"I appreciate compliments, especially since I'm so curious as to how others perceive me. (Negative comments are welcome as well, so they can sketch out an accurate portrayal.) "
Oh, yes, I agree with this. Compliments and criticisms are communications of what others think of you or what they want you to think they think (hahaha). But a great compliment that you KNOW is off base can be embarrassing. For instance, I manage a team of two, these folks are really resentful of my position and are blatatly disrespectful to me. So I have gone out to my car, cried for a bit to let off steam, come back, cleaned up, only to run into my boss who congratulates me on how well I am handling the situation (yikes).
Compliments from tough customers (TJs, for instance) are treaured mostly because their respect is not easy to earn. And when a dear friend or loved one spontaneously tells you what it is about you that makes you shine (for them), that's pretty great, too.
Also, an INTJ previously posted he does not appreciate compliments about his appearance - this I understand, too. It feels like code for one of three things: "I want to have sex with you", "I think you have high status and now wish to speak with you" (yuck), or sometimes, horribly "I am competitive and jealous". If the motivation is decent, okay, but I would rather these compliments come from my wifey, friends and family, if at all.
One more thought - I generally dislike compliments given in a group directed at a single person, whether it is me or someone else, unless it is done ARTFULLY. Singling a person out in a group, no matter how well intended, places them 'above" others in that moment, and can stir up feelings of inferiority or jealousy. For a team, this is a rotten direction.
There is something almost humilating about singled out by a compliment in a very public situation. I guess it is obvious, too, because at my last job, I was meant to receive a quarterly award of recognition for some projects I'd worked on and apparently a friend of mine was told to stand behind me during the announcement to make sure I didn't bolt (grin). She actually had her hands on my waste (weird), and rightfully so because I jerked toward the door when it happened. Nice recognition (I was grateful), but I would have been soooo much happier had it been done in private.
My father, a VERY strong ESTJ, would never appreciate the above sentiment. The more public recognition, the better for that one! (grin)