Praise in public. Criticise in private.

[Andy Black]

“Praise in public. Criticise in private.”

One of my favourite lines, picked up from some management or leadership book.

It goes hand-in-hand with another favourite of mine:

“Catch them when they’re good.”

(That’s a very good one for parents too.)

Anyone have any other favourite leadership, management, or parenting quotes or tips?

 

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[ZCP]

up early, my man! damn old people and their early keyboard smashing! ......

we've been trying the dalio style specific callouts with a younger crew ....... effective at first as we brought out a lot of issues that were not being brought up...... we've had to move them back to 'areas for improvement' as no one on earth has thick skin anymore and everyone wanted to just say them in private ......

as to your question: "assume every internal email will be put on a billboard across the street"

 

[Andy Black]

"assume every internal email will be put on a billboard across the street"

Oh, good tip. I hope that wisdom wasn’t earned the hard way.

Yeah. Can’t sleep. Woke up too damn early with my mind whirring. It’s gonna be a long day...

 

[kleine2]

In the software industry we have: "Write your code like the person who will maintain it is serial killer and he knows where you live".

 

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[Andy Black]

In the software industry we have: "Write your code like the person who will maintain it is serial killer and he knows where you live".

Lol. I used to write code for my future self too.

 

[Pavan M.]

“Praise in public. Criticise in private.”

Very nice quote.

Any fool can criticize and most fools do.

- Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends & Influence People)

parenting quotes

Children learn more from who you are than what you teach.

 

[Andy Black]

Children learn more from who you are than what you teach.

100%

My favourite parenting quote is:

“Be the man you want your sons to grow up to be.” (Craig Desorcy)

 

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[sonny_1080]

I love the quote I heard from you somewhere along the line.

I'll probably butcher it but it goes something like "people follow leaders because they are in motion"

This one has helped me out over the years as well:

"You can get everything you want in life if you will just help enough other people get what they want." - Zig Ziglar

 

[Choices]

"The only difference between feedback and criticism is the way you hear it."
- Tim S. Grover

 

[Roli]

100%

My favourite parenting quote is:

“Be the man you want your sons to grow up to be.” (Craig Desorcy)

My favourite is:

"If you can't be a great inspiration to your children, be a terrible warning."

By the way, what is the context of your 'praise in public, criticise in private'?

 

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[Andy Black]

By the way, what is the context of your 'praise in public, criticise in private'?

I think it came from a management/leadership book. I skimmed it when I was put in charge of a team of 35. Up till then I’d managed/lead smaller teams.

That line resonated. Basically, if someone does something good then announce it to the whole team. If someone does something that “could be improved on“, then take them aside and talk to them privately about it. Also, my preference would be to frame it so they can see the opportunity for them, rather than them seeing it as a negative (as per my “Yes, but” thread).

Listen to the chat I had with @Kak where we mention this line and discuss other ways of leading and building relationships.

Links:
>Yes, but
> Kak & Andy discuss the importance of building relationships in business

One day I’ll get round to doing a podcast and/or YouTube channel where I take a favourite quote I live by and discuss it. Be warned... I have well over 100 at last count.

 

[Bearcorp]

One day I’ll get round to doing a podcast and/or YouTube channel where I take a favourite quote I live by and discuss it. Be warned... I have well over 100 at last count.

I look forward to that Andy, you have a lot of value to add with that content on those platforms.

 

[LiveEntrepreneur]

“Praise in public. Criticise in private.”

One of my favourite lines, picked up from some management or leadership book.

It goes hand-in-hand with another favourite of mine:

“Catch them when they’re good.”

(That’s a very good one for parents too.)

Anyone have any other favourite leadership, management, or parenting quotes or tips?

Is that because the media is going to be on your a$$ lol?

 

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[Andy Black]

Is that because the media is going to be on your a$$ lol?

I hadn't thought of that, but it's another good reason.

 

[GoodluckChuck]

"Check your work as if you're the client trying to verify the work was done correctly."

This idea has helped us avoid letting the clients find our mistakes before we do.

