Retirement Speeches.A Sample Retirement Speech? Humorous Retirement Speeches? Find them here.
Retirement speeches are part and parcel of the transition into retirement.
A heartfelt, personal (and often humourous way)
or acknowledging the friends and colleagues around you - and the support they have given over the years.
When I work with clients on their retirement speeches in my coaching practice, we usually work with the following guidelines.
They are based upon my learning as an "Accomplished Toastmaster" within Toastmasters International,
my personal experience of listening to sample retirement speeches, and of writing and delivering my own retirement speech.
Your retirement function is an occasion to be cherished and enjoyed (a time to receive tributes and wonderful retirement gifts). It’s helpful to remember that you are among friends,
and that rarely will you have a more supportive audience. They want you to succeed. You are the star of the show!
The content and your delivery should reflect your personality. Humour can give your speech new interest and sparkle,
but you should feel under no compulsion to use focus on purely humorous retirement speeches.
It is not essential to an entertaining speech. Don’t try it if you are not confident of your ability to use it well.
 Know your audience.
Are you speaking to close work colleagues or to a more general company wide audience?
What tone is appropriate to the occasion, formal or informal?
Be sincere, avoid exaggerated sentiment.
Have a central theme or message - I will miss you, but I’m positive about my future (see my own
retirement speech example)
Be brief, 5-7 minutes maximum, 2-3 might be sufficient.
The content of your speech should include the following:
- Thank your colleagues for their support in your career and personal life - have a look at my "too-long"
original retirement speech.
- Refer to some career highlights
- Tell them about your future plans in a positive and upbeat tone.
- Wish them and the company well.
Here are some additional tips for successful public speaking:
- Know the room.
- Know the audience.
- Know your material - practice and revise.
- Relax.
- Visualise yourself giving the speech.
- Realise that people want you to succeed.
- Don’t apologise.
- Concentrate on the message - focus your attention outwards.
- Turn nervousness into positive energy.
- Gain experience.
It's worthwhile spending quality time getting your words right. I really like these timeless retirement speeches
for gracious yet great goodbyes ... they are easily adapted and personalized - find the right words every time!
Finally, I'd like to draw your attention to the following Funny Retirement Speech - it is called "Retirement? Never!" and won the Toastmasters International speech contest in 1983 - but the Retirement Sentiments expressed are timeless!
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Sample Retirement Speeches
- Great Examples for You to Change and Use ... You will receive Download Instructions on Your Confirmation Page.
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