6 Tips for Using the Most Powerful Tool to Improve Behavior

Not that kind of praise! I'm talking about verbal praise. But now that I've got your attention, please keep reading as this might be the most important single behavior that can be used across individuals, classrooms, and schools to improve a number of important educational outcomes!!

Why Praise is Important

Praise may be the single most powerful tool in your toolbox for improving behavior and performance in school. It’s free, effective, and you always have it in your toolbox. When used effectively, praise can reinforce positive behaviors, motivate students, and create a supportive and encouraging learning environment.?When delivered correctly, praise serves as positive reinforcement for desired behaviors, encouraging students to continue exhibiting those behaviors. By acknowledging and appreciating students' good behavior, teachers can increase the likelihood of its repetition. This reinforcement helps students understand what is expected of them and reinforces the idea that their efforts and actions are valued. The great thing about this is that recognizing a student’s efforts and improvements strengthens relationships while simultaneously boosting their self-efficacy (belief in their ability to complete a given task) and overall self-esteem.

While praise might seem easy, most people (educators included) get it wrong. It’s not just what you say but how you say it, when, and how often! Here are 6 tips for getting the best out of students with praise. Oh, and by the way, if you are an administrator, these same tips apply to you for getting the best performance out of your faculty and staff!

How to Effectively Deliver Praise

However, it's important to note that praise should be specific, genuine, and focused on effort and improvement rather than mere outcomes or external factors. Generic or insincere praise can be ineffective and may even undermine its intended purpose. Additionally, it is essential to balance praise with constructive feedback and provide guidance for areas that need improvement, as this helps students develop a well-rounded understanding of their performance and behavior.

1.??????When providing praise, be specific about what behavior or action you are acknowledging. Instead of generic praise like "good job," provide specific feedback like "I appreciate how you helped your classmate with their assignment." This specificity reinforces the desired behavior and shows that you are genuinely paying attention to students' actions. Apply the same concept when teaching academics!

2.??????Rather than solely praising outcomes, emphasize the effort and improvement students have made. This helps cultivate a growth mindset by encouraging students to see their capabilities as malleable and promotes a focus on continuous progress. For example, instead of only praising a high test score, you could say, "I noticed how you studied diligently for this test, and your hard work paid off."

3.??????Provide praise as soon as possible after the desired behavior is exhibited. Immediate feedback helps students connect their actions with positive reinforcement, reinforcing the behavior and increasing the chances of repetition. Timely praise also shows that you value and recognize their efforts.

4.??????Praise can take various forms, so consider using different methods to keep it engaging and meaningful. Verbal praise, such as specific compliments or words of encouragement, is a common approach. However, you can also use non-verbal cues like a thumbs-up, a high-five, or a smile to acknowledge good behavior. Written praise in the form of notes or certificates can also be effective, allowing students to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

5.??????Foster a positive classroom culture by encouraging students to praise and appreciate their peers' efforts and achievements. This helps create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students learn from one another and build stronger relationships. Consider incorporating activities that promote peer recognition, such as group discussions where students highlight their classmates' strengths and accomplishments.

6.??????While praise is essential, it's equally important to provide constructive feedback when necessary. If a student's behavior needs improvement, address it constructively while also offering guidance on how they can make positive changes. Combining praise with constructive feedback helps students understand their areas of growth while feeling supported in their journey. While many educators get praise wrong, I find that even more get constructive feedback wrong. And even though they are intending to help the student and improve their behavior, they end up hurting their relationship and worsening the very behavior they are attempting to change.

Individualize

Remember that each student and educator is unique. So consider individual preferences and needs when providing praise. Like faculty and staff, some students may prefer public acknowledgment, while others may feel more comfortable with private praise. Building positive relationships, setting high expectations, and consistently using praise as a tool for behavior and performance improvement can contribute to a positive and thriving educational environment.?

Become an EveryDay BehaviorTools Instructor

If you are in an educational environment where you find faculty and staff struggling to effectively deliver praise and correct behavior in a way that builds a positive culture of learning, check out PCMA’s EveryDay BehaviorTools Instructor Course. This course, grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis, can be broken into small chunks and delivered remotely or in person to accommodate any setting. To find out more about the course, check out the video below or contact Drew Carter at [email protected]

About the Author

Specializing in human performance, coaching, and organizational leadership, Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni is a behavior scientist and educator who has worked across education and human services for almost three decades. In this capacity, he has served the needs of children and adults through various positions, including COO, Vice President, Director of School Improvement, Leadership Director, Professor, Assistant Principal, School Turnaround Manager, Clinical Coordinator, Therapist, District Behavior Analyst, and Director of Progam Development and Public Relations at?PCMA . Dr. Gavoni is passionate about applying Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), or the science of human behavior, to make a positive difference in establishing safe, productive, and engaging environments that bring out the best in faculty and staff so they can bring out the best in the learners they serve. He is an active board member of the?Opioid Awareness Foundation ?and?World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance .

Known for his authenticity and practical approaches, Dr. Gavoni is the host of the Top 1.5% globally ranked?Crisis in Education Podcast ?and a sought-out speaker at various Educational and Behavior Analytic Conferences Internationally. He a the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling co-author of The Scientific Laws of Life & Leadership: Behavioral Karma; Quick Wins! Accelerating School Transformation through Science, Engagement, and Leadership; Deliberate Coaching: A Toolbox for Accelerating Teacher Performance; and MMA Science: A Training, Coaching, and Belt Ranking Guide. Dr. Gavoni is proud to introduce OBM and Applied Behavior Analysis to worldwide audiences through his numerous publications and his work with PCMA to create productive, safe, and positive cultures.

Beyond his work in education and human services, Dr. Gavoni is also a former Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion and a highly respected striking coach in combat sports. Coach “Paulie Gloves,” as he is known in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) community, has trained world champions and UFC vets using technologies rooted in the behavioral sciences. Coach Paulie has been featured in the books?Beast: Blood, Struggle, and Dreams a the Heart of Mixed Martial Arts , A Fighter’s Way, and the featured article Ring to Cage:?How four former boxers help mold MMA’s finest . He is also an author who has written extensively for various online magazines such as Scifighting, Last Word on Sports, and Bloody Elbow, where his?Fight Science series ?continues to bring behavioral science to MMA. Finally, Paulie was also a featured fighter in FX’s highest-rated show at the time, The Toughman, and as an MMA coach in the Lifetime reality series?Leave it to Geege .