Not everyone knows all the proper social graces, so don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know how to respond when someone thanks you or shows appreciation. So, what is a good response? How to respond to thank you?
The best and simplest way to respond to thank you is to say “You’re welcome,” as this phrase is applicable in almost all situations. However, you can also change the wording while sending the same message. For instance, if you want to give more meaning to “You’re welcome,” you can say:
- “I’m happy to help.”
- “It’s my pleasure.”
- “I know that you would also do the same for me.”
When choosing a response to “thank you,” consider the context and the environment you’re in. Once you consider these factors, you will have no problem accepting another person’s appreciation.
Read on to learn more about how to respond to thank you without coming off as awkward or, worse, arrogant.
How to Respond to Thank You
The easiest way to reply when someone thanks you for something you did is to say, “You’re welcome.” Other good responses to “thank you” are “I’m happy to help,” “It’s my pleasure,” or “I know that you would also do the same for me.”
Responding with “you’re welcome” is what parents have been teaching their kids for generations, and there’s nothing wrong with that simple response. However, you may also wonder if there is a better and more professional way to go about it.
Don’t be ashamed of yourself for not knowing how to respond when someone shows their gratitude. Note that not everyone knows how to go beyond the simple “you’re welcome” without sounding arrogant. However, in many cases, especially in informal settings, you shouldn’t overthink it and accept the gratitude and be on your way.
How to Respond to Thank You from a Family Member or Friend
It can be very tempting to deflect when friends or family members thank you. The reason could be you think that you are always happy to help. However, they do deserve a thoughtful response from you, so here are some ways to respond:
“Anything for You!”
Even if you don’t literally mean that you’d do anything, don’t think that the other person would take your response at face value. Give the other person some credit for knowing that what you meant is that you’d do anything within your power and reason.
“Happy I Could Be of Help.”
Whenever a friend or a family needs your support, any decent person would want to help in whatever way they can. If you can assist, you will also feel good for yourself because you did the right thing – and that is often the only reward you need.
Now, when the other person shows his gratitude, saying that you were happy to help sounds like “you’re welcome,” but it can also convey that you were indeed delighted to be of assistance.
“Don’t Mention It.”
This response may seem like you are deflecting, but it is an appropriate response when you’re in an informal setting with family and friends. It is especially true if you are consistent with assisting. For instance, if you’re always volunteering to babysit your nephews and nieces, or if you’re almost always there to drive them someplace.
Saying “don’t mention it” when someone thanks you means that you are acknowledging his gratitude. It also lets him know that you’re always there, ready to help. The nice thing about talking with your family and close friends is that you can allow yourself to let down your guard.
The likelihood of anyone judging you for accepting a simple thank you is minimal. If there was, then that person is not deserving to be in your inner circle.
How to Respond to Thank You at Work
The workplace is a different environment compared to when you are just with friends or family. It is true, especially if you are in a service-oriented position. In this setting, you will need to be a bit more respectful, even if you are the one receiving the gratitude. Here’s how to give a proper response in the workplace:
“I’m Happy to Be of Service.”
Instead of saying “no problem” when a customer or client thanks you, saying this one is much better. You are still giving off an upbeat tone, but at the same time, you’re also saying that you are only doing your job.
“I Know You Would Help Me If I Needed It. I’m Glad to Do the Same for You.”
This is the appropriate response when speaking to a co-worker. Providing this response will emphasize that you value your teamwork and place importance on collaborating to achieve a common goal.
If there’s a co-worker who always helps you out when you need to, make sure to do the same for him whenever you can. When he thanks you for your assistance, point out that you’re only doing anything that the other person hasn’t already done for you.
“It’s My Pleasure.”
This response can work in almost all types of workplace settings for clients and co-workers alike. This phrase gives the same message as “no problem,” but with a more positive spin on it. You are basically saying that you are more than happy to help.
In any workplace and regardless of your position, you must learn how to accept gratitude to lead to a smoother working environment.
How to respond to thank you for your service? If someone thanks you for your service, respond with a simple “you’re welcome” or “my pleasure.”
How to Reply to a Thank You Email
You might think that responding to a thank you email is as unnecessary as doing so for a thank you note (which is a silly concept, really), but that is not the case. Unlike responding to notes and letters, emails are instantaneous. They are also much easier to reply to.
Here are some ways for you to respond to a thank you email:
“My Pleasure. Please Feel Free to Reach out to Me Though This Email Address Should You Need Future Help.”
When a person says thanks verbally, you need to respond quickly. However, when you get an email thanking you for something you’ve done, there’s a lot more space and time to choose your words for your response. The response above tells the other person that you were happy to help. It also lets him know that you’re always available should he need your assistance once more.
“I’m Glad to Hear Everything Worked Out Well.”
