“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” – Mark Twain. Compliments make most people smile and blush. However, some people feel confused about how to respond to a compliment appropriately. While there are no set rules as to how one should respond, one aspect you should never miss out on is responding to the compliment. When you do so, you acknowledge the giver. You tell them how much you appreciate their efforts to notice and highlight your qualities. This mutual appreciation helps build self-esteem and stir positive feelings in the receiver and the giver. However, if you stay mum, you may appear unconfident. Furthermore, it is likely to disappoint the person who complimented you and discourage them from complimenting you and others in the future. If you classify yourself as a person who can’t befriend words to respond to a compliment, we’ve got your back. In this post, we bring you several different ways to respond graciously to compliments, including specific kinds of compliments and ones from specific people in your life.
How To Respond To Compliments
Giving or receiving compliments can sometimes cause stress or embarrassment. When compliments come your way, respond gracefully. Here are a few things to remember when you respond to compliments.
1. Say thank you
Let’s suppose your colleague comes up to you and compliments you on your coding skills or another person compliments you on your new hairstyle or the beautiful dress you’re wearing. Always smile and say the two most powerful words, “Thank you.” When someone compliments you for anything – from a sexy hairdo to professional skills – look at them, smile, and say, “Thank you very much.” Smiling doesn’t cost a penny. In his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie writes, “Action speaks louder than words, and a smile says, “I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you.” “I’m glad you liked it.” “I appreciate you saying that” “That’s very kind of you.”
2. Be sincere
When you receive a genuine compliment, say thank you sincerely. You should receive compliments from the bottom of your heart. Always remember that a sincere compliment is a verbal gift, worth more than any materialistic gift.
3. Accept them at face value
Accept compliments at face value and do not read too much into them. In other words, accept compliments as they are without reading too much into them.
4. Make eye contact
When responding to a compliment, make eye contact, smile, and use open gestures to reinforce your message. Acknowledge it, accept it, and respond wholeheartedly. The best way to express interest without breaking social rules is to maintain eye contact when responding to a compliment.
5. Respond positively
Sometimes people hear compliments and think: “What do they mean when they say my shoes look good with this outfit? I don’t know if my shoes look bad?” “I don’t like my hair this way.” “Oh, you are just saying that; I look awful.” Such negative thoughts can deter you from responding positively. When you get a compliment, respond positively, and never harbor negative thoughts. If you have a hard time receiving compliments, it may reflect your low self-worth. When someone compliments you, and you receive it wholeheartedly, there is a positive exchange of energy.
6. Mention their name
The name makes the individual special and unique. When responding to a compliment, remember to mention the name of the giver. Realize that the name is owned by the person. When remembering names, be like Napoleon – despite his royal duties, he still remembered the names of everyone he had met.
7. Pay attention to your tone of voice
Your tone of voice should reflect happiness and gratitude. Just embrace the moment and express gratitude. When you show appreciation for receiving compliments, you establish a strong connection with people. It allows others to know that what they do is essential to you.
8. Give a hug
Give them a warm hug; or, if you know they don’t like hugs, reach out and shake hands to suit their preference and make them smile.
9. Don’t downplay
Do not belittle or dismiss someone’s warm gestures. Avoid phrases such as “Oh, it’s no big deal” or “Thank you, but it’s nothing.” For instance, when someone says, “Your dress looks great on you.” You should not say, “Oh, this is an old dress.” Instead, try to say: “I’m glad you like it. Thank you.” When you downplay compliments, you may feel humble, but the person who praised you may feel rejected.
10. Watch your body language
Body language is a powerful communication tool. When you get compliments from others, lean forward slightly and smile. If you cross your hands, especially in the workplace, it can create a hostile atmosphere. Avoid sending out wrong non-verbal cues such as casual postures, crossed arms, awkward pauses, and lengthy silences. Also, do not turn your body away from the person who compliments you. It makes a huge difference when you show you are genuinely receptive to receiving the compliment. You must always accept awards, citations, or trophies with both hands and keep your right hand free to shake hands with the presenter. The first step in receiving an award is to say, “I’m honored to receive this recognition/ I am humbled to receive this award/ Thank you, that’s very kind/ I’m honored you chose to bestow this award on me.”
Responses To His/Her Compliments
Whenever you receive praise from your special someone (SO) and don’t know how to respond, use the following tips to accept the compliment easily. You: “Thanks, sweetheart! These are my new favorites.” You: “Oh, thank you. I just got it yesterday/Thanks, dear. These shoes make me put my best foot forward/The stylist is amazing. Thanks.” You: “Thank you, my sister bought it for me.” You: “Thanks, that’s kind of you.”
When Compliments Come From Your Boss
You can also ask some questions about your performance and seek advice. If the compliments result from the cooperative team effort, rather than just accepting compliments, share the compliments with coworkers and thank them for their efforts — compliments when shared feel more special and valuable. Make sure to give credit to those who helped you in your accomplishment.
When Someone Compliments Your Kids
Our children are little versions of ourselves. When someone compliments your child by saying, “Your child is incredibly gorgeous,” or “Your child is smart,” you respond with, “Thank you!”
Funny Responses To Compliments
Compliments can brighten your day. Although praise is a positive thing, it can be unnerving for some people who don’t want to appear overconfident or ungrateful. You can generously accept compliments and respond in a way that makes the communication go smoothly. Instead of the mere “thank you,” you can express your appreciation with a witty one-liner. For example, if your friend compliments your new hairstyle, you can say, “Thank you. The only problem is that the dog next door suddenly became friendly.”
Flirty Responses To Compliments
Flirting is about how you convey your message without directly saying things. Keep the game interesting and friendly, and make it clear that you are being fun. Here are some flirty one-liners that will come in handy.
