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.

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'.

Things You Should Know

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.”

For others who may have experienced trauma in their pasts, compliments can be uncomfortable and painful. They may have been programmed to be wary of compliments and mistrustful of those who give them. Still others may struggle to truly see the positive within themselves.

You could also experience low self-esteem.

For some people, being unable to accept a compliment could indicate low self-worth or low self-esteem, according to Mortier. “When someone compliments us, we may not necessarily believe them,” Mortier said. So our beliefs about ourselves are a factor here, too.

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.

What are the rules for compliment etiquette? ›

Let them know you appreciate the compliment.

However, letting the person know you appreciate their compliment is still good. Throw in something like “I really appreciate that,” “That brightened my day,” or “Your kind words mean a lot to me” to convey your gratitude. Swift's response would also fall under this category.