---
title: "Techniques for Interactions: Effective Praise"
description: 3 Steps to Increase Desired Behavior. Notice what students are doing “right” or “catch them being good”
---

[Skip to content](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/techniques-for-interactions-effective-praise#main-content)

English

Show submenu for translations

[More support](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en)

![Zollege\_Logo\_PRIMARY\_Stacked\_Black\_NoDescriptor 8.47.31 PM.png\]](https://knowledge.zollege.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zollege_Logo_PRIMARY_Stacked_Black_NoDescriptor%208.47.31%20PM.png?height=40&name=Zollege_Logo_PRIMARY_Stacked_Black_NoDescriptor%208.47.31%20PM.png)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- [More support](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/kb-tickets/new)
- Go to Zollege

 Go to Zollege

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Instructor Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors?hsLang=en)
2. [Learning and Development](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/learning-and-development?hsLang=en)
3. [Teaching & Learning Styles](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/learning-and-development?hsLang=en#teaching-learning-styles)

# Techniques for Interactions: Effective Praise

## 3 Steps to Increase Desired Behavior. Notice what students are doing “right” or “catch them being good”

This research proven to help increase the likelihood that someone is going to repeat a desired behavior. It is called “effective” because it achieves the effect of not just being general praise: “You are awesome!”, which can be vague.

 

### Show approval:

Smile, use their name, with an enthusiastic voice, but not necessarily loud. Body language is important too.

 

### Describe the positive behavior:

Use your words to “playback” what you saw or heard them do: “***Julie, you did a great job handling that feedback! You stayed calm, listened to everything I had to say, and agreed to***…”. Be very specific in describing what they actually did or said. “*Thanks for being so sweet*!” may be a nice thing to say but is not clear or descriptive enough.

 

### Give a reason: A “rationale”:

Why is this behavior so important? How does it help them? How does it help others? “You know when you can receive criticism like you just did by staying calm and listening, the doctor or lead assistant is more likely to want to promote you.” Notice it says “more likely” - don’t promise anything. The “reason” helps the person connect their behavior with the benefits for themselves and for others.

- [Welcome to Zollege](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/welcome-to-zollege?hsLang=en)
- [Dental](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/dental?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Checklists and Inventory](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/dental?hsLang=en#checklists-and-inventory)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/dental?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
    - [Texas Radiology](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/dental?hsLang=en#texas-radiology)
- [Medical](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/medical?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Checklists and Inventory](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/medical?hsLang=en#checklists-and-inventory)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/medical?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
- [Learning and Development](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/learning-and-development?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Training](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/learning-and-development?hsLang=en#training)
    - [Classroom Techniques & Methods](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/learning-and-development?hsLang=en#classroom-techniques-methods)
    - [Classroom Rules](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/learning-and-development?hsLang=en#classroom-rules)
    - [Teaching & Learning Styles](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/learning-and-development?hsLang=en#teaching-learning-styles)
- [Forms , Feedback & Requests](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/forms-feedback-requests?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Ordering](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/forms-feedback-requests?hsLang=en#ordering)
    - [Classroom Forms](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/forms-feedback-requests?hsLang=en#classroom-forms)
    - [Observation Forms](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/forms-feedback-requests?hsLang=en#observation-forms)
    - [Requests](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/forms-feedback-requests?hsLang=en#requests)
    - [Complaints and Resignation](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/forms-feedback-requests?hsLang=en#complaints-and-resignation)
- [Emergency and Safety Protocols](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/emergency-and-safety-protocols?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [General](https://knowledge.zollege.com/migration/en/instructors/emergency-and-safety-protocols?hsLang=en#general)

[![Chill listening crop-3](https://knowledge.zollege.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zollege_Wordmark_Black_Descriptor.png?width=119&height=24&name=Zollege_Wordmark_Black_Descriptor.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://zollege.com/)

Instructor Help Center

Copyright © 2026, Zollege Healthcare Career School