Praise that backfires

There’s some phrasing we’ve got to stop using because it undermines the point we're trying to make.

See if you can spot the problem:

• “I can’t recommend this paper enough”
• “I would not hesitate to recommend…”
• “Couldn’t recommend anyone more for this”

Do you see it?

❌ Can’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t.

When we start praise with a negative, that’s what people hear.

Instead, when offering praise use:

✅ "I wholeheartedly recommend..."

✅ "I'm thrilled to vouch for..."

✅ "It's my pleasure to endorse..."

Praise is a gift. Don’t let yours backfire.

Speaking of which, here's some I recently received:

"I highly recommend Bri Williams as a speaker.

Her session on 'Influencing Action' was absolutely captivating. Bri clearly communicated the fundamental principles of behavioural economics and interesting case studies into a dynamic 60-minute presentation that kept our entire team fully engaged.

Her interactive approach and real-life examples made the concepts very accessible. Her talk was directly applicable to our business challenges and opportunities.

Bri's professionalism and insights left a lasting impression, sparking valuable discussions and generating numerous actionable ideas among our team.

She really exceeded my expectations right from when I first engaged with her and throughout her presentation. The team appreciated her answering questions at the end, too. I look forward to reading her book.

Thank you, Bri, for a truly enlightening experience! "

Libby E, Suncorp.

Find out more about Bri's speaking services here.