"Everyone's got to look at weaknesses and take them on, but often the focus is so much on the bottom line," said CWRU researcher Anthony Jack.
They also looked at MRIs to see how the brain reacted to positive or negative coaching, and they found there was a lot more brain activity with the positive.
"People can accomplish amazing things in life and a lot of it has to do with the power of their dreams," says CWRU distinguished professor Richard Boyatzis.
The study was done on college students but this likely has applications to younger students.
The idea is that encouragement inspires students to dream and do better in the long run, instead of stressing their weaknesses.
WKYC-TV