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Notice the Good
Table of Contents
Notice the good means naming the specific helpful move so people know what to repeat.
Key Concept
- “Good job” teaches nothing. “Your rebounds won that scrimmage” teaches the rep.
- Specific praise names the behavior I want again - that is how Process Over Outcomes sounds out loud.
- Vague thanks flatters; spelled-out moves give people something to repeat tomorrow.
- The stake is reinforcement: praise the scoreboard and the steady process stays invisible.
Level 1 - Recognize
Notice-the-good means praise the exact move you want copied - specific feedback, not empty approval.
Level 2 - Explain
Your rebounds won that game tells them what to do again. Good job says nothing - point at the move that worked.
Level 3 - Use
Praise the exact rep that worked - vague approval feels nice and changes nothing about tomorrow's behavior.
Level 4 - Connect
Praise tied only to outcomes hides steady work. Praise without truth becomes manipulation. Process Over Outcomes keeps the target honest.
Level 5 - Create
Join Gentleness with precise Coaching Ethics. Then Complete the Cycle by naming the next repeatable move, not stopping at Name the Feeling.
Examples
- After practice I told the kid who boxed out every drill that his rebounds won the scrimmage and he should keep sealing like that.
- I emailed the intern that catching the duplicate invoice before I did saved us a call - specific beats a generic thanks slide.
Note Relationships
| Relationship | Wikilink | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| contradicts | Outcomes Over Pitch Decks | when only results get praised and the steady process gets ignored |
| extends | Continuous Improvement | Naming what worked feeds the next rep |
| extends | Process Over Outcomes | I reinforce the behavior in the loop, not only the score |
| extends | The Golden Rule | Specific praise is how I would want to be treated |
| implements | Follow Their Lead | Sometimes the best lead to follow is the good thing they already did |
