Imagine that your organization has just presented you with a gift. You must respond.

There are two things that you should do:

1. Speak without any conceit at all.

2. Speak with a display of personal feeling.

At first the two principles seem to conflict. You must be personal, but not egotistic.

How is it possible? Here is a suggestion.

1. Begin by expressing simply your own deep sense of gratitude.

“I can not tell you how deeply I appreciate the gift that you have just presented to me. Nothing, for years, has pleased me more. I feel the personality back of it.

I am overcome. All I can say is, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

In some such words you show the purely personal side of your nature. You exhibit for a moment the emotions that you most often hide. In this way you establish between yourself and your hearers an even warmer bond of sympathy than before.

2. Ascribe as much praise as is honestly possible to the co-operation and support of others,

“The work that your chairman has mentioned so kindly must not be ascribed wholly to me. It could not have been done without your co-operation and willing effort.” (Give specific details of co-operation, naming as many lines of co-operation as possible, and giving as wide praise as you can give honestly. Mere flattery is always weakness.)

3. Speak of the beauty, or significance, of the gift.

“This beautiful cup, with the emblems of our order, will always remind me, not of my own efforts, but of your loyalty, your support, and your good spirit.”

4. Speak of your intentions for the future.

“With your continued help I propose to carry our work even further.” (Give one or two specific plans, if possible.)

5. Once more express your thanks for the gift.

“I thank you for the gift, and for all that it brings— spirit for further work, and the memory of friendship that is worth more than gold.”

PROBLEM.

You have aided in coaching an athletic team that has won a series of games. The team has presented you with a valuable gift. Make the proper response.