Summary:
What is encouragement? How can one encourage others?
“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Be it a child or an adult, everyone loves encouragement. To provide encouragement is to instill courage in someone. A smile, a thumbs up or many more words can certainly work wonders for someone down in the ruts. Encouragement goes straight to the heart. The word comes from Latin and it means “to put into the heart”. If you have received encouragement from someone when you are stuck in a storm, then you certainly know how valuable it is for anyone.
Encouraging someone is to give them courage. It aims to make them feel capable and resilient. It is not some form of rescue, fixing, or protection but it is more like an energy that sets fire to damp wood. It speaks not of mistakes, but rather becomes the traveler’s stick supporting him through his journey. Here are some of the ways one can provide encouragement to brighten someone’s life.
Finding a sense of stability can be difficult when there are so many different factors and ongoing changes to consider. This is why motivating students is crucial. Encouragement can motivate people to persevere in the face of adversity. No matter what tasks or projects they are working on, it might give them the much-needed comfort that they are on the correct course.
Ways to Can Provide Encouragement to Anyone
1. Smile
A student can make a tremendous statement with a simple smile. It spreads warmth and the feeling of camaraderie. A well-timed smile can sometimes give much-needed encouragement to someone.
2. Listen and Talk
Most of the time a smile will work but there are times when it may not work. But one can also be encouraged by talking (little) and listening to someone. However, one must remember to build a rapport instead of barging in and attempting to fix things. What may seem easy to us as students may be a big concern to the person asking for guidance.
3. Acknowledgment
Once we have found what the issue is, it is vital our encouragement includes acknowledging their feelings and trying to understand why they feel that way. Show empathy, not sympathy. As students, our typical answer is “it’ll be OK” or “don’t worry, you’ll do great.” But it can be counter-productive by sounding insensitive. So instead, let the person know that you recognize their feelings as legitimate.
4. Tell Someone They’ve Done Things Right
Catch your employees, students, or children doing something right and let them know that you’ve noticed it. It is an effective way of encouraging the person to realize that their efforts are being noticed and appreciated. Thus, it is more likely that they will repeat it in the future.
5. Share Positive Thoughts
Although not always possible it is a good habit to immediately appreciate someone doing well or putting in a lot of effort. Initially, it might feel awkward but it is always better to encourage sooner than to have forgotten the act completely.
6. Praise Effort and Progress
Students benefit from constant reinforcement. Always make it a point to praise people for going the extra mile. No matter how small the progress is, appreciate it. It provides value to the person.
7. Inform how They Helped
Give a student specific examples of how they have benefited you and your life in order to inspire them. Inform them on how their action or assistance has helped someone or the institution on the whole.
8. Boost Morale
Encourage someone by giving genuine praise in front of others. This is powerful as it not only encourages the person but also shows an opportunity for others to achieve it too.
9. Appreciate Receiving Encouragement
Make it a point to acknowledge and value everybody who supports you as a student. It is wise to let them know that their efforts have been recognized and appreciated.
