Anyone can be generous with praise when things go well. Be generous with patience when they don’t.

Encouragement is cheap during a good stretch, and most people manage it. The harder generosity is holding your temper when somebody is slow, confused or having a rough week, because that is when your own frustration has an easy target. Patience in that moment is worth more than any amount of praise earlier, and people remember which one they got. The bad stretch is where your reputation really gets decided.

Pick whoever most tests your patience and give them an extra minute this week rather than a sharp word. Ask what is making it hard before you correct anything. Aim your irritation at the problem instead.