How to Respond to a Compliment at Work
In this guide
The best way to respond to a compliment at work is to accept it plainly and add brief context: “Thank you, I appreciate that. It was a good result, and the team made it possible.” Deflecting reads as false modesty, and overselling reads as ego, so the sweet spot is a clean acknowledgement with credit where it belongs. Here are versions for a manager, for work that was clearly yours, and for a team effort.
Best responses at a glance
“Thank you, I appreciate you saying that. It was a strong result and I am glad it landed well.”
Best for: Recognition from a manager.
“Thank you. I put real focus into that one, so it is good to hear it made a difference.”
Best for: When you want to accept credit cleanly.
“Thank you. Honestly it came together because the whole team pulled in the same direction.”
Best for: When it was a team effort.
When each response works best
Use the professional version with a manager or client. Use the confident version when the work was clearly yours and downplaying it would undersell you. Share credit when the outcome was genuinely collaborative, but do not erase your own contribution just to seem humble.
Frequently asked questions
Is it unprofessional to just say thank you to a compliment at work?
No. A clear “thank you, I appreciate that” is the most professional response there is. Adding brief context or credit is optional, not required.
How do I respond to praise from my boss without sounding arrogant?
Accept it and connect it to the work: “Thank you, I put real focus into that and I am glad it landed.” Confidence about the work, not about yourself, reads as poise.
Written by
Mustajab Haider Bukhari is the founder of Response Wheel with several years of experience studying how digital language actually works. He writes practical guides on responses for readers across the globe.