Acceptance Speeches Without Tears

Unlike some of the most publicised acceptance speeches, these do not have to be a long list of 'thank-you-thank-you...' punctuated by sobs and silence because you're scrabbling for a clean tissue. Neither do they need to be so flippant or brief they minimize the people honoring you.

Good acceptance speeches find a balance - walking the line to achieve gracious humility.

These guidelines were written as a result of my own experience.

I needed them badly a few years ago. The occasion was the last night of a play I'd directed. During the curtain calls a complimentary speech was made about my work. I was emotionally and physically exhausted from the effort involved in getting the play from script to stage successfully, literally too tired to think. Instead of accepting the honor graciously, I gulped, blushed and stammered until rescued by someone thrusting a huge bouquet into my hands. As they gently steered me offstage, I muttered tearfully, 'thank-you, thank-you' into a bunch of creamy-yellow roses. This was not a speech I'd encourage anyone to copy!

Tips for Making your Acceptance Speeches Acceptable

• Prepare ahead of time if possible.
  In my example above there was little time to prepare but had I been thinking I would have realized a speech could be called for. I wasn't and the result was temporarily embarrassing.
  
  But if you DO know you're going to be honored, preparation will save you, particularly if it's likely you'll be overcome emotionally by the occasion.



• How to Prepare:- Find out how long you are expected to speak for, what type of occasion it will be (formal, informal, day, night...etc.), who will be in your audience and who will be introducing you and what they're likely to say.
  Also find out if you're expected to cover any specific subject matter.



• Use the standard 3-part speech format:
  An opening or introduction, followed by the body of the speech and then a conclusion



• Expected Content for Acceptance Speeches:- gracious thanks to the person and/or organization honoring you, an acknowledgement of the audience witnessing the event, an appreciative awareness of those who helped you (without digressing into thanks for the cat, dog, next-door neighbor, the person who didn't run you off the road when you were ten years old and larking on your bike...), what the honor means to you, the values the donor organization/insitution espouses and how they inspire you.
  Remember people love stories. Tell them but keep them tight and to the point. Give them snapshots into where your life was and where it's going now...



• How to Use Humor Safely:- Be careful! Even self-deprecating humor can backfire badly. These people are honoring you because they thought you deserved it. Mocking yourself takes away from them as well. For further guidelines on using humor effectively in speeches, click here.
  
  
• Write your speech out fully and rehearse.
  If you don't know how to rehearse, this page will help. It is full of easy-to-use rehearsal tips and techniques.



• Speech Writing
  If you need tips for helping you through the writing process - to get the ideas flowing smoothly this page will assist.
  
  
• Delivery
  Remember acceptance speeches are better delivered without reading your text word-for-word. Use *cue cards to help you remember the main points. Rehearse until you are fluent.
  * Cue cards - for detailed information on how to prepare and use cue cards successfully click here. They do make a positive difference. Your speech will seem more spontaneous and direct through using them.



• And lastly, be yourself and enjoy it!

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