Source: blog.shareaholic.com

Let’s face it… At some point in our lives, we have all received compliments. Personally, I find that the smallest of compliments can make my day, and they really mean a lot to me long after they are said. The sincerity of compliments can be significant, but are compliments and praise truly powerful enough to impact those who receive them?

Interestingly enough, one study shows that those who receive compliments are capable of demonstrating increased levels of performance. Professors from a variety of institutes carried out this study in order to determine the impact of praise on those receiving it. In the study, subjects were required to carry out a finger pattern by pushing a series of keys as quickly as possible. The study consisted of forty-eight adults divided into three different groups. The first group received compliments on their task from an evaluator. The second group watched compliments being given to other subjects, while the third group was responsible for determining on their own how well they carried out their task (this was based on a generated graph). The subjects returned a day later to perform the same task again. The results clearly demonstrated that the group that received compliments from the evaluator demonstrated the highest performance levels. This further supports the beneficial power of compliments and consistent praise.

Professor Sadato, one of the team members for this study, declared, “To the brain, receiving a compliment is as much a social reward as being rewarded money. We’ve been able to find scientific proof that a person performs better when they receive a social reward after completing an exercise.”

Another study demonstrates how compliments can contribute significantly to one’s self-esteem. The subjects within this study consisted of forty-eight college students (twenty-four males and twenty-four females). Half of the males and half of the females were given a subtle compliment. Following this, the subjects completed a questionnaire about “self-perceived attractiveness.” The results of the study made it clear that the compliment did indeed have a significant effect on the self-esteem of the subjects.

Compliments clearly serve as a motivational force for those who receive them. Psychology Today has a number of suggestions for giving compliments and praise in the most effective way possible. The most important characteristic of an effective compliment is that it is sincere. This means that the person giving the compliment is doing so for a genuine purpose as opposed to doing so merely for their own benefit or personal gain. It is also important to ensure that praise is given in a respectful manner. Compliments in accordance with these guidelines will have a long-lasting impact on whoever they are intended for!