Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

Human performance is inconsistent—even world-class athletes have off days.

Yet, most managers focus on their employees’ shortcomings when coaching and providing feedback.

Sure we all have “opportunities for improvement,” but research shows that identifying and building strengths produces better results than focusing on faults.

Next time you’re evaluating someone, remember that your goal is to raise their average performance, not critique a particularly good or bad day.

Don’t hold back the praise because of a few missteps. It’s just as important to recognize and reinforce strengths as it is to point out where people fall short.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “Why Does Criticism Seem More Effective than Praise?” by Linda Hill and Kent Lineback.

To read that article and join the discussion, please click here.