Move Beyond Generic Thanks

By Jennifer McCrickerd, LifeBound Director of Academic Leader Development, Dec 4, 2025

Vague Praise Feels Hollow. Try Specificity.

Academics are professional critics. We spend decades training ourselves to dismantle arguments and spot what is missing, flawed, or broken. This "Critique Reflex" serves scholarship well, but it makes us clumsy leaders. Because we are so attuned to errors, we often view gratitude as a secondary, soft skill.

When we do offer appreciation, we often default to the generic: "We are so grateful for all you do."

But to a faculty member weary from public criticism and the daily grind of a resource-constrained university, this sort of vague gratitude is often worse than silence. It feels perfunctory, hollow, and demoralizing—a signal that we don't know what they did, simply that we are glad they are doing it so we don't have to.

A coaching-based leadership model requires us to move beyond generic praise. A coaching mindset shifts the focus from Judgment ("Good job") to Witnessing ("I see what you are doing"). This is vital for addressing "Invisible Labor." While disproportionately carried by women and faculty of color, virtually everyone now carries a load of uncredited work—mentoring students in crisis, fixing broken equipment, or supporting unprepared students. Yet because it isn't an official aspect of the job, we often let it stay in the shadows.

When we shine a specific light on this work, we achieve two things:

We Make the Invisible Visible: We validate the essential work that keeps the lights on.
We Counter the Negativity Bias: We build an emotional "bank account" of trust that makes difficult conversations easier later on.

The holiday season offers a unique moment to pause the relentless pace of the semester and practice observation. A leader with a coaching mindset strives for specificity.

The Challenge

Identify three colleagues who have done "invisible work" this semester. Avoid the trap of "Thanks for everything." Instead, send them a note (or tell them in person) using this simple coaching framework:

The Specific Action: "I noticed that you..." (e.g., stayed late to help that adjunct instructor...)
The Impact: "That helped..." (e.g., them feel welcomed and supported...)
The Appreciation: "I appreciate..." (e.g., the culture of care you are building here.)

Connect with LifeBound to drive real-world results on your campus.

We offer flexible and affordable coaching training for faculty, academic coaches, and staff, including:

3-Day Virtual Coaching Course - NEXT CLASS: DEC 11, 12, 15
Self-Paced Coaching Course
LifeBound Coaching Certification Program

To learn more or explore which option is right for your team, visit us at www.lifebound.com.

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Make 2025/2026 the Year Coaching Solves Higher Ed’s Toughest Challenges

Higher education is grappling with unprecedented challenges—rising mental health crises, the need for greater career readiness, and the unfortunate reality that many students struggle to secure meaningful employment or are let go shortly after starting. These issues affect not only individual students but also university outcomes like enrollment, retention, and long-term institutional success.

By equipping your staff with coaching training, you can help students build resilience, achieve meaningful employment, and address many challenges that universities face today. Allocate your budget toward LifeBound’s training options this year and plan ahead to ensure your institution is prepared to address these critical needs effectively. Let’s create a campus-wide culture of coaching and make an impact!

LifeBound offers multiple ways to train academic coaches, faculty, or staff:

3-Day Virtual Coaching Course

A dynamic, interactive course focused on practical coaching techniques.

NEXT CLASS: December 11, 12, 15

Time: 3 days, 6 hours each

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. Contact us about group rates.

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Self-Paced Coaching Course for Academic, Personal, and Professional Success

A flexible, 15-hour program designed for those who want to deepen their skills at their own pace. The course dives deep into foundational and advanced coaching techniques as well as motivation, resilience, career readiness, cultural competence and coaching diverse student populations, and includes private sessions with a LifeBound Coach. Institutional packages are available for group training.

Choose Your Own Dates!

Time: 15 hours (self-paced), plus 3 hours with LifeBound Coach

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. If you’ve already completed the 1-Day or 3-Day program, email contact@lifebound.com to receive a discount code for $500 off the new Self-Paced Course. Contact us about group rates.

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LifeBound Certification Program

For coaches ready to take their skills to the next level, the LifeBound Certification Program offers an in-depth dive into advanced coaching practices and strategies, culminating in certification as a LifeBound Coach.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Cohorts

Format: Online or in-person as available

Cost: $5,000 per person

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Let’s make this a year of transformation for your institution and the students you serve!

Learn More at lifebound.com