Quicker to Praise, Quicker to Thank

It’s so easy to notice what’s wrong.  One of my work teams absolutely makes me crazy with their constant criticism, nit-picking, lack of accountability....I could go on but I'll stop.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about a simple challenge after seeing a recent quote.

"Let us be quicker to praise than to find fault. Let us be quicker to thank others than to complain.  -- Desmond Tutu"

That one shift can change the atmosphere in a room, the tone of a conversation, and even the condition of our hearts.

Sometimes fault-finding doesn’t look harsh. It can sound like:

• “Why didn’t they…?”

• “They never…”

• “This always happens…”

• “I’m so tired of…”

And while those words may feel harmless in the moment, they can slowly drain our joy. Aside from draining joy, it can also feel like life is being sucked out of you.  They can also discourage the people around us—especially the ones who are trying.  

Praise doesn’t mean ignoring problems or pretending everything is perfect. It simply means we choose to notice what’s good first.

A little praise can go a long way:

• “Thank you for helping.”

• “I appreciate you.”

• “You did a great job.”

• “That meant a lot to me.”

Encouragement is powerful. It builds connection. It brings warmth where criticism might bring distance.

Complaining makes us feel heavier. Gratitude makes us feel lighter.

When we thank others, we remind ourselves that we’re not alone—and that there is still goodness around us, even on hard days.

And gratitude is also a form of humility. It says, “I see what you did,” and “I don’t take you for granted.”

In full disclosure, especially with the one work team, this will be easier said than done but I'm going to make an effort not just for the betterment of the team and our work but for myself. 

Resources:

Quote from grateful.org

SEO optimization by ChatGPT

Scripture Image - YouVersion Bible App