Giving someone a real, specific compliment feels oddly risky. Do it. People remember those for years.

Saying something warm out loud exposes you slightly, because the other person could brush it off and you would be left holding it. That small risk is why most praise stays unsaid or gets diluted into something generic. The specific version is the one that gets remembered for years, and it costs a sentence.

Tell someone this week exactly what they did well and why it registered with you. Say it in person if you can. Do not add a joke at the end to take the weight off.