When people say good things about you.

I know many people who have a harder time accepting praise than they do criticism.  Some take criticism from every corner very seriously - causing them to scramble to figure out what went wrong, how they could have disappointed someone, how they can fix it, or what they can do better next time. But when praise comes, they deflect and underplay it.  While this might appear humble, in reality it can be harmful, out of balance. Energy that could be spent moving an organization or oneself forward is spent chasing after criticisms that may not even be grounded in truth, or it may come from an outlier who doesn’t speak for all of the target audience.  Accepting praise helps reinforce where things are going well, affirming what you need to continue to develop in yourself and your team. Embrace praise. Accept compliments. Hear the truth about yourself – not just the hard-to-hear truth, but the good-to-hear truth.

Photo: Taken after a hike down from Berggasthaus Aescher in the Swiss Alps. The reward of a wet and steep downhill hike was this surprising chorus.