ABSTRACT
Alfred Adler considered encouragement a core feature of human development and healthy interpersonal relationships. Adlerian psychologist Dreikurs considered the ability to encourage others as the single most important attribute in getting along with other people. The simplest way to enlarge others is to acknowledge their presence. In interpersonal communication, one must respect the boundaries that others communicate to them, even if the boundaries seem unreasonable, unwarranted, or even silly. Character traits such as kindness, trustworthiness, empathy, loyalty, generosity, optimism, gentleness, humor, and candor are just a few of the hundreds of character or personality traits one can compliment. One can compliment a person even if that individual doesn’t achieve what she or he set out to accomplish. Verbal support is any statement that provides comfort, encouragement, or confirmation. Of course, physical support requires more effort, time, and investment on one’s part than merely verbalizing words of encouragement.
