Gerund use: ‘encouraging’ functions as an uncountable noun meaning the act or process of giving encouragement.
Definitions
The act or process of giving support, confidence, or hope; the action of encouraging. She needs a lot of encouraging before she'll perform on stage.
encouragegerund / present participle Used when the present participle 'encouraging' functions as an adjective, e.g. 'an encouraging result'.
Definitions
Giving hope, confidence, or optimism. The preliminary findings were encouraging.