The Power of Positive Energy

Some years ago I have had the most blessed opportunity to work with a school in an area of high generational poverty in a mid-west city. Nearly all of the students were black. Over the years the children got to know me and I grew to love them. When I walked on the campus many of the students would catch my eye and break into a giant smile. The mutual love and respect was not originally present, however. It took time and consistent, persistent, unconditional effort on my part to win their hearts and minds.


When I first arrived at the school for summer workshops the teachers and administrators were leery and untrusting of me. After all, who does this balding, skinny, goofy looking white-guy from the west think he is? What does he think he knows about black kids in the poverty of an urban city? During the workshop several of the teachers sat around tables reading newspapers, visiting or working on other things. Some attempted to counter me with the, “Yea, But” argument, “Yea, that may work where you’re from, but you don’t know our kids!”

When I visited the school throughout that first year most of the students were also wary. Few would talk with me and I received many strange looks. Some asked if I was there to close down the school. Some asked if I was the police. Over time, trust was gained and love, on my part at least, was nurtured.

“I love you.” What did I do to win the hearts and minds of students and faculty? I did not bring candy… I did not throw pizza or ice cream parties. I was consistent, persistent, genuine and unconditional in my verbal praise.

Early in my experience, during every interaction with a student I asked the student’s name, took the student by the hand looked him or her straight in the eyes and gave a genuine compliment. I walked around looking for reasons to praise. I smiled, winked, shook hands, gained friendly eye contact and in my mind said these words, “I love you” and meant it.

As we worked with this school the administrators, teachers and staff discovered this secret as well. Those who applied this simple, yet powerful strategy were met with remarkable success. Not only did the students benefit, but also the teachers reported that they were happier and enjoyed teaching much more when they were looking for reasons to praise.

4:1 Positive over Negative This principle has been referred to as the “Catch ‘em being good” principle. These teachers discovered that they could gain more compliance by attending to desirable behavior than they could by pointing out, nagging and attempting to “beat-out” inappropriate behavior. Furthermore, teachers who used a pleasant facial expression, gained eye contact and verbally praised students at least 4 times as often as they commanded, corrected, scolded or otherwise noticed misbehavior were much more likely to gain and maintain compliant behavior.

Verbally praise compliance. This concept seems self-evident, but it is not. First, it is easy for teachers to forget or not notice when students do comply with their requests, and they simply move on to the next task. Second, with some students, teachers feel that if they verbally reinforce the students for complying, they will stop the requested behavior (i.e., the “letting sleeping dogs lie” argument). This is incorrect. If teachers want compliance in the future, they must reward it now!

We taught the teachers to use the FEEDING rules of reinforcement and the Power Praise Phrase method as techniques for delivering verbal reinforcement. The following table outlines each of the components of effectively delivering verbal praise.


Call 480-204-7489 or email DrBrian@ThePrincipals-Office.com now - For more information on the FEEDING Rules of Reinforcement and the Power Praise Phrase method.