In the midst of the reverential awe and fascination with Pedro Martinez, Burns allowed for another former Red Sox icon to be showered with praise and adulation.

FORBES: The Hits and Misses of Ken Burns' New Baseball Episode

But while praise should be delivered with conviction or an emotional connection, emotions should be taken out of the equation when giving negative feedback, Zenger says.

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Praise be, those with wild dress sense make proper money.

FORBES: Covert Exchange At Number 10 Downing Street

Condoleezza Rice's praise may be more muted with the warning that he has still not done enough.

BBC: NEWS | Middle East | Rice trip signals US peace hopes

They know that politically, the NHS is well nigh untouchable - and that if you are going to dare suggest it needs a prod and a poke if not a good makeover, you'd better be ready to prepare the ground with a liberal dose of praise for NHS staff first.

BBC: What you think of reshaping the NHS

But in recent weeks we have seen the fierce competitor return and, sitting in a grand Thameside hotel ahead of the season-ending finale, Djokovic is as cheerful, humble and generous with praise as you could expect an elite sportsman to be.

BBC: Djokovic the man to beat

Even when you may not be able to be generous with money, you can still give time, learning, support, praise, responsibility, inclusion and honesty.

FORBES: Generosity in Tight Times

Magnolia Picture's Man on Wire, the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary that has been showered with critical praise and global film awards, is among the first titles to be offered for purchase in HD on VUDU, along with critically acclaimed Transsiberian and War, Inc. from FirstLook Studios.

ENGADGET: VUDU first on-demand service to sell HD and HDX movies HD