How_to_Talk_to_Anyone_92_Little_Tricks_for_Big_Success_in_Relationships

want to praise friends every day, employ the next technique.
How to Make Em Smile with Itty-Bitty Boosters
In contrast to the big guns of Killer Compliments for strangers, and The
Tombstone Game for loved ones, which we will learn shortly, heres a little
peashooter you can pop off at anyone, antime. I call it Little Strokes.
Little Strokes are short, quick kudos you drop into your casual
conversation. Make liberal use of Little Strokes with your coleagues in the
office:
Nice job, John! Well done, Kyoto! Hey, not bad, Billy! I have one friend
who uses a lovely Little Stroke. If I do something he likes, he says, Not too
shabby, Leil. You can also use Little Strokes on the everyday achievements
of your loved ones. If your spouse just cooked a great meal, Wow, youre
the best chef in town. Just before going out together, Gee, honey, you look
great. After a long drive, You did it! It must have been tiring. With your
kids, Hey, gang, great job cleaning up your room.
I once read a poignant Readers Digest article about a little girl who
often misbehaved. Her mother had to continually reprimand her. However,
one day, the little girl had been especially good and
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hadnt done a single thing that called for a reprimand. The mother said,
That night after I tucked her in bed and started downstairs, I heard a
muffled noise. Running back up, I found her head buried in the pillow. She
was sobbing. Between the sobs she asked, Mommy, havent I been a pretty
good girl today?
The question, the mother said, went through her like a knife. I had been
quick to correct her, she said, when she was wrong. But when she tried to
behave, I hadnt noticed it and I put her to bed without one word of
appreciation.
Adults are all grown-up little girls and little boys. We may not go to bed
sobbing if the people in our lives dont notice when we are good.
Nevertheless, a trace of those tears lingers.
Little Things Mean a Lot
Little Strokes are indeed, little. But as every woman knows, they mean a
lot. Ive yet to meet a woman who wouldnt agree with these lyrics from an
old song sung by Kitty Kallen: