Maybe I Do Like Praise (But Only When It's Real)
Maybe I Do Like Praise (But Only When It's Real) A personal reflection from inside the consulting world In the corporate world, I never needed praise. I didn’t crave it. I wasn’t chasing gold stars. I knew I was doing a great job—and if I wasn’t? I just wanted someone to tell me. Directly. So I could fix it and move forward. Simple. But something has shifted since I started running my own business. Now, as fractional HR, I find myself deeply moved by the feedback I receive. When clients go out of their way to thank me, to say how supported they feel, or to reflect on how far their workplace has come—it lands differently. It feels real. Not performance management. Not team-building fluff. Not “keep her happy so she keeps working 80 hours a week.” Just genuine appreciation. And wow —what a difference that makes. The Hidden Truth Behind Corporate Praise Let’s be honest: in the traditional workplace, praise is often strategic. Sometimes it’s used to smooth over burnout....