CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUPLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – How to Write a Memorable Retirement Speech (PT.3)
Write an Outline
Yes, your English teacher knew what she was doing when she forced you to write essay outlines. Writing an outline will help your speech have focus. And it will force you to stay on topic.
There’s no one way to write an outline for a speech, but here is an example.
- Introduction – Start with an attention-grabbing story. The retiree should be the feature of the story. And it should paint them in a positive light.
- Point 1 – Share a positive attribute about that person. It can be work-related, or more general. Maybe they’re a great listener. Or they could have a calming personality that is useful in a hectic environment. Give a specific example of a time this attribute was useful in the office.
- Point 2 – Talk about the significance of the retiree’s work. If they have been part of the company for a long time you should have plenty of examples. You don’t need to go into details about all the projects they worked on. But listing some of the more involved or important projects can highlight what they did for the organization.
- Point 3 – Talk about the most poignant and important attribute of the person. Try to come up with an example of this attribute. A short story about a time they used this attribute would work well here.
- Thank the employee for their contribution to the office. Make sure you wish the person well in their retirement. You could include a quote about retirement during this part of your speech. You can find some great quotes for this occasion in a retirement magazine.
You may watch the video and learn you have some mannerisms you didn’t know about. But once you know, you can remind yourself to avoid them. That way the audience can focus on your words, rather than the big crease between your eyebrows.
Step 4: Write Out the Speech (optional)
If you are a skilled and practiced orator, you may only need to refer to your outline when giving the speech. Otherwise, take the time to write out the text of the address.
Remember, when you are giving a speech to honor another person, you shouldn’t use the word “I” very often. This will make the listeners feel as if you are talking about yourself. The emphasis shouldn’t be you. It should be the person you are honoring.
If you are an unpracticed speech giver, it’s good to practice your speech a few times. Practicing it and recording the run-through can help you polish your presentation.