Not all praise or endorsement is created equal. Some praise carries more weight because of who it comes from.
And here’s a twist.
Those who are respected, trusted, and admired naturally have a greater impact with their praise. And those leaders themselves are known for particular strengths. That can have an enormous impact on how their praise lands. And how seriously people take it.
Consider this. Everyone has signature strengths. This is especially true of successful leaders.
Over time, people around the leader come to know what that leader is exceptional at doing, what character strengths they possess, and what elevated skills and talents they have.
When a respected leader offers specific praise that reflects one of their own signature strengths, people take notice. The praise lands as a genuine endorsement of who they are and what they do.
Take, for instance, a leader who is known for being smart, perhaps bordering on brilliant.
When they praise others for being organized, punctual, accountable, or collaborative, the praise feels good and reinforces desired behavior.
But when they praise someone for being smart, analytical, and skilled at solving problems, the praise lands differently. It carries more weight.
Why? Because praise from someone who shares the same strength carries a different kind of authority — a higher standard. When someone smart says you’re smart, you take the praise as a significant endorsement of your brainpower.
The same is true for any exceptional strength or talent. Leaders who are known for their humility, courage, creativity, or strategic mindset — among many other signature qualities — amplify the impact of their praise when they offer it on that same strength. Attention, reflection, and recognition all deepen.
This kind of Exceptional Endorsement is often done intentionally by the best leaders.
They understand the power of such praise because of how they are perceived. So, when the praise is genuine, they go out of their way to praise others on strengths they themselves are known for.
Any leader can become more conscious and intentional about this kind of praise.
The irony is that most leaders are biased the other way. They are most critical of others on the very qualities that stand out about them.
If they are highly organized, for example, they tend to be especially critical of others’ organizational skills. That’s a common assessment and feedback bias for all leaders and in all cultures.
But when they flip the script and praise people on those same strengths, something important happens. Those on the receiving end experience an Exceptional Endorsement that fills them with pride.
Leaders who set aside their critical reflex and instead recognize their own strengths in others discover something powerful: they can shape how people see themselves.
Great leaders look for that opportunity.
