Have you ever been either guilty or credited with ranting and raving? If you answer no, you should think again. Join the club! Sometimes ranting and raving represent different things, one being negative and one positive. And sometimes they may both be positive or both negative. Let’s examine all so that we broaden our perspectives.
Raving about something good or someone who has done good can be a deserved and encouraging initiative. As leaders at any level, giving credit where credit is due and encouraging others will help them in several ways. If your child gets and A on their report card, does well in a Science Fair, gets selected to your state’s youth orchestra or makes a varsity sports team it is ok to rave to them or in front of them about their achievement. That will bolster their confidence and create momentum for them going forward. Success breeds success!
If a co-worker does some excellent work, give them credit for it and make it known that it was their outstanding effort that made that project a success. They will likely set the bar higher and higher for themselves in future endeavors. Think back to when that has happened to you. How did it feel?
When someone makes a significant effort to achieve it is always recommended to commend their initiative. Even if they fall short of the target, if they know that the risk that they took is safe and appreciated they will more likely do it again. And even if there are mistakes involved, remember that we all make them. Mistakes should be used as stepping stones to success, not reasons to “beat someone up”.
Each of the examples just provided were based on the desire to credit, encourage and motivate others toward their own success. They are essentially selfless in nature. That is how good leaders behave, regardless of stature or title.
Raving can also be overdone and create a less than favorable impression. If you “self-rave” or brag, there could be damaging impressions. If you rave about your accomplishments others may see you as arrogant or selfish. Often, we owe others for helping us achieve so taking all the credit diminishes them to bolster ourselves. That is not good leadership. When I was awarded top sales manager in my company, I did my best to share the accolades with my teammates, without whom, I would have not been able to win.
As a proud parent you may have done a bit of zealous applauding of your child’s accomplishments. I get that! Been there! But was there real value in doing so? Did you over-inflate those achievements or worse, assist with developing a behavior deemed arrogant within your precious child. Children don’t deserve that. They deserve honest, loving encouragement, just as friends and co-workers do.
The definition of rave:
Verb: talk wildly or incoherently, as if one were delirious or insane: “Nancy’s having hysterics and raving about a ghost”
Noun: an extremely enthusiastic recommendation or appraisal: “their recent tour received rave reviews”
One rave is healthy encouragement while the other is unrealistic and unhealthy.
In today’s media, whether social, print, entertainment or broadcast, there is an insane amount of ranting going on! I was so encouraged to see on Twitter recently, a post that asked, “What food do you absolutely refuse to eat”? What a fun and refreshing post! I lauded that post and joined in the fun by answering “Any variety of tongue. Never have and never want to eat it!” You may disagree with my choice of “refuse to eat food” but can you dispute that it was a fun topic?
The name calling, labeling, bashing, gouging, self-serving ranting that is taking place during these times is unprecedented and to me repulsive. No doubt it is healthy to disagree, but what is occurring has gone well beyond civil disagreement and into the realm of slander and personal attack. If your opinion and mine differ, it doesn’t make either of us stupid, a racist, a fascist or evil. Come on man! What happened to the one of two greatest of commandments “…Love your neighbor as yourself.”?
In additional to all the self-proclaimed political pundits out there, some “leaders” choose to behave in the same manner. Shame on you if you are one of them! I have experienced it before, and it did not encourage or positively motivate me. The only motivation I had was to prove whatever point I had to prove and then exit. Have you ever been in that type of situation? How did that feel?
If you question any of this, here is the Oxford Dictionary definition of rant:
Verb: speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way: “she was still ranting on about the unfairness of it all”
Noun: a spell of ranting; a tirade: “his rants against organized religion”
Remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech? It was one of the most impactful speeches of all time and it came straight from that courageous man’s heart. If you haven’t read it, here is the link. I highly recommend it! It just may change your regard for ranting and raving.
https://www.archives.gov/files/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf