by Leonore Dicker
 
Believe it or not, but most people simply don’t know how to take a compliment. They’re either too self-conscious and don’t believe the compliment to be true – or they’re a bit too vain and openly agree with it.
 
The first thing you should do after receiving a compliment is to humbly say thank you. This is the easiest way to show your appreciation and gratitude. Make sure to match your body language to your words. Don’t have your arms crossed and stand up straight!
 
If the compliment is particularly gratifying, you could follow up your “thank you” with “that really means a lot” – or another amplifier.
 
If the compliment is about a group effort, the best thing would be to give everyone credit. For instance, you could say something like “I couldn’t have done it without Tarek’s help” or “I’ll pass your kind words along to Rhea who helped organize the event”.
 
While it may be tempting to compliment the person back, only do so if you truly mean it, as it might look slightly forced.
 

And Remember:
- Not to put yourself down – even if you disagree with the compliment
- Not to assume the other person doesn’t mean it
- To always be appreciative
- To smile