Remember, everyone craves appreciation and recognition, and genuine praise is more valuable than insincerity or flattery. The idea of using praise instead of criticism is rooted in B.F. Skinner’s teachings, a contemporary psychologist. Skinner’s experiments with animals and humans demonstrated that minimizing criticism and emphasizing praise reinforces positive behavior, while undesirable behaviors diminish due to a lack of attention. This concept revolves around making people feel valued and good about themselves. Positive reinforcement, as opposed to negative criticism, is emphasized by Carnegie, who asserts that praising good actions reinforces them, and undesirable behaviors fade away.

Carnegie stresses the importance of sincere and specific praise. Instead of generic compliments, he recommends highlighting specific aspects of a person’s performance. For instance, rather than saying, “Good job, very good presentation,” provide detailed feedback like, “Great presentation. Your confidence and charisma were evident, and the way you emphasized key points with XYZ was effective.” This specific and sincere approach enhances the impact of praise. Additionally, Carnegie encourages frequent praise. Acknowledging even the smallest improvements reinforces positive behavior, signaling to the individual that their efforts are recognized and appreciated.