How to Say “Good Job” in Plain English

Last updated on: November 24, 2014 at 8:21 pm by JBW

How to Say “Good Job” in Plain English 2014-11-24T20:21:11-05:00 JBW

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

There are many things to admire about the British, the most obvious being their attractive accents which somehow make them sound much smarter and far more commanding than their American colleagues. It doesn’t matter how disheveled their appearance might be, or how dry the subject is, those darn accents can captivate even the most insolent audience.

Aside from that, another thing I greatly appreciate about the Brits is their great facility for doling out words of praise. This doesn’t come so easy to us Americans, as we’d rather avoid giving our employees or co-workers too much praise for fear that they may get a big head, or suddenly ask for an inappropriate raise, or get promoted behind our backs and then take advantage of us later. No, we’d rather keep it to ourselves and keep those people in their places.

But the English seem to have freely mastered the art of accolades. For instance, upon completion of the most mundane and insignificant task, my British colleague will go so far as to tell me I’m brilliant. Not just, “Okay, thanks,” or “Hmmphh,” but he suddenly endows me with brilliance, a quality generally reserved for Nobel Prize winners and virtuoso concert masters.

Me: “Bob, I went ahead and rescheduled that meeting to the larger conference room, like you suggested.”

Bob: “Brilliant!”

I beam in the glow of my great accomplishment.

And when my British colleague is feeling a bit more carefree, he might shorten it to simply, “Bril!” Bril. Like a secret code word between us, quietly acknowledging my extreme capabilities.

Another firmly entrenched British expression of accomplishment is, “Well done!” Here is yet another phrase that seems to fall so casually from the lips of these commanding professionals from across the pond, yet it makes me feel like a million bucks. After delivering a successful Powerpoint presentation, perhaps, or upon serving a delicious meal, or shooting a pheasant, you will likely be greeted by this rousing phrase of uplifting sentiment. “Well done, mate!” Usually there is a greater emphasis on the second word, to give it more punch. “Well DONE, mate!” Just so you know they really mean it.

This makes the American equivalent of “Good job,” or even the lame, “Thanks,” sound hollow and, I don’t know, mean-spirited, by comparison. Maybe it’s because most of the time we can barely mumble it out of our mouth full of marbles, if at all.

Randy: “Hey, J.B., I was up all night, but I finally completed that analysis you asked me for. It shows that my team has saved the company ten gazillion dollars since February.”

Me: “Hm, what? Oh, yeah. I know. Thanks. Give it to me.”

Why do we have to be so intent in holding back appreciation to others, so meager in our expressions of praise? Perhaps it would be best for all of us who are in leadership positions to immediately adopt British accents, and then go around thanking and praising our people with those uplifting English phrases. Brilliant! Well DONE, mate!

I’m sure our employees and co-workers would be captivated. And I’m not just talking about the fake accent.

This is an excerpt from the e-book, At Work as it is in Heaven.

Managing People

British

Showing appreciation

Previous Post

November 14, 2014

Are You Going to Stay Stuck, or Are You Going to Fight?

Next Post

December 7, 2014 How MicroPrayers Can Help Get You Through the Work Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ambition Blogging Career Culture Executive Career Development Failure Faith in the Workplace Family Feeling Stupid Leadership Managing People Purpose Reviews Spirituality Uncategorized Work-Life Balance

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In what parable does a father run to greet his lost son?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Two Sons The Rich Man and Lazarus The Prodigal Son The Lost Sheep