Problematic when the job of a teen is to become autonomous, to break away from adult authority and supervision and learn to be their own boss.

Even complimenting teens is fraught; a compliment implies that the person offering it is in a position to judge, a position of power from which the teen is trying to separate. Often the best you can do is just to notice without offering either praise or criticism. Noticing what someone does conveys the message that they are important to you, something we all tend to want and need.