What’s the best compliment you’ve ever gotten?
For me, it was went someone commented on one of my posts that I sounded like Kathy Sierra.
What’s the point of all this? Especially in higher education, it can be so frustrating - the politics, the territorial behavior, the egos. The longer I’m in this industry, the more I become convinced that people can’t understand it until they’ve been there. A lot of days, you may feel like you’re just wasting your time and goodness knows it often feels thankless.
It may seem silly, but at times like that, think of the best compliment you’ve ever gotten. Even print it out on a piece of paper and hang it on your wall. It’ll make you smile and feel good, even if just for a moment. And then maybe the bad stuff won’t feel so unmanageable.
What was the best compliment you ever got? Leave a comment!
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March 4th, 2009
Most recent awesome compliment? I was teaching Monday (small honors class, 19 students), and we were working on a particularly difficult concept. I explained that I was teaching it differently this year, trying to help them learn it better than previous classes had. One student thanked me for being a good teacher and trying new methods, and the class actually gave me a little round of applause. I was really touched.
March 4th, 2009
“When I first met you, I thought — whoa! — I don’t think I ever want to run into this guy in a dark alley. But turns out you’re a pretty good guy, and I wouldn’t mind running into you in a dark alley any time.”
– Co-worker at my college newspaper
March 4th, 2009
Probably when someone called me an early thought leader in my industry.
Either that or when someone said “You’re a total jackass!”
Sometimes being hated by the right people is the biggest compliment you can get.
March 4th, 2009
Today, filled with frustration at my HE marketing job and organisation (and all the things you mention ‘the politics, the territorial behavior, the egos’ plus the general lack of understanding or understanding of the work, the lack of funding for futher training in the UK HE admin sector, the lack of direction, the piss poor apprasial system +, +, + , I don’t seem to even be able to remember.
But you are right Karlyn. We have to develop ways to stay self-motivated, to stay focused andto pursue in the face of obstacles.
Only question I have, when faced with challenges of our own making and no appreciation from our bosses of the outcomes, when will we really know if all the effort has been worth it?
March 4th, 2009
@Jeanne - great question, and I don’t know that I have an answer for it. I just read this book called Change Your Questions Change Your Life: 7 Powerful Tools for Life and Work by Marilee Adams. Check it out - it may have some of the answers you’re looking for.
March 4th, 2009
Hmm… I don’t remember my favorite one, but these two work as two opposites:
Nikki, the Nice: @robin2go and I founded a back, back channel group over Twitter and Ning devoted to create a virtual office for people who needed the office camaraderie and a place of escape to vent the frustrations you describe. One of the members, tweeted: I’m so [expletive deleted] impressed with @NikkiMK’s obsession with making [group's name deleted] a warm and inviting place…
Nikki, the Thick-Skinned: When I taught, a student approached me and asked what he needed to do to pass my class. It was too late and I explained that the best thing he could learn from me now was to take responsibility. He dedicated some work to me, thanking me for teaching him this lesson.
Sometimes you have to be both things to survive (and be respected), I guess.
March 4th, 2009
Nothing tops being told that you’re a great Dad.
If people offered more positive feedback, each day could be more positive. So, while getting a compliment is important, so too is giving them! That said, while you think of the nicest compliment you’ve received, if you can’t match it 1:1 for compliments given, you should start thinking to even that up!
March 4th, 2009
Toby, I really love your comment and think it’s so important. How much of a better working environment would we all have if we went out of our way to tell each other what we are doing well rather than what we’re doing poorly? I’ll certainly be trying to live that example more from now on
March 6th, 2009
Recently, I helped a colleague update a very important part of the Web site for which she was responsible but really procrastinating. It took months to get her attention and to accomplish what was really a very simple, but important task. When we did it, she wrote to me: “Thank you so much for your assistance. I am impressed by your professionalism and
am truly grateful for your expertise. You are the best! ” That made MY day. In turn, I also recently complimented a co-worker in another department for her ability to get things done so well and with such a good attitude. I wrote to her “Did anyone tell you today that you are awesome?” Well, her response was, “Wow. I really needed that today. THANK YOU!”
It’s so easy to do, isn’t it - give a compliment, smile.