Proof Why A Pat On The Back Goes A Long Way
Are you the type of person that loves to give the people around you a pat on the back for a job well done? If you are, then you’re doing it right.
Why is it so hard for people to this simple act of kindness? Most of us appreciate a nice compliment or a pat on the back, so why are they so hard to come by?
There are managers that are very stingy with their kind words. They act as though paying a compliment is a sign of weakness. What they should know is even a simple pat on the back will motivate employees to continue to strive for more.
You saw this in every March Madness game: When someone missed a free throw, their teammates would reach out and high-five them anyway. A study just found encouragement like that really can make a difference.
This is the same for all of us and not just managers. Pats on the back are motivating and uplifting tools for everyone from parents to teachers to coaches and doctors.
Proof that pats on the back go a long way
Researchers looked at hundreds of free-throw scenarios from women’s basketball games to see if it actually helped players make their next free throw. And it did.
They were more likely to sink their second shot if a teammate reached out for a high-five, or a pat on the back. Their chances rose even more when MULTIPLE teammates did it.
It didn’t make a huge difference when they made the first shot, only when they missed it. Researchers think it’s because touch conveys a powerful, nonverbal signal that “we’re with you, even when you miss.”
It definitely applies to other scenarios too. So remember it the next time your kid or someone you care about feels like they failed at something. A pat on the back really can make a difference.
