Showing that you care and appreciate the ones around you might seem a simple act, but one that is so powerful. This is valid not only for your friends or family but also in the workplace. The workplace seems to be an important context where leaders and team members could show their appreciation for the entire team. Even though some people think that saying “thank you” is enough, employees want to really feel appreciated.
A pat on the back might not be what they expect, especially after a tough and crowded period. And in some moments, you might be so fueled by gratitude that showing your appreciation this way is not enough either.
So, if you are looking for some guidelines or tips and tricks on how to write an acknowledgment speech for success in the workplace, you have come to the right place. Discover below the steps for writing a speech in which you show your gratitude and appreciation.
How to Start Your Speech
Many people know what they are writing their acknowledgment speech for and who they appreciate. But they stumble upon the start, as making a good introduction is challenging. You need to catch their attention, but also keep on point and use the available time to truly express your appreciation. So, why not start with a gratitude expression?
Why not state from the beginning why you are holding this speech and what you are grateful for? Well, this of course depends on your audience. If it is a more intimate meeting, then starting with what you are grateful for can be the right solution. However, if the audience is larger, you can start by appreciating everyone’s presence. If you are there to express your acknowledgment for success, thank everyone for making time to be there.
The exact phrase to start your acknowledgment speech with may be different depending on the formality of the event. Take into account who your audience is and how the meeting or event is held (formal or informal). This will set the tone of your first phrase, but also for the entire speech.
Say What You Are Grateful For
Most speeches that happen in the workplace focus on the success of teams. Some projects are more challenging than others and reaching a certain milestone or delivering the first version of the product are things that need to be celebrated.
Moreover, there is a lot of hard work and dedication involved, so appreciating the employees for their success is something that will keep them close to the company.
So, you should say what you are grateful for. It is important to talk about the progress of the team, but also point to specific behaviors you have appreciated and that, in your opinion, have led to the overall success.
It is important to highlight some specific things because most speeches that happen in the workplace are vague. Employees want to feel appreciated, so take the time to thank each of them.
Why Do You Appreciate Them?
Well, this acknowledgment speech for success will serve as inspiration and motivation for other employees as well. So, you need to be clear in your speech and say why those behaviors you have appreciated were the ones that led to success.
If you have some team stats or facts, this would be a nice moment to share them. Why were those behaviors or actions helping the company? How did they contribute to the progress and success of the team? Take the time you need to acknowledge everyone’s success and contribution to the project.
Include Emotion
As experts from professional writing services have noted, cold speeches are not what employees expect when you deliver an acknowledgment speech for success in the workplace. You need to include and add emotion, to feel what you are saying.
Expressing gratitude is a nice exercise you could practice every day to increase your happiness levels and boost your mood. It helps you regulate your emotions and understand them better, so their management will be more facile.
So, how do you include emotion in your acknowledgment speech? The best thing you could do is to distance yourself from the idea of speech. Forget about the audience and the fact that you need to carefully choose your words. Think about your gratitude towards the employees. Note down all the things you appreciate your employees for. You may not use all those things in your speech, but they will serve as inspiration and muse to add more emotion to it.
End It Positively and In High Spirits
At the end of your speech, you need to end in high spirits. You could state once again why you are grateful for, acknowledge the success of the team, and why not, express your expectations for the future. Say what you wish for and how you imagine the future. The good work should not stop here, but continue and become better and better.
Pay Attention to Nonverbal Cues
Even though you may write the best and most emotional speech, you need to pay attention to nonverbal cues as well. If your words do not match your body language, then employees will only see insincerity. So, it would be wise to practice at home the delivery of your speech and match your mimicry and body language with your words. Pay attention to your tone as well as it sets the direction and vibe of your entire speech.
Conclusion
Writing and delivering an acknowledgment speech for success in the workplace might seem challenging at the beginning, especially if you do not know where to start. Hopefully, these guidelines can help you sincerely express your gratitude and touch the hearts of your team members and employees. Saying “thank you” and patting someone on the back is not always enough, so writing an acknowledgment speech for success in the workplace can be.
Author bio: Opal Miyamoto is a freelancer and a blogger from the United States. She is very friendly and communicative. Opal is always open to new connections. Her hobbies are cooking, painting, traveling, and writing of course.