eLeader February 2025
The power of compliments.
The other week, I sat down with the competitive dance team I coach. Our usual routine involves sitting in a circle for check-ins and attendance to kick off practice—standard stuff. This group of pre-teens loves to chat, so it’s always lively (sometimes too much)! But this time, I switched things up. I asked them to go around the circle and give a compliment to the teammate sitting on their left. Once we’d made it around, we reversed the circle and did the same for the teammate on their right.
To my surprise, they dove right in. They faced each other and made eye contact as the compliment train went around the circle. Each dancer lit up when they heard something kind said about them — and they were even more excited to compliment their friends! The energy in the room shifted, and I was overwhelmed by the pride they had in one another. By the end of practice, the usual cliques had melted away. I overheard moments of hype and encouragement, teammates answering each other’s questions without me stepping in, and they even came together to create a squad cheer to close practice.
Not only were the dancers able to give genuine compliments, but I was also impressed with their ability to receive them. No one dismissed or reduced the compliment, but they embraced each kind word with a big smile and a ‘thank you.’ They accepted these gifts with gratitude and unabashedly let it boost their confidence.
This simple exercise transformed our team culture in under an hour. If it could spark this much connection and positivity among a group of kids who meet just once a week, imagine what it could do for your team.
You don’t need a formal “compliment circle” to make an impact. Taking a few moments to give someone a meaningful compliment can change their day—or even how they see themselves. Recognizing someone’s strengths and reminding them of their potential is powerful.
Give it a try. Who on your team or in your life could use a little encouragement today?
How do you typically react to compliments — do you embrace them or deflect them? What’s one compliment you’ve received that’s stuck with you? When was the last time you gave a someone meaningful compliment? What can you do to take intentional steps to spark more surprise connections and positivity?
LEADERSHIP & CULTURE
Lunch, Learn, & Share: Team Retreats🍴
Register here for free for February 19
Join the Small Giants Community on February 19 for an inside look and shared conversation around the benefits and how-to’s of effective team retreats. Featured speaker Katrina Noelle, President of KNow Research, will lead a conversation on how retreats and offsites can help strengthen both individual performance and overall team culture. Learn how to effectively make space to help your business grow!
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Sloan and The Cubs: Hitting Innovation Out of the Park ⚾
Register here for free for February 13
Join Red Caffeine on February 13 for an exclusive conversation with the CEO of Sloan Valve Company, a fourth-generation family business, to dive into the challenges and opportunities of staying relevant while building a lasting legacy. Discover how they’ve created adaptable leadership structures, driven customer-centric growth, and forged impactful partnerships — including their partnership with the Chicago Cubs! This free webinar will be packed with insights to help you craft your own playbook for building a future-ready business.
INNOVATION
NVIDIA’s Online Courses 💻
Get started here
Through NVIDIA’S Deep Learning Institute, you can access self-paced courses to develop and sharpen your skills. Whether you want to complete an end-to-end project or master a specific technology or development technique, in a few hours, these courses will support your personal and professional growth. With a mix of free and paid options available anytime, anywhere, all you need is your computer and an internet connection to get started!
PERSONAL GROWTH
SXSW ↙️
Register here to attend March 7-15 ($)
In 2022, I attended SXSW in Austin, TX and it was an incredible experience. From the pop-ups and activations to the interesting speakers and connections, there was a lot to do and take in. Some of the best learning and networking happened at non-badged events, like the Inc. Founders House and Create & Cultivate’s pop up. If SXSW is on your radar, plan your experience around the track schedule to focus on the industry themes that matter most to you.