The Praise Playbook
High-performance cultures run on clear signals. People don’t repeat what you expect. They repeat what you recognize. When you make praise a habit, you make what matters visible.
Start here—these tools will help you put it into practice
Praise Profile: Quick Start
A fast, one-page snapshot to help you understand how someone prefers to be recognized—so you can get it right, right away.
How to use it: Have new employees complete it during onboarding, then review and reference it before giving recognition.
Praise Profile: Deep Dive
A more detailed guide to uncover what makes recognition meaningful, motivating, and repeatable for each individual.
How to use it: Use this as a structured agenda during a 1:1 to ask, listen, and document preferences you can act on consistently.
The Stay Conversation
A simple, proactive check-in (the “exit interview antidote”) to understand what’s working, what’s not, and what will keep people engaged before it’s too late.
How to use it: Select 2–3 questions each quarter to guide open, forward-looking conversations.
SAFE Praise Practices
A practical framework to make recognition Specific, Authentic, Frequent, and Empathetic—so people know what matters and repeat it.
How to use it: Share with employees and use it as a quick, everyday checklist for shaping and delivering effective praise.
Stay in the Loop
The Praise Playbook is growing.
I’ll be adding new tools, templates, and research to help you recognize and reinforce what’s working.
Subscribe to The Swan Dive Newsletter to get updates as new resources are released.
