How to Accept a Compliment

As children, we were taught to compliment others. We pride ourselves on our graciousness in noticing the best in one another, and pointing it out to them. However, when it comes to accepting a compliment, most of us shy away, or engage in self-sabotage. Practice a few easy methods for graciously accepting a compliment and you'll never downplay your positive attributes again.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Acknowledge a compliment given to you immediately with a thank you. Smile at the person who gave you the compliment and make eye contact to show your appreciation. You can also add a general phrase like, "That is very kind of you," or something similar, too.
2. Supplement your thanks by including others, if appropriate. If you receive a compliment on a job well done and you didn't do it alone, make sure to give credit to those who helped. You can say something like, "Mary was such a big help. I couldn't have done it without her."
3. Resist the urge to denigrate yourself. You need not say, "Oh, it was nothing, really." You are not immodest by accepting a compliment. Putting yourself down isn't necessary.
4. Respond honestly to a compliment. You can tell the person giving you the compliment a little bit about your success. Say, "I had to spend all weekend on it, but I'm glad it turned out the way it did," or something similar. It shows that you acknowledge the compliment and are thankful your hard work was noticed.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't assume that a person who gives you a compliment has a motive. Maybe they do, but stating or showing that you know it makes you look pompous and arrogant.