you say it all matter.
“Good job?” when an excited intern dares to suggest something in the middle of a meeting sends a very different message than “Good job!” sent to that same intern via email. And it’s different yet than the sarcastic “Good job” you use to cut down someone who just made a mistake.
Getting the words right are important when building trust with teams. But even more crucial is the nuance to understand what you’re really trying to communicate and how best to do so.
PS – My new book, The Future is Trust: Embracing the Era of Trust-Centered Leadership is now available! It’s filled with frameworks and practical tools to help leaders build trust with themselves, with others, and at scale. Snag a copy here or learn more at thefutureistrust.com
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