The Power of a Compliment

Never underestimate the value of a compliment.

A compliment, given sincerely and publicly, shows regard and esteem for the recipient.  It builds goodwill, appreciation, and frequently a willingness to go the extra mile.  You will be seen as someone who cares about other people and their accomplishments, and not just your own.  Humor can be helpful in delivering a compliment, but should never be used at the risk of lessening sincerity.

A compliment given in a backhanded manner, or followed up with criticism, will be treated for what it is – a blatant attempt at manipulation, a simple put down, or the proverbial “brown-nosing.”

If you’re the team leader, be the first to compliment members of your team.  Not just on meeting big goals, but on all the stepping-stones along the way.  A sincere, “Great job on that report, I appreciate that you went the extra mile,” or “You do such good work that I wish I could clone you,” will keep people going when the times get tough.

Even if you’re not the team leader, you can improve your working situation by complimenting your co-workers and associates.  When co-workers know that you care and appreciate their contributions, a synergy can result making the sum of the efforts greater than the individual efforts themselves.  Try:  “You made my job so much easier by getting that report to me early, and I want you to know that I appreciate it,” or a simple “I enjoy working with you, you make it fun.”

Too many people are out of practice at giving compliments.  Set a goal for yourself this week to compliment at least two people.  As you get more comfortable with it, make sure that you compliment at least one person a day. 

Keep working at it – your success may be just a compliment away.