The saying goes, “Flattery will get you nowhere,” but anyone who has been given a well-placed compliment knows it can go a long way. Make someone feel good about themselves, and they are likely to reciprocate by helping you, doing what you ask, or otherwise opening themselves up to influence.
Of course, someone will see through an over-the-top compliment given just before a request is made. They will know you are buttering them up. One of my coaching clients was so effusive with flattery that people stopped believing everything he said, and it became an integrity issue. Avoid saying things that aren’t true or that are exaggerated.
If you can brighten someone’s day with a genuine acknowledgment, they are bound to repay it. Watch for opportunities to give someone a compliment, and increase your ability to influence change.
Who might you compliment today?
Read more of the 99 Ways to Influence Change.