Did you know we almost missed a most positive opportunity? We effectively ignored National Compliment Day, which was marked on Sunday, January 24, this year. Like some of you I was preoccupied with NFL playoff games that day—a day that ended in disappointment for Green Bay Packers fans.

So, let’s regroup. Let’s put disappointment, dismay and distress aside. In fact, let’s dis our many distractions and practice positive pursuits. We’ve got a second chance to do just that. World Compliment Day is Monday, March 1. We can start the week and the month, even slightly shift our behavior for the entire year or more, if we communicate and connect with just a little more kindness and generosity.

Exploring the origin stories of days devoted to compliments, the National Compliment Day Web site featured a timeline that included key dates and definitions. In 1610 the French word “complimenter” was added to the English language and defined as “to pay a compliment to, flatter or gratify by expression of admiration, respect.” Then, in 1650 the “i” in compliment was traced to the Italian “complimento…an expression of respect and civility.” Who knew? We certainly could benefit from more complimenters sowing complimentos, wouldn’t you agree?

The Most Positive Day in the World

World Compliment Day is a more recent development. Netherlander Hans Poortvliet gets credit for the first celebration in 2001. Reportedly his idea was to “create the most positive day in the world…to spread happiness and increase productivity.” The day, which is to “address the basic human need for recognition and appreciation,” is now marked in many European countries.

Who wouldn’t revel in a little more recognition?

Who wouldn’t appreciate a little more appreciation?

Authentic Compliments

There is abundant research to support the importance of compliments in the workplace and organizational cultures, even some analyses that connect compliments to positive business results. In her 2017 article, “The Power of Compliments in Business,” consultant Silvica Rosca points out the importance of authentic compliments. “Compliments help people in the immediate present, and they have lingering positive effects for the future. They empower your team and help them learn quicker,” she writes. “A compliment is a message that you deliver by speaking or writing to another party. It is a message of respect, regard, praise, and admiration. It is a noble act.”

And, in 2019, the Harvard Business Review published “How to Give and Receive Compliments at Work.” In the article Christopher Littlefield contends giving and receiving compliments at work can be uncomfortable and produce anxiety for management and team members. He recommends first becoming more comfortable with receiving compliments. This, he says, will lead individuals to offer more and better compliments. And he offers a helpful tool–a compliment checklist. (Who doesn’t love a checklist?)

The Compliment Checklist

The next time you feel compelled to give a compliment, before you share, pause for a minute and answer the following questions.

• Authentic: Why am I recognizing this person?
• Specific: What did I experience or observe?
• Process: What did it take for them to do what they did?
• Impact: How did what they do impact me or the team?”

So, cultivate confidence; harvest happiness; generate a grin, or two, or more. Be it via Zoom, Teams, phone, text, e-mail, socially distant visit or casual meet-and-greet, compliments are powerful #CommunicationsContentConnections.

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