I disagree with this kind of blanket rhetoric. Isn’t congratulating people a more expressive form of encouragement? Wouldn’t it then be more visible and maybe seem like there was more congratulating being done instead of encouraging? Similarly, I’ve worked many customer service jobs. After a while you can get locked into this kind of “why is everyone having this issue with our website or some other technical thing?” You’re answering calls or emails ten times a day about it, trying to fix the problem because that’s what you’re there for. And you start to think “well, this is a big issue! Everything must be redone now, new modes of service must be created for these people.” But you forget that these handful of people are the only ones with the problem, because you don’t talk to the other 200 people that have no trouble at all. Point is, we see congratulations of successful people everywhere: awards, grants, public praise. Success and praise are often inseparable. Encouragement, however, tends to be more quiet, more humble; seen only by those who need it.
I don’t know why this little oneism is bothering me enough to post this. Maybe I just need coffee.
