Why I compliment other women at work

Madeleine Albright, Former Secretary of State and Ambassador to the U.N., once said: “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” There’s something harsh about the language in this quote, or maybe since I became a mother I’ve stopped saying “hell” lest my 10 year-old pick it up (or my 9 year-old, 5 year-old, or 2 year-old) but the harshness is what also drives home the point, and is necessary.

I do my best to compliment my co-workers. “You did a great job in that presentation, I thought your voice was strong,” or “that story you wrote had some really interesting quotes in it.” These are easy, 30-second emails or Symphony chats. Because we are in a hybrid schedule, my shyness doesn’t come into play because I can send out these messages of warmth from the comfort of my own home. I used to feel this completeness, this wholeness from practicing yoga and writing in my journal. But when you have four kids and a full-time job, saying nice things to other women is a lot quicker and the feeling I get is the same-inner peace.

I’d like to say I compliment other women because I’m this amazingly kind person. I am a kind person. But, if I’m being 100% honest there’s a part of me that zings with happiness when I make other people feel worthy. It doesn’t mean I’m not a strong women; quite the opposite. It simply means I use my superpower, my strength, which is being a good team member, advocating for women I work with, and boosting them up. Because as we know now it’s a tide, and it lifts all boats.