There are three components to delivering a good compliment:
1. Make it Personal.
Use the persons name when paying a compliment.  Someone’s name is the most personal thing about them.  It reinforces that they are individually being singled out for recognition.
2. Be Specific.
What did the person do that was good or important?  Tell them the action they took that caught your attention.
3. Share the Result.
What was the impact of what they did?  Be specific about the affect their performance had on you, others or the organization.

Here is an example: “Mary, I want to compliment you on the way you kept your cool with that difficult customer.  You hung in there with them and earned their confidence.”