When's the Right Time for a Compliment?

VamPyroX

VamPyroX

bloody phreak from hell
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When do you think is the best time to compliment someone on something... while they're doing it or after they do it?

For instance...

A kid is drawing a picture... do you compliment him on his drawing while he's doing it ("Wow, your drawing is looking good! Keep up with the hard work!") or do you wait until he's done before complimenting him on the picture ("Wow, I like the picture. Beautiful!")?

A guy is working out... do you compliment him on working hard with working out ("Keep it up! You're gonna lose that weight/get stronger!") or do you wait until he's looking better before you compliment him on how he looks good ("Wow, you've lost weight/gotten bigger muscles!")?
 
If it was me working out at my current age, I'd be waiting for an eternity to catch a compliment from you. LOL!
 
Tousi said:
If it was me working out at my current age, I'd be waiting for an eternity to catch a compliment from you. LOL!
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Hahaha...

The reason for bringing this up is because I've seen a few friends feel embarrassed with working out when someone comes along and starts complimenting them in the process. However, they feel good when they're not working out... just happen to be somewhere and someone compliments them on how they look.

For instance, one gal was working out just to lose a few pounds. Her friends saw her at a local gym and said, "Wow, you're doing good! Keep it up! You're gonna lose those pounds!" She immediately blushed and feel uncomfortable for the next few minutes. She even skipped the gym for a few days before working up the courage to go again.

However, when she went out to a party... some other gals approached her and said, "Whoa, you look like you've lost weight! You look great!" She actually smiled and felt good. She even felt encouraged to go work out more often.

When I bring this up with others, some say that there was something wrong with this gal for feeling that way.... because complimenting during the process is better or as good as given at the end. Some others argue that it's better to do it at the end because it may catch them off guard when they're in the process. When they're in the process, they don't expect compliments until they've reached their goal or have completed something.

I feel the same way... that compliments should usually be given at the end. It works for me when I'm working with others. I compliment others when they've completed certain tasks.
 
I agree with you, too for this specific situation; those others are wrong because SHE's the owner of those feelings and everything else she goes thru during this process. Why people have to put everything someone else does under a microscope is beyond me.
 
Tousi said:
Oh yeah? Why's that, mate? You better have a good answer. *Hiding my OWN mallet behind my back*
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Too complicated and don't know when it is the right time to compliment.
 
VamPyroX said:
When do you think is the best time to compliment someone on something... while they're doing it or after they do it?

For instance...

A kid is drawing a picture... do you compliment him on his drawing while he's doing it ("Wow, your drawing is looking good! Keep up with the hard work!") or do you wait until he's done before complimenting him on the picture ("Wow, I like the picture. Beautiful!")?

A guy is working out... do you compliment him on working hard with working out ("Keep it up! You're gonna lose that weight/get stronger!") or do you wait until he's looking better before you compliment him on how he looks good ("Wow, you've lost weight/gotten bigger muscles!")?
Click to expand...

With a child it is best to compliment him during and after the art. Both... you can never compliment a child enought. It helps builds their self esteem..


with a Guy that is working out.. the same' compliment him on how well he is doing and compliment him on his Weight loss or muscles.(what ever his goal)

It again, helps people to feel good and move on to their goal...
 
It all depends on the person.

Some people want to be complimented when they are not doing the work.

Like your lady friend who spends time at the gym and then shows up at the party. She probably doesn't want to be reminded why she is at the gym as weight is a sensitive issue but when she is not there, she appreciates the compliments.

Then there are people like me......we don't take/like compliments at all. We rather go in and do the work to our best ability and go onto the next project. Simple as that.

Hope this helps.
 
It depends on how the situation is presented and also, it depends on how the person is receiving the compliments. Sometime it is kind of hard to eyeball it around because for one person, it might work during the process but for another person, it will work after the task is completed. So, it goes both way.

If you were to approach a random stranger, that would put yourself in an unknown situation because you don't know when is the right time to pass a nice compliment. If you are to do that with someone you know then you can give it a shot to do it at the right time. Although, it is nice to give/receive compliments during and after the process.

If a performer was performing on a stage, Do you applaud during the performance or do you hold your applause until the end? Normally, We don't and we hold the applause until the end. It is the same thing as of taking photographs until the end.

Personally, I think during and after the task of receiving the compliments are great but that's just me. Not everyone is the same.
 
Babyblue said:
With a child it is best to compliment him during and after the art. Both... you can never compliment a child enought. It helps builds their self esteem..


with a Guy that is working out.. the same' compliment him on how well he is doing and compliment him on his Weight loss or muscles.(what ever his goal)

It again, helps people to feel good and move on to their goal...
Click to expand...
I have noticed kids stopping what they were doing because they were too embarrassed from the compliment they received while they were doing it. However, after they were done and then received the compliment... they were so proud that they would go running around showing off their work.

Even my nephew does the same thing.

I also have some friends who prefer to workout alone because they don't like compliments while they're doing it. So, they try to schedule workouts where they are hardly seen by people they know.
 
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