Accepting compliments with grace is a valuable skill we should acquire. It can make our conversations better and enriching. When we hear positive things about ourselves, it boosts our confidence.
When you accept compliments positively, it helps you feel better about yourself and makes the other person feel appreciated and valued.
Compliments, whether given casually by a friend or formally by a colleague, accepting it with grace takes many things.
Accepting compliments has some advantages and setbacks of its own. If you understand them individually, it will help you to accept them gracefully and excel in personal and professional life.
Some of them are-
Pros –
a) strengthen our sense of self-worth
b) boost self confidence
c) positive relationships and improving interpersonal interactions
d) helps to become supportive and collaborative
e) helps to maintain positive behaviour
Cons –
a) chance of becoming overly dependent on external validation
b) can cause disturbances as some people get anxious
c) misunderstood as self-centred
Now, we’ll discover 15 authentic ways to accept compliments in a better way.
Let’s dive in.
15 ways to accept compliments
1. Simply Say “Thank You”
If someone compliments you, a simple and sincere “thank you” is often the most easy and effective response. It shows grace.
When we accept compliments with grace, it helps us to feel good and boosts self-confidence. By simply saying “thank you,” we can take the compliment as positive feedback without adding unnecessary complexity.
This practice helps to build a stronger and positive self-image over time. Also, Sometimes, less is more. A simple “Thank you” can be very effective.
2. Add a Smile
Adding a smile while responding to compliments is a simple yet powerful tool.
A response along with a smile, shows that you appreciate the compliment. Your smile conveys warmth and gratitude. This also makes the interaction more personal.
For example, imagine you’ve just published a book. Afterward, a friend approaches you and says, “Your book was fantastic! You explained the sensitive concepts so clearly and bravely.”
You could respond in various ways. One option is just saying thank you and some small elaboration. This is a polite way though. Or, you could respond with a simple and say, “Thank you”.
A genuine smile serves you in so many ways. It expresses gratitude and helps to build a positive connection in your personal and professional life.
3. Express Gratitude for Specifics
When you are getting compliments from someone you feel good. We must respond in a thoughtful way so that we can make the other person also feel good.
Sometimes instead of saying “thank you” only, we should be more specific about our response. When you are saying something specific that means you’re paying attention. By that the person feel heard and valued. It helps you to build a stronger bond with people.
For example, if a friend compliments you about your cooking skill, you could respond with, “I’m happy you liked the new recipes I tried”. This makes the conversation more meaningful and shows you value their opinion.
4. Be Humble
There are some people who find it difficult to respond to compliments. They start to feel anxious about the tone of the response. Or sometimes they think that it may seem arrogant and rude if they respond to a compliment.
As a result, individuals might end up rejecting the compliment unknowingly or sometimes knowingly. You can acknowledge the compliment humbly by saying, “Thank you, I’m still learning, thank you for your kind words.”
Responding to compliments in a humble way not only enhances personal growth but also strengthens relationships.
By acknowledging the compliment and expressing humbleness while responding, you can make the person feel valued and encourage more authentic conversation in future.
5. Show Enthusiasm
If someone compliments you, showing enthusiasm in return is a good thing.
Imagine someone is complimenting you, but you are not looking excited and involved while responding, the person may feel discouraged or not valued. From the next time, they may not give you any praise or compliment for your achievements.
When you respond enthusiastically to a compliment, you can make the other person feel good and respected. It will lead to more positive interactions.
For example, if a friend tells you they liked your project work and you respond with genuine excitement, it strengthens your relationship with them.
6. Keep It Simple
When you get a compliment from someone whether you know them or not, try not to complicate that. Instead keep it simple. This helps you to maintain things as it is.
For instance, if you get a compliment from someone you don’t know and you start to think some unnecessary and complex motifs of complimenting you, chances are you’ll lose the spontaneity of a compliment.
For that matter it will be good if you don’t go much deeper.
7. Appreciate the Complementors Kindness
When someone is giving you a compliment, it is often showing their genuine feelings and appreciation for your works, achievements, or appearance.
By acknowledging this kindness, we are respecting their intention behind their words.
When you do so, you make a positive environment of discussing things. This will lead towards more constructive interaction.
8. Be honest
“When someone gives you a compliment, accept it with an open heart and honest gratitude.” – Anonymous.
Being honest while accepting compliments makes conversation more genuine and helps to build stronger connections.
Sometimes you might not fully agree or not feel confident enough, but to appreciate the compliment, you might say, “Thank you! I’m still working on it.”
9. Acknowledge the Effort
Acknowledging the effort of someone who compliments you is a sign of our courteous nature. Acknowledging compliments plays an important role in personal and professional growth.
When you accept compliments, you’ll be more aware about your strengths and achievements. This helps individuals to work on areas that need improvement.
For instance, you are an artist getting praised for your work, acknowledging it will encourage you to try new ways to broaden your skill.
Also you can respond by saying that, “I’m glad you noticed how hard I worked on that.”
Conclusion
As we have come to an of this blog, I hope by using these strategies, you can accept compliments in a way that feels authentic, and will boost your confidence and enrich your interactions with others.
If I ask you, how do you differentiate between genuine compliments and flattery? What makes a compliment feel authentic to you? What will be your answer. Let me know in the comments.
Take care.
Make the most of your day.
Until we meet again.
