Explore the psychological tension behind taking a compliment. Learn why we deflect praise and how to overcome the inner critic to improve professional communication.
When you learn to take a compliment gracefully, you aren't just helping yourself—you’re honoring the person who took the time to see you.
How to take a compliment gracefully by saying thank you and returning the kindness without feeling awkward or like you are bragging.
Taking a compliment often triggers a sudden spike of heat or a desperate urge to look away because of a deeply rooted psychological tension. This discomfort occurs even among successful professionals when external praise clashes with their internal narrative. Instead of feeling a warm glow, many people experience a piece of praise as a threat to their internal equilibrium, leading them to shove the recognition away like a hot potato.
Praise deflection is the act of stammering, attributing success to luck, or pointing out flaws when someone offers kind words. While we often believe we are being humble, this behavior is actually a reaction to a clash between the outside world's perception and our own self-perception. When an inner critic whispers that we are not competent, we deflect the compliment to protect the narrative we keep inside our own heads.
The inner critic impacts professional communication by creating a paradox where we work hard to be noticed but feel uncomfortable when recognition arrives. This internal voice can make a professional feel like a piece of praise is a threat rather than a gift. Understanding this dynamic between your internal equilibrium and external recognition is the first step toward overcoming the instinct to deflect positive feedback in the workplace.
From Columbia University alumni | built in San Francisco
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BeFreed Community
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