Some of the hardest speeches to write are retirement speeches. It becomes far easier if you have guidelines to follow. The easy way out is to announce to the world that you wish you were already sitting at home enjoying a nice cup of Joe. You will be thinking about your old comrades in arms when you have your feet on a footstool setting in front of the television watching a soap opera while they are plowing through piles of paperwork. Well, that is a good way to open and bring out a chuckle, but it doesn’t convey what you really feel, or does it?

To deliver a  perfect speech for the occasion, think about your audience. Be ready to face your old coworkers, each one of whom is going to be waiting for you to mention them. You do not want a professional to write this kind of speech for you. It requires the right touch, and in most cases must rely on your native humor as well as aspects of your relationships with others.

If you have spent many years doing a job, you must have found aspects of it rewarding. Tell the crowd what you liked about it, why it was rewarding. Sure it took you away from home and hearth, but in a way it was a second home. Talk about how much you learned and perhaps mention that you might go into consulting, and when they find they can’t do without you, well, you might be back in another capacity.

Don’t forget to thank all the people who helped you do your job well. There will always be people you should be thankful for, and if not – you can thank a few machines.  Whether you are a professional manager or have wielded a shovel your whole life, there have been those who have stood by you. Admit that you could not have done it on your own. But remember the old adage…”If you want something done right…” That should draw a laugh, but ultimately, you will want to be humble about what you have achieved and what you gained from others.

Finally, you will want to mention how hard it will be to leave it all behind. This is the saddest part for the one who is retiring. Yes, you will miss the rewards associated with working, but the thing you will miss most is the people, and that is what kept you from going to xyz Company when they offered that huge raise.

The key to a good fairwell speech is to “leave ‘em laughing when you go”, but don’t neglect to put a tear in their eye as well. When you are done they will remember you not just for what you did at work, but for the upstanding manner in which you left.

The great thing about a retirement speech is that it allows you to impart insights that may have been inappropriate before. It is a great opportunity to be frank. Dwell on the good things, but if you have anything negegative that you feel you must say - first think about it long and hard. And if you still wish to say it, try to soften the blow with a bit of humor. Everything has its ending, but remember retirement is just a new beginning.

Technorati Tags: Farewell speech, How To Write A Speech, Retirement, retirement speech, Retirement Speeches, Speech

The fact is you could be an effective and in-demand speaker. It only requires practice and, of course, knowing how to write a perfect speech for the perfect occasion.

• First and primarilly, it must be prepared from the heart. It can be rewarding to take heartfelt notions and turn them into something that affects other people in a positive way. Try to visualize what it is that you want to convey and then describe it as though you were painting a picture. The picture you describe should conform to your own vision.  The passion inside will come through and you will catch their attention. It does not matter how long or short your speech is. Remember Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was only a few minutes long. Just make sure you make your point.

• Know your subject and know your audience. If you do not already have a thorough grasp of your subject matter, it is time to study it. If it is a topic you can read about, go to the library. If it is a person study him on the internet. If you can, talk to him or her personally. Find out as much as you reasonably can. Of course, your audience will generally want plenty of detail, but there is a limit. Your audience will have an orientation, be it a friend of the person under discussion or trying to learn about the subject of your presentation. The level of expertise of the audience also plays a huge factor. You do not want to explain elementary things to doctors or delve into philosophy with young children.

• Know the occasion. There is no speech that is suitable for every occasion. You will have to tailor your words to the moment. If it is a formal occasion, then your speech should be formal, too. Speak wisely, and speak carefully.

You have watched great speakers. They made it look easy, but years of practice and preparation are behind that seeming ease. To be a great speaker takes time and effort. Don’t think, just because you can be glib in a conversation, that you can speak without preparation. You don’t want to create a disaster nobody wants. Remember, speak from the heart, know your subject, know your audience, write your speech for the occasion.

Technorati Tags: Add new tag, How To Write A Speech, Speech

Technorati Tags: Business, Business Services, Communication, Corporate Communication, Demo, Education and Training, Introduction, Professor, Public speaking, Speech, Write