Getting a compliment at work is always nice, and it’s important to know how to respond professionally and politely. In this article, we’ll look at examples of tasteful responses to compliments in the workplace. Whether it’s positive feedback for a job well done or recognition of your leadership abilities, you’ll learn appropriate ways to react that are humble and suitable for the office environment.
Receiving a genuine compliment about your work can be a great feeling. It’s nice to be recognized for your efforts and have your accomplishments called out. At the same time it can also be awkward to respond to praise especially in a professional setting. You want to acknowledge the compliment without coming across as egotistical or full of yourself.
With the right approach, responding to compliments at work can be straightforward. Here are some tips for accepting praise professionally and gracefully
Don’t Deny or Reject Sincere Praise
When someone pays you a compliment at <span>work</span>, avoid immediately dismissing it or pointing out why you don’t deserve it. Doing so can make the giver feel like their praise was misplaced and they may be less likely to give compliments in the future.
Unless the praise is clearly misguided, find a way to accept it genuinely. You can politely downplay it a little (“Oh, it was a team effort, but thank you!”), but don’t reject a sincere compliment outright.
Say Thank You
The most basic response to any compliment is a simple “thank you.” This is always appropriate and lets the giver know you appreciate them taking the time to recognize your efforts.
You can say thank you on its own or couple it with another piece of advice from this article. Either way, gratitude should be part of your reply.
Tie the Praise Back to Your Work
When possible, relate the compliment back to the work itself. This shows you appreciate that your hard work was noticed, not just the praise.
For example:
“Thank you, I’m really proud of how that project turned out and I appreciate you noticing the effort we put into it.”
This replies graciously to the compliment while keeping the focus on the work, not yourself.
Acknowledge How the Praise Makes You Feel
It’s perfectly acceptable to let the giver know if their compliment made you feel proud, motivated, or happy. These are normal reactions to being recognized.
“I really appreciate you saying that. Your praise made me feel very proud of the work I’ve done.”
Positively acknowledging how the praise made you feel comes off humble while still accepting the compliment.
Don’t Immediately Compliment Them Back
It’s natural to want to return a compliment, but be careful not to force it. Only reciprocate praise if it feels warranted and relevant. Otherwise it can come across as merely returning platitudes, which dilutes the meaning.
If you want to briefly compliment them another time when it feels more natural, that’s fine. But in the moment, keep the focus on appreciating their kind words.
Examples of Gracious Responses
Here are some examples of how to tactfully and graciously respond to compliments about your work:
“I appreciate you noticing. I feel really good about how that project turned out.”
“Thanks for saying that! I put a lot of effort into getting that analysis right, so I’m glad you think it paid off.”
“That means a lot coming from you. I really admire your approach to x, so your praise about my work is very motivating.”
“Thank you, compliments like that make all those late nights feel worthwhile.”
“I’m so glad to hear you were happy with the end result. It was a team effort, but I’m proud of my contributions.”
“Wow, thank you for the kind words! I’m thrilled to hear you were impressed with my work.”
Responding to Your Boss or Leadership
It’s especially important to be gracious and humble when your own boss or senior leadership compliments you. In these cases, you want to express appreciation without appearing arrogant or entitled.
Keep responses grounded in the work itself and acknowledge you couldn’t have done it without their leadership and the team’s support. For example:
“Thank you, it means so much to have my work recognized by you. This was only possible thanks to your guidance and the support of the whole team.”
Handling Excessive or Misplaced Praise
Occasionally, you may receive compliments that feel repetitive, effusive, or entirely misplaced. This puts you in an awkward position, but there are still professional ways to handle it:
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Repeat praise: Politely say thank you again and refocus the conversation elsewhere.
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Effusive praise: Express your gratitude and appreciate their enthusiasm, but don’t get pulled into effusive responses yourself. Stay grounded.
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Misplaced praise: If it’s a genuine mistake, gently clarify the misunderstanding. But if it seems intentional, simply say thank you and move on. Correcting them may only embarrass them.
The key is responding professionally despite feeling uncomfortable with the nature of the praise.
Complimenting Your Own Work
While it’s best to let others compliment you, you may need to occasionally point out your own accomplishments, such as when asking for a promotion or raise. Just take care to do so objectively and factually, avoiding excessive self-congratulations.
For example, when asking to be considered for a promotion you could say:
“As you know, this quarter I took the lead on Project X. We brought it in $15K under budget and the client called it our best work yet. I believe excelling on high-profile projects like this demonstrates I’m ready for more responsibility in a management role.”
The key is focusing on facts and observations rather than your subjective take. This makes it clear you’re assessing your work fairly, not just tooting your own horn.
How to Compliment Coworkers
Now that we’ve covered accepting compliments, it’s worth talking about how to dole out compliments effectively:
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Be specific. Don’t just say “Good job!” Identify what exactly they did well.
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Cite impact. When possible, connect their work to concrete outcomes. This gives more weight to the praise.
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Compliment effort. Recognizing hard work and perseverance is very meaningful, even if the outcome wasn’t perfect.
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Do so publicly. Offering praise in group settings carries more weight and impact.
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Vary formality. Not every compliment needs to feel like a performance review. Casual compliments in the hallway help establish rapport.
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Set the tone. Complimenting colleagues yourself promotes a culture where praise is more common.
Receiving well-earned praise at work is a great feeling, but responding graciously takes some tact. With the right approach, you can accept compliments professionally and make the giver feel good about recognizing your work.
The key is focusing the conversation on the work itself, not your ego. Express sincere gratitude, acknowledge the giver’s kind words, but don’t get carried away talking about yourself. This maintains the spotlight on the accomplishment while also communicating that you appreciate the recognition.
So next time someone compliments you at the office, put these tips to use. They’ll help you react with grace, class and professionalism.
Compliments from Clients or Customers
- Your satisfaction is my priority: “Thank you for your compliment. Your satisfaction is my priority, and I’m glad I could meet your expectations.”
- I appreciate your feedback: “I’m grateful for your kind words and feedback. It helps me improve my work and offer better service in the future.”
- Glad to be of service: “Thank you! I’m delighted to know that my assistance made a difference. If you need any further help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
What are some humble ways to acknowledge a compliment on my performance?
When receiving a compliment on your performance, show humility by expressing gratitude and sharing credit with your team members, if applicable. For example:
- “Thank you! I couldn’t have done it without the support of my team.”
- “I appreciate your feedback! Our collaborative efforts made this achievement possible.”
What to Say When Someone Compliments You, and What Not To Say–Common Communication Mistakes We Make
What happens if you receive a compliment at work?
A potential outcome of putting in exceptional effort and achieving your goals at work is to receive compliments. When you receive a well-intentioned compliment, how you respond can be important for expressing your gratitude and acknowledging the giver of the compliment.
How do you respond to a compliment?
Fishing for more compliments: When you receive a compliment, don’t try to solicit more praise by asking how great you were or how helpful you’ve been. This can make you appear egotistical and insincere. Just express your gratitude for the compliment, and leave it at that. Leadership Communication: How You Can Inspire Action and Change Lives
What types of compliments do you receive in the workplace?
Here are some examples of various types of compliments you may receive in the workplace and how you may respond effectively: Here’s an example of a compliment directed at someone’s hard work and how that benefited the company: Manager: “Well done on completing all three of those reports in one week.
What do you say when someone compliments your work?
When someone compliments your work, try to be specific in your response. For example, if your boss says she’s impressed with how quickly you turned around a task, you might say something like, “I’m happy to have been able to help out. I know how important it is to have this project done as soon as possible.“