 

[Andy Black]

up early, my man! damn old people and their early keyboard smashing!

That’s the pot calling the kettle black old man!

I wonder what the gentlemen and ladies of older generations used to do. Was it customary to try to right a wrong in private first before resorting to handbags at dawn?

 

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[Hadrian]

“Praise in public. Criticise in private.”

One of my favourite lines, picked up from some management or leadership book.

hah yes that’s why I haven’t taken Kak to task yet for his (at times) misguided political philosophy and the soft-target oligarchs he’s lambasting. The business advice is Terrific though! @Kak

Plus he sent me a free book!

 

[Kak]

hah yes that’s why I haven’t taken Kak to task yet for the misguided political philosophy he’s promoting and the soft-target oligarchs he’s lambasting. The business advice is Solid! @Kak

Just did ... You mean capitalism without hypocrisy?

 

[Bekit]

I wonder what the gentlemen and ladies of older generations used to do. Was it customary to try to right a wrong in private first before resorting to handbags at dawn?

I think it goes back at least to Biblical times.

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Matthew 18:15-17

 

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[Andy Black]

I think it goes back at least to Biblical times.

Wow. I did not know that at all. Thanks for digging that up @Bekit.

 

[Andy Black]

One day I’ll get round to doing a podcast and/or YouTube channel where I take a favourite quote I live by and discuss it. Be warned... I have well over 100 at last count.

Hmmm. I can't even remember writing this. That seed is starting to burrow it'self in my mind (again).

 

[Itizn]

Criticize in private = talk behind someones back

100% disagree

If there's something worth criticising to someone who's of any value to you, let them know.

 

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[doster.zach]

Criticize in private = talk behind someones back

100% disagree

If there's something worth criticising to someone who's of any value to you, let them know.

Yes I agree don't talk behind people's back!

I believe it's supposed to mean don't humiliate in front of others.

I think it's from How to Win Friends & Influence People, it's at least covered in the book.

 

[Andy Black]

Criticize in private = talk behind someones back

100% disagree

If there's something worth criticising to someone who's of any value to you, let them know.

Criticise in private = talk to them in private rather than criticise them in front of other people

 

[Itizn]

Yes, I guess I interpreted it differently

 

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[BizyDad]

Hmmm. I can't even remember writing this. That seed is starting to burrow it'self in my mind (again).

This is a reminder to focus on one thing.

As for leadership quotes...

You manage things. You lead people.

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.

The role as a leader is not to create more followers; it is to create more leaders.

 

[Andy Black]

This is a reminder to focus on one thing.

100%. DFY client work is my focus for now.

The other stuff is a hobby… kinda like posting in this forum. One day I’d like to hire people to do something with all the content I have strewn all over the place.

 

[YanC]

There is a similar line I like and try to apply, apparently it's from Naval: "Praise specifically, criticize generally".

Example with my contractor who cleans my short term rentals:
- "You did a great job today, the customers were very happy with how clean the place was, thanks"
- "Apparently the customers found a hair left in the shower, maybe I haven't been clear enough about specific points of attention when getting the apartment ready, here are a few details about how things should be done so we can do better next time".

 

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[Andy Black]

There is a similar line I like and try to apply, apparently it's from Naval: "Praise specifically, criticize generally".

Example with my contractor who cleans my short term rentals:
- "You did a great job today, the customers were very happy with how clean the place was, thanks"
- "Apparently the customers found a hair left in the shower, maybe I haven't been clear enough about specific points of attention when getting the apartment ready, here are a few details about how things should be done so we can do better next time".

Hmm. Are those examples the other way round?

 

[YanC]

Hmm. Are those examples the other way round?

Hum no, what I meant is if the job is particularly well done, I'll tell him directly that HE did a great job (praise specifically), but if he made a mistake, rather than telling him directly that HE made a mistake, I'll try to tell him more indirectly what wasn't right, in this example stating that maybe I hadn't been clear enough about how things should be done and here is what he should be careful about next time (criticize generally)...

That's how I understood the quote anyways, maybe it only makes sense in my head