Why You're So Bad at Giving and Receiving Compliments (And How to Fix That)

Why You're So Bad at Giving and Receiving Compliments (And How to Fix That)

Over a decade ago, I remember reading a story that stuck with me. I think it was connected to the famous Harvard Study on Adult Development that studied a group of men across their lifetimes, but I can no longer find the reference. A much-beloved doctor, upon his retirement, was given a notebook filled with letters of praise and appreciation from his patients. After he received it, he put it up in his attic, and never opened it or read the letters.

I've often thought of this story since I first heard it, wondering about what motivated the doctor's behavior, and the larger question of why praise is typically welcomed and makes us feel good, but can also make people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.

In today's episode, I take a stab at answering this question with Christopher Littlefield, a speaker and consultant who specializes in employee appreciation. But first, we talk about the power of recognition, why we can be so stingy in giving compliments, how compliments can go wrong, and how we can offer them more effectively. We then turn to why getting compliments can make you cringe, how people deflect them and how this deflection affects relationships, and how to get better at receiving compliments graciously.

Resources Related to the PodcastConnect With Christopher Littlefield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Avsnitt(1160)

Hercules at the Crossroads — Choosing the Hard Path That Leads to a Good Life

Hercules at the Crossroads — Choosing the Hard Path That Leads to a Good Life

In a story from ancient Greek philosophy, Hercules faces a choice between two paths: one promising pleasure and ease; the other, hardship and struggle — but also growth and greatness. According to tod...

4 Nov 202558min

Make Friends With Death to Live a Better Life

Make Friends With Death to Live a Better Life

We live in a culture that does everything it can to keep death at a distance. We hide it behind hospital curtains, euphemize it in conversation, and hustle through grief like it's just another item on...

28 Okt 202553min

Chasing the White Whale — Into the Depths of Moby-Dick

Chasing the White Whale — Into the Depths of Moby-Dick

If you went to high school in America, you probably read Moby-Dick — or, more likely, you skimmed the CliffsNotes and wondered why this dense, whale-obsessed novel was considered a classic.That was me...

21 Okt 202550min

The 6 Practices of the Ultimate Morning Routine

The 6 Practices of the Ultimate Morning Routine

There's been a lot of talk about morning routines in the last few years. But the idea is hardly new; famous men from Thomas Aquinas to Benjamin Franklin structured their mornings to accomplish great d...

14 Okt 202548min

The Classical Code of Manhood

The Classical Code of Manhood

What does it mean to be a man? It’s a timeless question that's been answered in different ways across the ages. For the ancient Romans, the word for manliness was virtus — the root of our word virtue....

7 Okt 202559min

Why You Need the Good Stress of Socializing

Why You Need the Good Stress of Socializing

You may have heard of hormesis — the idea that intentionally embracing small stressors activates the body’s repair and defense systems, building resilience, improving how the body and even the microbi...

30 Sep 202552min

Build Muscle Without the B.S. — A Straightforward Guide to Size and Strength

Build Muscle Without the B.S. — A Straightforward Guide to Size and Strength

Whether you’ve never stepped foot in a weight room or you’ve been lifting for years without seeing significant results, figuring out how to get big, strong, and jacked can feel overwhelming. There are...

23 Sep 20251h 5min

The Preparation — An Adventure-Driven, Skill-Building Alternative to College for Young Men

The Preparation — An Adventure-Driven, Skill-Building Alternative to College for Young Men

For generations, the path to adulthood was straightforward: go to college, get a job, build a life. But many young men are beginning to question the college component of that path; tuition keeps risin...

16 Sep 202551min

Populärt inom Utbildning

rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
historiepodden-se
det-skaver
nu-blir-det-historia
allt-du-velat-veta
johannes-hansen-podcast
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
not-fanny-anymore
roda-vita-rosen
rss-viktmedicinpodden
sektledare
rss-foraldramotet-bring-lagercrantz
alska-oss
i-vantan-pa-katastrofen
sa-in-i-sjalen
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
rss-om-vi-ska-vara-arliga
rss-sjalsligt-avkladd
rss-basta-livet
sex-pa-riktigt-med-marika-smith