The Art of the Reception

As WordPress continues to recycle old prompts, I pulled another prompt from The Coffee Monsterz Co to respond to today

How do you respond to compliments?

The Humble Response

I tend to be a humble guy, so when someone pays me a compliment, I might get slightly embarrassed; I’ve been told I even blush a little. But at the same time, I’m centered enough now to know exactly what I bring to the proverbial table. If someone tells me I’m talented at something I’ve worked hard to master—like teaching—I play it cool. A simple, “Thank you, I appreciate that,” usually does the trick.

Flattery Will Get You Everywhere

Of course, there’s the playful side. Somewhere along the way, I picked up the line: “Be careful, flattery will get you everywhere with me.” When I’m striking up a conversation with a woman for the first time, it’s a great flirty pivot. It signals my intentions and shows a bit of confidence without me stumbling over my words or blaring a blunt “I like you.”

The Reciprocal Gesture

Then there are the “reciprocal” compliments. We all know those moments where someone pays you a compliment in the hopes that you’ll return the favor. Most of the time, I’m happy to oblige. If someone finds something kind to say about me, I try to repay the gesture, even if it’s a simple, “Thanks! You too.”

The “Obnoxious” Pivot

And then, depending on how well I can read the room, I might lean into the “obnoxious jerk” persona for a laugh. If I’m with people who understand my sense of humor, I’ll give a slight chuckle and a deadpan, “Thanks, I know!”

Like everything else in life, I think the way you handle a compliment depends on your ability to read the situation. I use snark as an icebreaker because I love making people laugh. I don’t have any delusions of grandeur about being a professional comedian, but I recognize when a moment calls for a bit of levity, and I’m usually there to provide it.

Reading the Room

Looking back, I realize this version of me is a relatively new development. As a kid, or even in high school, I never would have had the bravado or the swagger to play it cool, let alone be snarky. My self-esteem was incredibly low back then. While self-doubt still creeps in every now and then, I’m in a much different place now. Hell, I’m in a better place today than I was even five years ago.

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like 👍, comment, and subscribe below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media and check out my recent posts!

AI art created with Google Gemini

The article “The Art of the Reception” first appear and on Rebuilding Rob

Designed with WordPress