Part 2 - Character Recognition

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published in February, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

The purpose of recognition is not to bribe or ingratiate those being praised into acting the way you want them to; it is to set real-life examples and concepts of what good character is and why it is important. The purpose of character recognition is to help everyone involved think clearly about what good character is. When you talk about various character qualities, those around you might not immediately understand what you mean or how it applies to them. (People are not, in general, used to thinking about life in terms of character.) When you praise others for specific qualities and point out the real benefits, it encourages the one receiving recognition and helps everyone think in terms of character.

- How often does your normal conversation include references to character traits in yourself or others? How often does the conversation of those around you include these concepts?

- How can you schedule times to publicly recognize others? How can you make recognition a habit?

- Look at the “How to Praise” and “On the Job” section of the library.

This article is the second in a four-part series on using the Members’ Library.

Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.