Complement Your Approach With Compliments

Everyone loves to receive a compliment. Hearing a heartfelt “Your hair looks especially great today” or “Your help was invaluable last week” can make anyone’s day.

In fact, compliments are so meaningful and motivating that there’s a National Compliment Day! It falls on January 24.

So in honor of National Compliment Day this year, let’s sing the praises of compliments. Not only is such kindness a happy and healthy habit, but giving (and receiving) kudos can help your small business too.

Compliments are a form of kindness.

Science has shown that getting a compliment activates your brain as if you had received a monetary reward. So you are really “paying” someone a compliment – almost literally.

Seen more broadly, giving compliments can be seen as an act of kindness. And practicing kindness has proven benefits. According to researchers at Mayo Clinic, kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem and improve mood. Kindness even positively affects your brain chemistry, by boosting serotonin and dopamine levels, improving your outlook and well-being.  

And remember: What goes around comes around. By giving genuine compliments, you are creating positive energy that will come back to you.

Giving compliments is good business.

What’s true in life is true in business. Consider this observation from the Harvard Business Review:

So look for opportunities to compliment those in your business network. Find something specific you appreciate about a client or colleague, and communicate that in person, by email, or in a quick handwritten note.

And bear in mind: A positive review is a form of compliment. So if you have a vendor you value, you can post a positive review on Google, or write her a unsolicited, compliment-laden recommendation on LinkedIn.

This kind of “relationship marketing” nurtures existing relationships, and kindles new ones. 

Make the most of the compliments you receive.

If you’re good at what you do – and especially if you are generous with praise yourself – you are bound to receive compliments from your clients and colleagues.

Make the most of those warm fuzzies. Capture those compliments, and ask if you can feature that positive feedback on your webpage and in your marketing efforts.

Here’s a template you can use to ask permission. (And you should ask permission.) Feel free to use this language, or tweak it to fit your own voice. 

Hello <client name>,

I wanted to drop a quick note. Your kind words [in last week’s email, etc.] warmed my heart. I truly appreciated that.

If you wouldn’t mind, I would love to add your thoughts to my webpage, since other clients might benefit from hearing about your experience. I have summarized your statement below:
 
“Here include the compliment verbatim, or a shortened version of it. Either way, try to capture the essence of the statement without putting words in someone’s mouth.”

– “Anna C., past client” or “A.C., past client”

[Do not use a full name, for privacy reasons]

If you feel as though the statement above accurately reflects your words, and you are OK with me using it on my website, please let me know.
 
Of course, if you would like to make changes, please email me back. And, if you are not comfortable with me using the statement, that’s perfectly OK as well.
 
Thanks again for being a valued client and for your kind words.

Have a lovely day,
 
[Your name]

Give yourself a compliment (or two).

Finally, when you’re doling out praise, don’t forget to give yourself a compliment.

After all, you have taken the steps necessary to realize your dream of small business ownership. That takes gumption and confidence.

So take a moment to compliment yourself on a job well done, or a particular strength that you bring to the table. 

Remember to be as kind to yourself as you are to others. It’s OK to make your own day!