Honest compliments are healthy. They’re good nutrition for all of us. 

Sadly, there are a few well-intended and, for the most part, “good-behavior” directives that are anything but, well, good. If you praise someone or some company or an employee or an employer, you’re kissing they’re you-know-whats. Or, if you praise him or her, they’ll get swollen heads. 

Rubbish. Not, I repeat, not if the compliment is honest and sincere. 

For praise to be healthy, honesty is the one element that must be present and accounted for. Lip-service praise carries the disgusting patina of toxicity.

Honest praise deserves to be woven into the fabric of any business, family, lifestyle. When you’re known as one who offers honest praise, moments when you take someone to task are far more likely to be understood and respected. 

Say your child makes their bed. Does so regularly. Nothing stops you from stopping by and saying, “You make your bed every day. I wish I’d had your self-discipline when I was your age. I’m proud of you.”

Or, you have an employee, or a boss, who consistently does their work well. Praise their work. And, praise the boss too.

If the compliment is honest and sincere, it is deserved. This includes complimenting the bosses.