10 Professional Ways to Compliment Your Coworkers

Co-authored by Lynda Jean and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: October 14, 2021 References

Compliments are absolutely essential to any productive workplace. Not only do they make people happy, but they also help cancel out some of the day-to-day stress that your co-workers or employees may experience.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Business Review
Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices
Go to source} Still, how do you come up with a heartfelt compliment at a moment’s notice? We’ve got you covered. Keep reading for plenty of tips, tricks, and suggestions that are sure to help you brighten someone’s day.

1

Offer sincere, genuine compliments.

The recipient can tell if you don’t mean what you say. Make sure that all your compliments are rooted in genuine, authentic feelings, not a sense of obligation. Inauthentic compliments feel awkward and forced, and may leave the person feeling uncomfortable. Instead, take a look at these compliments for some inspiration:^{[2]
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- “I really appreciate how you always go the extra mile at work.”
- “Fantastic work on that presentation! I am so impressed with the amount of detail you put into each slide.”

2

Say the person’s name.

Including someone’s name in a compliment adds a really personal touch.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Lynda Jean
Certified Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 17 November 2020.} When you compliment someone directly, you’re actually reminding them that they’re special, worthwhile individuals. Although it seems simple, a single word can really bring your compliment to the next level. You could say:^{[4]
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- “Nina, you did a fantastic job organizing and presenting your findings at the meeting today.”
- “I was really impressed with how you handled that difficult customer, Simon.”
- “Jess, you did a really nice job on the press release that was sent out today.”

3

Maintain a positive, uplifting tone of voice.

A sarcastic tone can turn an uplifting comment into a slap on the wrist. Don’t just think about what you’re going to say—think about how you’re going to say it, too. Ditch the sarcasm and emphasize your positive feelings instead.^{[5]
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4

Use “I” language.

Starting your compliments with “I” helps make them more sincere. Imagine that you’re at work and you just completed a tough presentation. One co-worker says “Good job on that presentation!” while another says “I really appreciate all the hard work and effort you put into that presentation. I was really impressed!” The second compliment seemed a lot more personal and genuine, right? Try sprinkling a bit of “I” language into your own compliments and see what happens. Here are a few examples:^{[6]
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- “I really appreciate you staying after work to help me with that project.”
- “I liked it when you gave people time to ask questions during the meeting.”

5

Comment on something specific.

Vague compliments aren't very meaningful. Saying something like “Great job today” is nice, but it doesn’t really go the distance. Instead, explain why you’re so happy with your co-worker or employee’s work. The extra detail will make a big difference in the long run! You could say:^{[7]
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- “Great job on that email newsletter! The layout was so colorful and engaging.”
- “I really appreciate you running the study group for those students. I bet their grades have really improved since they started meeting with you.”
- “That was really cool of you to cover for Avery the other day. You’re always so kind and selfless.”

6

List a positive character trait that describes the person.

Complimenting someone’s character makes for a really genuine compliment. Before sharing your compliment, brainstorm what you like most about a co-worker or employee. Are they always humble during staff meetings, or do they always take time out of their day to help others? Whatever it is, center your praise around these specific traits—it’ll really take your compliments to the next level. You might say:^{[8]
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- “It was so generous and selfless of you to help Megan get caught up on this week’s assignments.”
- “I appreciate how kind and understanding you were after the miscommunication we had last week.”

7

Word your compliments in a positive way.

Nobody likes a back-handed compliment. Let’s say you walk into work one morning wearing a new dress shirt. One of your co-workers says, “Oh, that shirt doesn’t look half-bad on you,” while another says, “You’re looking really sharp today!” The second compliment seems a lot more positive and uplifting, right? Try to think about how the recipient will feel before you share your compliment.^{[9]
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- “Excellent work on that project” is a better compliment than “Your project wasn’t bad at all.”
- Say “I love the color scheme you chose for your outfit” instead of “You clean up nice.”

8

Ask follow-up questions.

Don’t walk away right after your compliment. Instead, transform your praise into an opportunity for a pleasant conversation. Ask a question that follows up with your original compliment. Then, see where the conversation takes you!^{[10]
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- After saying “I absolutely love the way you organize your PowerPoints,” ask “What’s your favorite color scheme to use in your presentations?”
- After saying “I’m so impressed at how quickly you go through your email inbox,” say “Do you use a special organizational system?”

9

Avoid asking for favors immediately after.

Asking for favors essentially cancels out your compliment. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. A co-worker compliments your proofreading skills, and then immediately asks you to look over something they wrote. That request makes their compliment seem a lot less genuine, right? If you need something from a co-worker or employee, leave it for a different conversation.^{[11]
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10

Compliment the person when they aren’t around.

Secondhand compliments create a really positive work environment. Tell your co-workers when you think an employee really hit something out of the park. With any luck, the praise will spread from person to person until the employee in question hears the compliment. The employee will know that the compliment is extra genuine since you felt passionate enough to share your feelings with others. Here are a few ideas to get you started:^{[12]
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- “Did you see Kim’s presentation the other day? Her sales pitch was on point.”
- “Nate is such a sweet guy. He offered to buy Michael lunch when he left his wallet at home.”
- “Kate is always so kind and considerate on the phone, even when customers are being really rude.”

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the best way to respond to a compliment?

Lynda Jean
Certified Image Consultant
Lynda Jean is an Image Consultant and the Owner of Lynda Jean Image Consulting. With over 15 years of experience, Lynda specializes in color and body/style analysis, wardrobe audits, personal shopping, social and professional etiquette, and personal and business branding. She works with clients to enhance their image, self-esteem, behavior, and communication to facilitate their social and career goals. Lynda holds Bachelor degrees in Sociology and Social Work, a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work, and a Certified Image Consultant (CIC) certification. She studied Image Consulting at the International Image Institute and the International Academy of Fashion and Technology in Toronto, Canada. Lynda has taught Image Consulting courses at George Brown College in Toronto, Canada. She is the co-author of the book, “Business Success With Ease,” where she shares her knowledge about, ‘The Power of Professional Etiquette.’

Lynda Jean

Certified Image Consultant

Expert Answer

Just be gracious and say, thank you so much or thank you, that means so much to me, especially coming from you, you made my day. You're complimenting them as well.