Say the Compliment You Are Thinking
When you notice something good about someone's work, say it specifically; it lands better than you expect.
Several experiments found people underestimate how good a compliment makes others feel and overestimate awkwardness.
Why it works
We hold back praise because we fear it sounds odd. In fact people feel much better than we predict, and specific praise shows real attention.
How to do it
- Praise work, ideas or effort, not looks.
- Be specific: what exactly was good.
- Say it once and move on.
- Mean it; skip it if you do not.
What to say
Your point about seasonal hiring was the clearest thing I heard today.
The way you set up that grading line is smart.
Avoid
Compliments on appearance in a work setting, especially to a woman you just met.
Example
After a panel in Delhi, Devendra told a woman speaker her data on farm labour was the most useful he had seen. She thanked him and stayed to chat.
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