Compliments often feel awkward, but new research shows that complimenting people has huge benefits—for both parties.
Unfortunately, 'anxieties' about how others may perceive our words can prevent us from giving compliments. No one, after all, wants to come across as sloppy.
"Compliments are the easiest way to make other people—and, as a result, yourself—feel better," says Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago. "But when a good thought comes to mind, people often don't say it."
The sense of reciprocity may explain why positive feedback can be a powerful tool in the workplace.
A study by researchers at technology company Intel and Duke University in the US showed that verbal praise was more effective at increasing productivity than monetary rewards. "People generally don't realize that something so small can have such a big impact," explains Vanessa Bohns, a professor of social psychology at Cornell University.
