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Q. Why do you stress encouragement when you teach management courses?

A. The desire for recognition is part of human nature. Yet bosses who make praise part of their routine are an endangered species. That's unfortunate, since praise is a no-cost motivational tool. The book of Proverbs suggests why and how you can be a Chief Encouragement Officer.

Offer praise as a reward, in public whenever possible. Proverbs does not say that the ideal woman should get a merit raise, a bonus, a new Lexus chariot, or a weekend at the Jerusalem spa. Instead it tells us (in 31:31) that the consummate reward for a job well done is that she be praised.

Praising others is gratifying, and it should be timely (see Proverbs 15:23). Notice how Jesus praised people on the spot: Peter for confessing Him as Messiah in front of the other disciples, a repenting, sinful woman in front of the Pharisees, the trusting Gentile centurion in front of a Jewish crowd.

Praise can be nonverbal as well. Proverbs reminds us that the mere expression on a manager's face can have lasting, positive effects on subordinates (15:30; 16:15).

One CEO placed five coins in his pocket at the beginning of each day, then moved one coin to the other pocket each time he complimented a subordinate. A restaurant owner, whose schedule was too hectic to recognize his staff during working hours, took a few minutes after closing time to jot personal notes to those who made a real difference that day.

Michael Zigarelli is an associate professor of management at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

Adapted from: Management by Proverbs (Moody Press, Moody Bible Institute, 1999)

For your convenience, Management by Proverbs is available in the ChristianityToday.com bookstore.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me to be a true encourager to someone around me who needs a lift.

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