Farewell speeches -
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Specific Farewell Speeches Click a link to find out how to prepare, write and deliver: |
They are most frequently expected when leaving a current job to take another and are given by the person leaving or to that person by a colleague, manager or boss.
Other situations calling for farewell speeches are graduations, retirements or perhaps when a long-time member of a club or a neighborhood departs.
A funeral speech or eulogy is yet another form of a goodbye speech.
Hallmarks of gracious farewell speeches
- sincerity - expresses genuinely felt feelings
- positivity - dwells on the positive: acknowledges good outcomes, projects and events without undue exaggeration, expresses hopes for the future
- brevity - succinct and concise minus padding or waffle
- a brief summary of involvement eg. how long you've been with the company, club etc
- what you have enjoyed, admired or appreciated about the workplace, job, neighborhood, club
- the admiration and appreciation you have for the people
- what you feel about leaving
- your gratitude and thanks for support, opportunities to learn, friendship...
- special memories or good humored anecdotes
- your reasons for leaving
- what you are going to
- hopes and good wishes for those remaining
- what you have sincerely enjoyed, admired or appreciated about the leaver's contribution to the workplace, club, neighborhood...
eg.their role in XXX project, their organizational skills, the chocolate cake they made for special occasions... - a story or two illustrating the positive qualities of the person leaving
- how their departure will impact on those left behind
- good wishes for the future
- presentation of gift on behalf of company
Writing and Delivering Farewell Speeches
The easiest way to take your content ideas and turn them into a speech is to use an outline.
The speech outline covers the main points you want to make in the order you want to make them. Once you've filled it out test by saying it outloud.
- Listen for the flow of information.
Is it ordered?
Does each idea link logically?
Are the transitions clear? - Is there a beginning (introduction), body and conclusion?
- Is the content, tone and language use right for the occasion and your intended audience?
- Time the speech. Is it too long? Edit if necessary.
- And say your speech to a trusted friend or colleague before giving it on the day.
This is a safety precaution to ensure that you haven't left out anything that should be there or put in anything that shouldn't!
3 ways to deliver your prepared farewell speech
Choose what suits you and the occasion best.
- Read your speech from a word by word text
If the situation is very emotional or you are very emotional this may be the safest way to get everything you want to say out.
Using your completed speech outline as a guide write the whole speech out. Be sure to use a large font so that it is easily read, double space your lines for the same reason and number your pages. - Use cue cards
Make brief summary notes on numbered cards that will serve as memory prompts to guide you from one idea to the next.
These are very good if you have practiced and know your speech. They let you interact with your audience more freely than reading word for word does. The result is a more spontaneous sounding speech.
Click the link to find out more about preparing and using cue cards. - Give your speech from memory
If you have rehearsed your speech fully and know it inside out this could be the option to go for. The advantages are that you speak directly to your audience. Because you are not relying on notes you can use readily use gestures and make eye contact.
The disadvantage could be the risk of forgetting what you wanted to say entirely through being overcome by the emotion of the occasion.
If you'd like to know more about how to deliver your farewell speech for maximum impact check out these pages:
If you find yourself under attack from the largest fit of nervous apprehension you've ever experienced at the mere thought of giving your goodbye speech look here:
Help is a click away.
PS.
Farewell speeches are NOT an opportunity to vent any pent up frustrations you may have.
Instead focus on what was undeniably positive and sincerely highlight it.
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