Communicating with Crew: Stop Saying 'Good Job,' Start Saying 'Good Work'

The phrase 'good job' is an empty calorie in crew communication and we need to ban it from our sets. Instead, opt for 'good work,' or better yet, be specific about the work that was good.

'Good job' is facile and generic, often used as a reflex rather than genuine acknowledgement. It fails to reinforce positive behaviors or provide actionable feedback. When I hear 'good job' after a playback of a particularly tricky scene, it tells me nothing about what landed for the director, or why that specific shot worked. Was it the boom operator's subtle dance to keep the mic out of shot? The DP's exquisite lighting on the key talent? The script supervisor's eagle-eyed continuity note that saved a reshoot? A generic 'good job' doesn't answer these questions, and therefore doesn't help the crew member replicate that success.

'Good work,' on the other hand, subtly shifts the focus from the worker to the action, the output. It implies effort, craft, and tangible results. Even better, follow it with a specific observation: 'Good work on how you feathered that light spill, Sarah, it really punched up the drama,' or 'Good work on hitting that emotional beat, Mark, the take really sings.' This isn't just praise; it's a micro-lesson, an instance of real-time feedback that fosters growth and strengthens the team's understanding of intent and execution.

Now, some might argue that 'good job' is perfectly acceptable as a quick morale booster, especially in fast-paced environments where detailed feedback isn't always feasible. And yes, a quick 'atta boy' is better than silence. But are we aiming for merely 'better than silence,' or are we aiming for truly effective communication that hones our craft and builds a more skilled, invested crew? Why settle for empty praise when we can offer substance? What concrete examples have you seen where specific praise genuinely impacted a crew's performance, compared to generic platitudes?