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Imagine this: you’re the beneficiary of a prestigious award, and the presenter has just handed it to you. What do you say now?

A high-quality acceptance speech is less about what you’re saying (“Thank you; I couldn’t have done this without the rest of the team”) and more about how you’re behaving while accepting the honor. By being there, you transform the presentation into a kind of public spectacle. The audience will expect you to show both humility and responsibility. You can fulfill those expectations by giving a brief, gracious, and heartfelt speech that expresses your gratitude while also recognizing the efforts of others that contributed to your achievement. The following tips can help you attain this blend of important qualities.

Use Appropriate Volume and Articulation. Accepting an award can stir intense emotions within you, causing your voice to drop or break—and if you are using a microphone, such lapses will only be amplified. To overcome this challenge, anticipate the impact of strong feelings, and feel free to gather yourself for a moment or two before you start talking. Strive to speak with sufficient volume and clarity throughout, especially when thanking others during your acceptance.

Show Genuine Humility. Listeners can easily spot the difference between someone who’s genuinely modest and humbled by an honor and someone who’s just acting humble. Think about it: on at least several occasions, you’ve probably seen a person stand at a podium and gush about how this award has “caught me off guard” and “left me speechless”—but then pull out a sheet of paper and give a canned speech. Irritating, isn’t it? To avoid making this mistake, don’t act surprised if you knew you would be receiving the award. But definitely express your genuine gratitude for the honor and for the people who helped you achieve it.

Remember That Less Is More. Going on too long while accepting an award can give the impression that you always talk about yourself and rarely exhibit interest in others. To avoid conveying this impression, aim for brevity in your acceptance speech. Say enough to demonstrate your humility (perhaps through a bit of self-deprecating humor) and to acknowledge your deep appreciation for the award or honor. Briefly thank those to whom you are indebted. And then sit down. Otherwise, the music may start playing, and your presenter may take you by the elbow and start ushering you offstage.