Say who did the work, especially when they’re not in the room to hear it.

Credit handed to someone in person is partly kindness and partly performance. Credit given when they are nowhere near the room is the real version, because there is nothing in it for you and no thank you coming. It is also the version that travels furthest, since whoever hears it usually passes it along later.

Name one specific person this week in a conversation they are not part of: who fixed it, who spotted it, whose idea it originally was. Keep it factual instead of flowery. You will be surprised how quickly it finds its way back to them.