1. Do your compliments give the facts telling exactly what it is you like?

2. Do you truly believe what your compliment says?

3. Have you avoided using the words perfect, always, or never?

If you can say yes to all three questions, you are doing well. Keep it up.

A yes answer to the above questions is important because …

1. Being specific about what you like is important because the person receiving the compliment can keep doing what you like. It also is more convincing that the compliment is sincere.
2. When you don’t believe what you say, those receiving those compliments quickly sense you don’t mean it and after receiving them often begin to reject all compliments because they can’t trust that they are true.  Compliments given just to be “nice” do more harm than good.
3. Doing something perfectly or being perfect is not possible. Always doing something excellently is also not possible. Likewise never making mistakes or doing poorly is not possible. When you use these words in a compliment (You always get an “A.”), it is a red flag that the compliment is not true and therefore shouldn’t be accepted.

See Correct; Don’t Criticize – Part 2 (http://wp.me/p2MePX-9q) for more information about compliments.