How to accept a compliment at work

Short answer: say “Thank you. I'm proud of how it turned out.”

DON'T SAY
“Oh, it was nothing.”
after praise
SAY THIS
“Thank you. I'm proud of how it turned out.”
Accepting praise signals confidence and makes people want to give it.

When to use it

Use it when someone praises your work. A simple thank-you plus one line about what you're proud of is gracious and confident. Brushing it off can make the other person feel their judgment was wrong, and makes them less likely to praise you again.

Example

Director: “That presentation was excellent.”

You: “Thank you. I'm proud of how it turned out.”

In an email or Slack message

In Slack: “Thank you! I'm proud of how it turned out, and Jamie's data work made it possible.” Sharing credit is fine, as long as you accept your part too.

Quick drill

When you've made a mistake, big or small.

Which sounds more confident?

Practice 10 more →

Free PDF guide

25 phrases that make you sound confident at work

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