This Thursday, Jan. 24, is National Compliment Day, a day anyone can celebrate for free. National Compliment Day was started by Debby Hoffman and Kathy Chamberlin to remind people that, “compliments provide a quick and easy way to connect positively with those you come in contact with.”
On this day, put a smile on someone’s face by presenting them with a sincere compliment. According to Holiday Insights, it’s tough to compliment a person you are not very fond of – such as a boss or coworker – but on National Compliment Day, take the challenge of finding a compliment for them, too.
Remember, there are a right ways and a wrong ways to compliment someone. Here are some important things etiquette expert Melanie Broyles wants you to keep in mind:
Make sure that your compliments are sincere; you don’t want to come across as fake or hypocrite. If you don’t like the shirt your friend is wearing, don’t compliment her on it. Find something you sincerely like – those compliments are the most appreciated.
Don’t exaggerate a simple compliment. If you wish to tell someone they look great today, don’t gasp and say it as if you are surprised they look great. Say it in a calm, sincere tone.
If you receive a compliment, don’t give one right back. This might come off as you feeling indebted to give a compliment and the person is unlikely to believe it.
Learn to take a compliment. Whether you agree with what the person is complimenting you on, reply with a simple ‘thank you’ and smile. Don’t give an explanation or disagree with the compliment, just accept it – if it was said as a compliment it’s because the person meant it. So avoid any, ‘oh this is an old shirt, but thanks’ and ‘oh I don’t think I look that great’ answers.
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© 2013 Sandra Perez, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any way without prior permissions from the author or Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a
