“I would be happy to” is a great way to accept responsibility for something. However, some people do not like to use it formally and believe it only works for formal situations. This article will share some more formal alternatives that might be useful to you.
What Can I Say Instead Of “I Would Be Happy To”?
There are plenty of options available to us to replace “I would be happy to.” Why not try out one of the following:
- I am excited
- I am looking forward to
- I am ready to
- I can’t wait
- I’ll contact you
- I’ll get it done
- I’m more than happy to
- I am all for
- I am glad to
- I welcome
The preferred version is “I am excited.” It’s a great way to use an active voice to show that you are truly enthusiastic about a new responsibility that might have presented itself to you. It removes the passiveness of the original “I would be happy to” phrase.
I Am Excited
“I am excited” is a great way to actively accept new responsibilities or show that we’re happy about the way things are going. It’s professional and formal, and it allows us to use an active writing voice to show our enthusiasm for something in the workplace.
Some of these examples will help you understand more about it:
- I am excited to see how this business progresses once we hire more staff.
- I am excited to discuss this during Thursday’s meeting, but I’ve included some things in the email I sent as well.
- I am excited to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I Am Looking Forward To
“I am looking forward to” is another good way to share enthusiasm over new responsibilities. If we know a rough time when those responsibilities might occur, “looking forward” is a good way to accept them openly.
These examples will help you to understand it:
- I am looking forward to hearing more about what you have to say when you find out about the job.
- I am looking forward to the interview, and I’ll make sure to bring all the necessary paperwork.
- I am looking forward to discussing this matter with you again on Friday.
I Am Ready To
“I am ready to” is another way to accept responsibility or new duties. We can use “ready” to show that we have been waiting for this and preparing for a while. Now that it’s time, we are “ready” to tackle it head-on.
Check out these examples to help you:
- I am ready to step up and take charge of the unit if that is what you want.
- I am ready to see this out until the end, and I’ll make sure to get you what you want out of it.
- I am ready to find the solution, sir. I will not stop until I do.
I Can’t Wait
“I can’t wait” is a good and formal phrase we can use to show that we are ecstatic about something. It’s similar to saying “I’m excited” but less powerful. Many people like to use this, even in professional situations, which is why we rank it so highly.
Here are a few examples to help you make sense of it:
- I can’t wait to be working much closer with you, sir. It has always been a dream of mine.
- I can’t wait to see how this progresses as time goes by. I’m glad you put me in charge of oversight.
- I can’t wait to develop this project further. I’m ready for the next steps.
I’ll Contact You
“I’ll contact you” is a way to show enthusiasm in a different manner. This phrase only works when we are supposed to “contact” someone to show them that we are excited about something happening.
Some of these examples will help you make more sense of it:
- I’ll contact you when I’m ready to start working here, which I’m sure shouldn’t take too long!
- I’ll contact you when I’m ready to help again because I really enjoyed being there for you last time.
- I’ll contact you as soon as I learn more. I’m eager to keep this working relationship strong.
I’ll Get It Done
“I’ll get it done” works well when we want to accept a task. However, unlike some of the other alternatives, this one does not openly accept it with glee and enthusiasm. It’s still formal, but sometimes we simply do not wish to take on a task.
Here are some ways we can get this one to work:
- I’ll get it done, but I expect you to repay me for the services I’ll provide for you.
- I’ll get it done. Stand by while I figure out a solution, and I’ll get back to you about it soon.
- Okay, I’ll get it done. Thank you for coming to me as I’m sure I’m the best fit for the job.
I’m More Than Happy To
“I’m more than happy to” is a much more powerful way to replace “I would be happy to.” “More than” shows that we are overjoyed or enthusiastic about the task at hand, which is helpful to use formally when we want to impress someone we work with.
Check out a few of these to see how it works:
- I’m more than happy to step up and take on new responsibilities if there is a new job going, sir.
- I am more than happy to see this one through till the end, and I’ll make sure to report my findings back to you when I get there.
- I’m more than happy to help you. Just let me know when you need me again and I’ll come right down.
I Am All For
“I am all for” is a good way to show that you support a new proposition or idea. If someone has presented you with an opportunity, “I am all for” is a great way to show that you accept it and that you’re enthusiastic about it.
Check out these examples to see it in action:
- I am all for sitting in for the new interviews to see how the new candidates fare.
- I am all for the proposition, and I think it’s time that we start to take it up to head office.
- I am all for helping out when the event is ready to go, so let me know when I’ll be needed in the hall!
I Am Glad To
“I am glad to” is another great way to use “happy” as an emotion. “Glad” is synonymous with “happy,” and it shows your enthusiasm to the same degree. We have removed “would be” from the phrase here to make sure we speak with an active and accepting voice.
Here are a few ways we can make this one work:
- I am glad to be of assistance, and I’ll be here should you need to confide in me again.
- I am glad to help out whether I can, and I’ll make sure to keep my services available even while I’m out of the office.
- I am glad to see you off when you leave, ma’am. I’ll make sure all the necessary arrangements are in order as well.
I Welcome
“I welcome” is a great way to show that you’re accepting a job with open arms. If someone has asked you to complete a task or project, we can use this phrase to show that we’re ready to embrace it and give it our utmost care and attention.
Check out some of these examples to see how it works:
- I welcome the new challenge that you’ve provided for me, and I will not let you down.
- I welcome the idea of expanding the team, and I’m ready to go forward with the interview process.
- I welcome these ideas, sir, and I think you’re really clever to think about them before anyone else.
Is “I Would Be Happy To” Formal?
Let’s quickly look back to the original phrase and see where the problem is. There are conflicting opinions about this one, so it’s up to you what you think about it.
“I would be happy to” is a formal phrase, but it’s not always the best choice. Many people think that using “would be” is too passive, and it does not explicitly show that you’re happy to accept the situation that you’ve been presented with.
If you work with people that prefer an active voice, it’s much better to use something that shares your enthusiasm straight away. Something like “I am excited” is a much better way of being active in a formal situation.
Think about it with an example to help you. If you are offered a job interview and are emailed to confirm the time, you might reply as follows:
- I would be happy to come to the interview at three o’clock tomorrow.
While this shows that you’re keen, it is a passive message. It’s not the most eager you could be, and it could show your potential employer that you’re not overly enthusiastic about the role. Instead, you might try this:
- I am excited to come to the interview at three o’clock tomorrow.
This is much more active and shows that you care a great deal more about the interview offered to you.
It’s for these reasons that people don’t always like “I would be happy to” in formal situations.