The Human Optimization Project

Hosted ByMayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project
The bar for human performance is higher than it’s ever been. As a result, we all feel the need to do MORE. At the same time, we are becoming increasingly aware of the value of sleep, rest, recovery, and wellness. Accordingly, we also feel the need to do LESS. If you’re like most people, it can be challenging to reconcile this conflict of feeling the need to do MORE and LESS simultaneously, and that is likely contributing to high rates of burnout and decreased performance. So how do we reconcile these seemingly competing desires? That is where Human Optimization comes in. Human Optimization is the process of achieving more (however you define that for yourself) while simultaneously improving your wellness and well-being. Although it’s not easy, it’s certainly possible. Not only is it possible, but it is becoming increasingly essential. In this Mayo Clinic Talks Mini-Series, we are going to dive into the topic of Human Optimization and will focus on a few key areas including: exercise, nutrition, culture, emotional intelligence, and finding joy in all you do.

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Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project 27: E27 Compliment People: The How and Why of Giving Praise to Others

27 de agosto de 2025 casimedicos The Human Optimization Project 00:46:27 0 Comments

Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Guest: Natalie Caine, Chief Administrative Officer, Mayo Clinic in Rochester

In a world that sometimes bends towards negativity, complimenting and giving praise is may seem like a lost art. But this is exactly why we need to be giving praise now more than ever! The impact that praise has (on both the receiver and the giver) is massive, so it is something that we should all be doing more frequently. To help us understand why, our guest today is Natalie Caine, Chief Administrative Officer of Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

The three big questions we have for Natalie are: 

1. What is high-quality praise, and how does it impact others?

2. Why do so many of us hesitate—or misfire—when giving praise, and how does that shortfall impact us

3. What steps can we take to be more effective of praising others in our lives?

 

How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”:
Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better
Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random)
Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes
Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own!
Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action!

 

Discussion Questions for this Episode:

  1. Natalie Caine distinguishes high-quality praise from generic positive feedback; high-quality praise is specific and personalized. Think about a time when you received specific praise that truly resonated with you. Discuss with your group: How did it make you feel compared to generic feedback (e.g.- “nice job!”). 

  2. As they discussed in this episode, giving praise benefits both the receiver (increased joy, productivity, connection) and the giver (gratitude, self-reflection). Have you noticed these benefits in your past? Which of these benefits do you find motivates you the most to increase praise-giving, and why? 

  3. Natalie suggests that praise should be specific, timely, relatable, and sincere. Recall a recent interaction when you provided positive feedback. How could you have incorporated these elements to make your positive feedback more meaningful? 

  4. In this episode, they discuss the «five to one ratio» in relationships (five positive comments needed to outweigh one negative). How aware are you of the balance of positive versus negative interactions in your important relationships? Think of one or two people in your work or personal life who you will plan to provide more positive, specific comments to over the next month. 

  5. Common barriers to giving praise include busyness, fear of awkwardness, or a negativity bias. Which of these barriers do you most often experience? Discuss one or two small steps to overcome it with your pod club. 

  6. The episode describes how to receive praise gracefully, including accepting it on behalf of a team rather than deflecting or self-deprecating. How do you typically react when receiving praise? What might you do differently to receive it in a healthy way? 

  7. Natalie encourages making praise a «habit» by intentionally looking for opportunities to celebrate small positive moments. What is one specific daily routine or interaction where you could intentionally integrate a moment of praise? 

  8. The challenge in this episode is to praise three different people for three different things within 24 hours. Identify three people you could praise today. Write down one or two specific, small things you will acknowledge for each. Now go do it! 

 

Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize
X: @MayoHumanOpProj
Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj
YouTube: The Human Optimization Project – YouTube
Email: optimize@mayo.edu

 

 

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