According to researchers, one of the most critical factors for a fully engaged workforce is how understood and appreciated employees feel. Yet, many hold back from expressing appreciation at work because it can sometimes feel “fake.”

This insight made me think of baseball. Growing up, I played mostly first base and did some pitching. One lesson drilled into every ball player is to “chatter.”

When eight-year-olds chatter, they’re often just making noise. But as I got older, I noticed that the best teams used chatter in a more thoughtful way.

The top players didn’t just make noise during the pitch; they encouraged teammates between pitches:

– “Good pitch” for a strike thrown well.

– “Let’s battle back” to support a pitcher behind in the count.

– “Come on, ‘blue’” as friendly encouragement to an umpire who made a tough call.

– “Way to motor” to praise a teammate who ran hard to catch a ball.

– “Way to get dirty” to commend a teammate who dove to keep a ball in play.

The best, smartest players were verbalizing encouragement after every pitch. It makes me wonder: How many of those players today are the same ones who say it feels awkward to give praise at work?

It’s not awkward if it’s the culture. And it becomes the culture when people practice it consistently. It starts when someone makes a routine of noticing and acknowledging good work.

All you old ball players, unite! Let’s start noticing all the good things people are doing around us and speak up. It makes us all a little happier to come to work.

-Howe Q. Wallace Jr