“The New One Minute Manager” by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson is a 2015 update of the original 1986 book. I recently read it looking to understand the changes they made and, while they seem to be valid based on current trends or situations, I also think the original premises are just as valid.
I read it for a number of reasons, one of which was to refresh my memory and see if I missed anything that I regularly do, and I haven’t. One of the things I think about is catching people doing something good. I work at this and even have coin tokens I give employees while I praise them. The original book called it a “One-Minute Praising” and it is still called that.
However, what it is called is not important. What is important is that partners and managers should make an effort to catch a staff person (or admin or another partner or a child or spouse or maybe even a client) doing something good and tell them so, then and there, and publicly if possible.
We are quick to point out something wrong, and that is important because we want it corrected, want the person to learn from the error, not repeat it and not teach it incorrectly. We also want them to go back and fix any such errors on their work in progress that hasn’t been handed in yet. Blanchard’s book tells you how to do that and, whether you read the book or not, you will be catching people with their errors. You do not need to read a book or take a course on finding errors and telling staff about them. You might need a better method or more finesse or care, but you will let them know about what they did wrong.
Many managers are not in the habit of telling people they did something good. They might at the completion of a project or during an evaluation, but not while it is being worked on. There usually are many opportunities in the course of a big project for a rest stop, a break, a quick review or even during an interaction discussing it. Use these times to catch people doing something particularly good. It doesn’t take much of an effort if you try to do this. If you’ve never done this, then use the next interaction as your start. Look for it.
I think the first time you notice someone doing something great and telling them so might seem awkward; it shouldn’t, but so what. Tell them quickly what they did that you thought was great, thank them and tell them you are proud of what they did. It only takes about 42 seconds, but you’ve acquired a couple of hours of excitement by them, and possibly greater productivity. They will mention it to their spouse or partner and feel good about themselves. Get in the habit to look for these situations but save it for something really good. It works!
My 2010 “Power Bites” book has a chapter, “When Others Push the Pencil for You, Make Sure It Is Your Pencil,” where I wrote about the benefits of complimenting freely. Me and Tom Blanchard. There must be something to this. Try it. It works.
My “Power Bites” book is truly great (in my humble opinion) and I think everyone should read it. However, so you do not think I am hustling you into buying it, I will email you a free PDF if you request it by emailing me at
Oh, and catch someone doing something good!
Do not hesitate to contact me at
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