There are times when a thank you email is just a part of a much longer message the sender wishes to convey. This reply is best when you help a person navigate through a particularly problematic situation.
The thank you message might merely be just an opening so that the person can share with you just how your assistance helped him. The response above says that you are happy that your help led to a positive outcome.
Whether it is personal or business-related, replying to a thank you email will convey to the other that you are always available to help him again.
How to Respond to Thank You Text Messages
Often, a thank you will come in the form of a text message. As mentioned earlier, responding with a simple “you’re welcome” is the safest option. However, you can also respond with “my pleasure” or a “thank you” back.
Keep the response brief and customize the message depending on how formal or informal your relationship with the person is.
How to Respond to Someone Thanking You for a Gift
If you give someone a gift, it is more likely that they will show their gratitude in person the next time you meet. Here are some of the replies that you can give:
“I’m Happy to Hear That You Liked It. It Just Really Seemed like Something You Would Enjoy.”
When someone thanks you for your gift, it is much acceptable to say, “you’re welcome.” However, if the person is really enthusiastic, it might be because he wants to talk more about what made you choose that particular gift for him.
Saying the response above will give the other person a good means to segue into talking about how thoughtful you were in choosing a present. This response is more than just a regular “you’re welcome.” It also gives insight into what you think about the other person.
“I Hope You Enjoy It/I Hope It Helps.”
We give gifts to others because we genuinely think that it will help them in some way. You may have also thought that it would be something that he would enjoy. Saying one of the two responses above will clarify to the other person the intention of your gift.
Replying to someone thanking you for your gift reinforces the fact that you hold them in high regard. It also puts you in the same position as them.
How Not to Respond When Someone Says Thank You
Most of the time, people who feel insecure when receiving gratitude respond in several unhealthy ways. They think that they’re nice, but the truth is they are low-key, being insulting. There are even instances when they come off as condescending.
To avoid such instances as much as possible, here are some of the more common ways that people improperly respond when people thank them:
1. Deflection
When someone thanks you, do you tend to deflect gratitude? Do you usually say that the other person does not have any reason to thank you at all? If that’s the case, then what you are doing is deflection. It is what people tend to do when they are uncomfortable receiving gratitude or compliments.
Your feelings of vulnerability seem to play the biggest part in why you may find it challenging to receive another’s gratitude. You are afraid of showing others your true nature – the things that make you an imperfect human.
It is exactly the reason why you don’t like to have the spotlight shone on you. You are afraid that opening up will leave you vulnerable. It may also be the cause for you to downplay why the other person is grateful towards you.
2. Reciprocation
Before the other person even has a chance to show his gratitude, you immediately show that you are even more grateful. It is like you are playing hot potato with the other person with your gratitude. It means that the gratitude has not fully sunk in yet, but you throw it back at the sender.
If you act like this, you think that showing gratitude is like a transaction. You feel like you owe the other person gratitude when they thank you. Your feeling of vulnerability is also the one to blame for why you act this way. You think that you are in debt to the person who just thanked you, which is as crazy as it sounds now that you think about it.
3. Discounting
Discounting is when you downplay the reason why the other person is grateful. When someone shows gratitude, you immediately say that you’re not worthy of it. For instance, when you helped someone pick up something that he dropped and thanked you for your assistance, you immediately say that it’s nothing much and that you just did what any normal person would do.
You might think that you did the right thing. However, it could make the other feel silly just because he thanked you.
Why You Need to Learn How to Respond to Thank You?
Learning how to respond to thank you the right way is necessary. You should learn to accept that the world is not as scary as you think it is. When someone says that he is thankful for your assistance, never think that the other person has any ulterior motives because more than 9 out of 10 times, he is genuine.
You may not notice it, but many people also have trouble expressing gratefulness. This means you are doing more harm than good by downplaying their gratefulness. Remember that they may have had to gather all their courage to thank you, so try to give a better response.
The key to learning how to accept gratitude is not to overthink it. The best way to prevent yourself from overthinking is to have a bounty of replies always at the ready.
Conclusion – How to Respond to Thank You [Text, Email, or In-Person]
In almost all situations, the best way to respond to thank you is to say, “You’re welcome.” However, depending on the environment, you can make it a bit more formal while still giving off the same message. For instance, if you want to give more meaning to “you’re welcome,” you can say:
- “I’m happy to help.”
- “I know that you would also do the same for me.”
- “It’s my pleasure.”
Consider the context of the thank you and the environment that you’re in. Once you have those things sorted, finding out what to say will be a whole lot easier. Depending on the person or mode of communication, you can also use the following responses:
- “Anything for you!”
- “Happy I could be of help.”
- “Don’t mention it.”
- “I’m happy to be of service.”
- “It’s my pleasure.”
- “My pleasure. Please feel free to reach out to me through this email address should you need future help.”
- “I’m glad to hear everything worked out well.”
