5 tips to deliver a great speech at your holiday party

Office party season will soon be upon us. If you’re in charge of delivering a speech at your company holiday party and want to make sure you nail the moment – don’t sweat it. We’re here to help with these 5 tips:

1. Thank your team. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to mention because gratitude should be the primary focus of your remarks. If you do nothing else, be sure to thank your team for their hard work throughout the year. Use your speech to highlight successes instead of setbacks, even if the successes have been small. You want your team to feel positive, hopeful and energized for the year ahead.

2. Extend thanks beyond team members. The families and significant others of your employees are important to the success of your entire team. Thanking them as well shows that you are aware and appreciative of people’s lives outside of work and understand the contributions of those that help them be successful team members.

3. Extend thanks beyond team members. The families and significant others of your employees are important to the success of your entire team. Thanking them as well shows that you are aware and appreciative of people’s lives outside of work and understand the contributions of those that help them be successful team members.

4. Be brief. Remember that for your guests, the night is about the party, not the speech.

5. Be specific. Acknowledge people, teams or departments and the impacts of each. Mention notable achievements and project work that stood out throughout the year and focus on ways your team went above and beyond expectations. Specificity helps underscore that you remember the moments of hard work and success that have punctuated the year and made it special.

6. Rehearse. You might think you can wing it, but that’s never a good approach to an important moment. Take time to draft remarks and rehearse them — aloud and at least three times.

By delivering a great speech, you can help set the tone for the coming year and make your team feel appreciated.

What tips would you add to help execs prepare for celebratory year-end speeches? Share your suggestions via our LinkedIn page!

Julia Bonner is the president & founder of Pierce Public Relations.