How do you handle compliments? It’s actually one area where many people stumble. And that could really put a dent in your presence. Compliments to you may feel out of your comfort zone but remember you are not the one bragging. Someone else is. There’s nothing arrogant about accepting a compliment, so get out of your own way and accept the love.
The ability to handle compliments gracefully can help build connections and improve your credibility. Here are some easy ways to enable you to take a compliment with grace.
- Get out of your own way. When someone flatters you, your first instinct could be to discount it. This can turn a nice compliment into an awkward situation. Deflecting a compliment by saying “oh, that was nothing” creates an uncomfortable space that no one enjoys.
- Don’t insult people. Beyond discounting the compliment, some people even imply with their response that the complimentor is gravely mistaken. This can come across as quite insulting to the one delivering the kudos. Next time you hear yourself starting to reject a compliment, hold your tongue.
- Don’t over share. Another common response to a compliment is to ramble on with unnecessary information. It doesn’t matter if you bought your new suit on a deep discount. It still looks fantastic. Own it. One person even told me her unique idea that just saved the company millions originated from a conversation in line for the restroom, so it really wasn’t that big of a deal. Why would you denigrate your own expertise in this way?Too much information is not a great reaction.
- Pay it forward. If you just can’t help yourself and saying thank you does not suffice to quell your nerves, offer a compliment in return. Practice saying “Thank you, and I also liked how you handled…” as a way to respond if you really get flustered by compliments.
- Simply say thank you. Finally, remember that a compliment does not require a witty reply. Simply respond by saying, “thank you.” This is the most gracious and elegant way to accept any compliment and creates a nice moment for you and the other person.
