There is no one who doesn't know the saying, "Praise makes even a whale dance."
However, when you actually try to praise someone, the words just linger on your lips, and shyness often takes precedence.
Especially in Korean society, where hierarchy is strict, it takes more courage than expected for a superior to sincerely acknowledge a subordinate, or for a colleague to sincerely acknowledge a colleague.
Performance management expert Allen met an interesting figure while training U.S. Army officers.
It was a colonel who considered 'soft skills' like encouragement or praise to be a waste of time.
He displayed a skeptical attitude, asking, "In the military, completing a mission is a given, so why is praise really necessary?"
Then one day, it was when this colonel had perfectly finished an important briefing.
The general, his superior, acted differently than usual.
He roughly cut a piece of yellow drawing paper nearby, folded it into a card, wrote "Great Job!" in large letters on the outside, and pressed words of sincere praise firmly onto the inside.
The general called the colonel over and handed him the rough card. What was the result?
"The colonel read the card for a long time, then stood there blankly for a while.
And then, without even lifting his head, he quietly left the office."
The general followed behind, worried that he might have made a mistake.
However, the scene he encountered in the hallway was surprising.
That gruff Colonel was going around every office, boasting to his colleagues about the yellow paper he had received from the General.
Why was this yellow card more powerful than a simple "Good job"?
Visible Recognition: Words scatter into the air, but a card remains in your hand. This serves as physical proof that 'my value has been proven.'
Time Filled with Sincerity: The time the General spent finding the paper, folding it, and writing is equivalent to the 'weight of his sincerity' toward the other person.
Formality That Saves Face: In Korean society, 'recognition' is directly linked to 'face'. A warm handwritten letter elevates someone's presence to its peak, more so than an official document.
Afterward, the Colonel became the most ardent evangelist of praise.
He began encouraging his subordinates' achievements by creating his own special cards.
The person who used to treat praise coldly had become a magician of praise.
Like the Colonel in Alan's story, there are many people around us who thirst for recognition. The thought, "They must understand my feelings," is a delusion.
Unexpressed sincerity is never conveyed.
That small piece of paper will change the other person's life and eventually create a reliable ally to help you succeed.
Making others shine is ultimately making yourself shine the brightest.
