The Compliment Game

A Distributed Work Tool

Team members give each other rapid compliments in a semi-structured way.

This experience creates acknowledgment and positivity as people publicly receive and give compliments. These compliments can take different forms including “see you,” “celebrate you,” and “thank you” and can be linked to different work functions like presentation feedback.

Basic Version

The leader begins by saying, “Let’s play the Compliment Game. Use the meeting chat to just write as many compliments as you can about different people on the team. I’m setting the timer for 60 seconds. Go!” 

Within 1 minute a small team can easily produce a list of 50+ compliments, where each member sees many compliments directed at them.

After 60 seconds the leader invites everyone to look at the compliments, comment, give thanks, and agree or “ditto” compliments.

Variations

Focus on One Person

The leader directs the team to write compliments about just one person. This activity can be used to draw attention to something about that person that may have been overlooked.

Go Beyond Celebration: Seeing

Tell people to not just celebrate other people’s accomplishments, but in the chat “see” others’ efforts, hard work, little things, and struggles and realities people are going through. For instance, saying “I know this recent project has been tough for things beyond your control.”

Go Beyond Celebration: Thanking

Get people to thank each and show gratitude. Tell people to not just “see” and “celebrate” but to also show thankfulness. For instance, saying “I am so thankful for how you helped me with the data analysis last week.”

Integration: With Presentations

After a presentation, the team gives the presenter rapid compliments. In addition to making the presenter feel good, it can help them learn quickly what their team is seeing, appreciating, and needing in their presentations.