Are you good at accepting compliments?
When you excel at work,
Listen to today’s episode and learn different responses to accept a compliment at work.
Compliments at work
Lindsay asks Aubrey if she is good at accepting compliments.
Aubrey responds that she is really terrible at it.
She gets really uncomfortable.
She was raised with an emphasis on humility and bragging was something unacceptable to her family.
However, it is important to own the achievements and accomplishments in either your career or even personal life.
Lindsay mentions being a woman can also have a factor.
Women basking in their own accomplishments is traditionally frowned upon in the U.S.
Culture is a factor that affects how someone reacts when they’re being praised.
Today’s episode was inspired by a previous episode.
You can check out BE 284: Should You Say “Ain’t” in Business English? to learn vocabulary you can use at work.
Accepting compliments
Lindsay and Aubrey share three expressions for you to own and accept a compliment.
Owning a compliment is different from accepting compliments where you just say ‘thank you.’
The default is saying ‘thank you’ and these other expressions will help you mix it up and not keep saying the same thing over and over again.
#1: You ain’t seen nothing yet
This shows that you are owning a compliment in a lighthearted and fun way.
This is very casual so you should use it in more informal situations.
You should also consider who you’re speaking to.
Mini roleplay
Aubrey: Great job on those reports! I was really impressed by how thorough you were.
Lindsay: You ain’t seen nothing yet!
#2: There’s a lot more where that came from!
This is also a fun casual phrase to use when someone compliments you.
You can use this in your personal life as well.
Aubrey shares that this is often used with sports or when playing a game with a friend.
Mini roleplay
Lindsay: I can’t believe you know how to use that software! You have so many hidden skills!
Aubrey: There’s a lot more where that came from!
#3: Thanks, I try
This is a more humble way to accept or own a compliment.
This has an interesting mix of sarcasm, playfulness and straight up saying ‘thank you.’
Mini roleplay
Aubrey: Great job on that presentation!
Lindsay: Thanks, I try.
American culture and compliments
In American culture, owning and accepting compliments is acceptable.
It’s best not to reject compliments as it may create awkwardness.
If you’re part of a bigger company, it’s important to accept your achievements and be proud of them.
Accepting compliments and owning achievements will help you get ahead in your career.
Just be careful not to cross the line into bragging.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Aubrey using the tips and vocabulary shared in today’s episode.
This will help you to better understand how this vocabulary is used in a conversation.
In this scenario Aubrey and Lindsay are coworkers.
Aubrey: That holiday party last week was so fun. I heard you organized it.
Lindsay: Yes, I did! I’m glad you had fun!
Aubrey: It was really well planned. You have a real knack for event planning!
Lindsay: You ain’t seen nothing yet. They put me in charge of the next party and I’m going to go all out.
Aubrey: Awesome! I’m sure it will be a blast.
Lindsay: I could use some help, actually. I was impressed when you threw that get-together for Jan’s birthday.
Aubrey: Oh, yeah! There’s a lot more where that came from. I’d love to help!
Takeaway
Own compliments at work because it shows confidence.
Using today’s phrases can remove some of the awkwardness from getting a compliment.
This gives you a variety of responses when someone commends you for a good job.
You can be a little playful and fun at work and avoid being too formal.
But remember not to say these too often as you don’t want to seem like a braggart.
Which expressions will you use at work?
Share how you’ll use it in the comments below.
