How to Give and Receive Compliments at Work (2024)

FAQs

How do you gracefully accept a compliment at work? ›

Focus on the task or project that you were complimented on. You can say something like, 'I'm proud of the work we did on that project,' or 'I'm glad that our team was able to achieve our goals'.” “Share the credit. If you received the compliment for teamwork, be sure to share the credit with your team members.

Be specific about the compliment. “That necklace looks really good on you” makes a bigger impact compared to “you look really good today”. The more specific the better, it makes the person feel like you have really noticed them. Mean what you say.

Accept a compliment with a simple, “Thank you.” Or, express your gratitude by saying, “That's so sweet of you, thank you.” Acknowledge your abilities graciously. Instead of saying, “Thanks, I know,” say, “Thank you. I put a lot of effort into this so I'm glad you liked it.”

I personally prefer constructive and collaborative feedback. I enjoy private "thank yous" but enjoy my accomplishments recognized publicly as well (if for nothing else than to help people understand what I do).

Be specific.

Say exactly what you admire or appreciate in the other person. Don't just say 'you're such a great colleague'. Instead, explain what it is exactly that makes them so great in your eyes: 'I love how you're always there to assist me'.

Compliments can provoke anxiety in people with low self-esteem, because the compliments challenge their self-views and make them feel misunderstood. The fear of being evaluated negatively is also heightened in people with social anxiety disorder. But even for others, an unexpected compliment can be destabilising.

We may face difficulties in understanding the compliment and taking it in a healthy manner because we are not used to it. Our expectations for ourselves are very high: We often set so high expectations for ourselves that we are never able to match up to them. This also makes us feel that we are never good enough.

How to accept a compliment without saying thank you? ›

When someone pays you a compliment, take a moment to pause and simply say, "Thank you." Resist the urge to deflect or turn the attention elsewhere. Acknowledge the gift that someone is giving you and allow yourself to genuinely receive it.

You can simply say “thank you” or “I appreciate that.” Do not say something that will negate the compliment like “Oh it's nothing” or, “It's “not that great.” Reflect. Take a little time later to reflect on the positive compliment. You can just think about the words or journal about them.

It is also appropriate to simply say "Thank you." It's important to note that it's natural to feel flattered when someone expresses appreciation for you, so it's okay to express that feeling in your response. Ultimately, it's up to you how you respond and what feels natural to you.