Power Play: Don’t match a compliment

When it comes to compliments, powerful types know how to accept one. More importantly, they don’t fall for the mistake of immediately returning one.

At best it comes off as disingenuous. At worst a defence mechanism employed to deflect praise and make the recipient of said compliment look humble (when they’re likely not).

It’s a little bit pathetic and shows the recipient of the compliment to be unsure of his or her own talent. Influential types separate a compliment they give to one they receive.

This means that when they do give a compliment the receiver of this compliment knows it to be real and heartfelt.

True power is praising honestly and giving a compliment when it is most warranted – and not as a deflective device or ‘good manners’. Because there ain’t a lot of power in that.