Great leaders get results because they know how to talk with people. Research shows about 85% of success comes from people skills, not just technical skill. If you want your team to do their best, you must learn how to communicate in ways that build pride, trust, and action.
Below are four clear ways leaders can speak so teams feel inspired and ready to work.
1. Give real praise, not harsh criticism
People want to feel important. Praise helps them grow. Criticism often hurts pride and makes people shut down.
How to praise well
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Be specific. Say what exactly they did well.
Bad: “Good job.”
Better: “Great job on the report — your data was clear and on time.” -
Praise publicly when it fits. A short shout-out in a meeting can mean a lot.
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Notice small steps. Praise small improvements to keep people trying.
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Build a good reputation for them. Tell others the person is reliable or creative — they will try to match that image.
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Deliver praise cleverly. Sometimes tell a mutual friend about the person’s work, or add a quiet compliment in an email. This can feel more real than loud praise.
2. Motivate by showing what they want (not by ordering)
People do things better when they want to do them. Leaders should show how a task helps the person, not just the company.
How to make them want to help
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Find their wish. Ask: “What would make this project worth your time?”
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Match your ask to their goal. Show how the task helps them grow, earn, or learn.
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Appeal to better reasons. People like to feel helpful, honest, or proud — mention those reasons.
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Make them glad to say yes. Phrase requests so they feel important and chosen, not pushed.
3. Handle mistakes without hurting people
When someone makes a mistake, how you say it matters. The goal is to fix the problem and keep trust.
How to correct kindly
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Don’t attack. Saying “you’re wrong” makes people defensive.
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Start with praise. If you must correct, begin by saying something true and nice.
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Use “and” instead of “but.” “You did well, and here’s one thing to try next” sounds better than “You did well, but…”
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Admit your own mistakes first. It makes the other person relax and listen.
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Ask questions instead of ordering. “How could we make this clearer?” invites ideas.
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Help them save face. Don’t embarrass people in front of others. Let them keep dignity.
4. Create an inspiring workplace every day
Small things add up. Your tone, your smile, and your way of listening set the mood for the whole team.
Simple ways to inspire
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Smile from the heart. A real smile shows you like the person and are glad to see them.
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Listen closely. Give full attention. Ask them to tell more about what they did and why.
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Give a challenge. A clear, exciting goal makes people rise to the occasion.
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Make your message vivid. Use a short story, a clear image, or a simple demo. Show — don’t just tell.