Buzz
If you receive an award or are honored in public, you may be asked to give a thank you speech. This is your opportunity to express sincere gratitude to those who have supported you throughout your journey, and perhaps share a couple of amusing anecdotes to delight the audience. To learn how to craft a compelling thank you speech and convey your thoughts effectively, proceed to Step 1.
Steps
Prepare Your Speech
Begin by expressing gratitude. Right from the start, you can thank the audience for the award or recognition. Acknowledging the reason for your speech is the most natural way to begin. Showing appreciation sets the tone for the rest of your speech. When deciding exactly what to say, consider the following factors:
- The type of award you are receiving. To express gratitude for a professional award or honor, say, "I am truly honored to be here tonight and deeply grateful to receive this award."
- The formality of the event. If it’s a more formal occasion, such as a celebration hosted by friends and family, you might want to express your thanks more warmly. For example, you could say, "I am genuinely thankful to have everyone here with us tonight."
Express your feelings toward those who honored you. This provides an opportunity to show deeper appreciation and make the award-givers feel valued. Whether recognized by your company, an organization, or friends, take a moment to express your gratitude.
- If honored by your company, highlight the great work they do and your joy in being part of it.
- If receiving an award at an outdoor event, such as from an arts organization for a film you directed, mention how honored you are to be recognized by such a prestigious group.
- If thanking friends and family, share how fortunate you feel to have such special people in your life.
Share a meaningful or humorous story. Including one or two anecdotes in your thank-you speech adds charm. Since these speeches often occur during dinners or festive events, keep the mood light and entertaining.
- You could recount a funny mistake during a major project or an obstacle you overcame to achieve your goals.
- Involve the audience by referencing colleagues, bosses, children, or others present.
- Consider starting your speech with this story and transitioning into your thanks.
Acknowledge those who helped you. It’s gracious to recognize the people who contributed to your success. Create a short list of colleagues, friends, and family who played a key role in your achievement.
- Introduce the list by saying, "I’m especially grateful to a few incredible individuals whose support is why I’m standing here today." Then, name those who supported you.
- Be mindful of the audience. If your boss is in the front row, ensure you thank them.
- This part can be tedious. Avoid leaving out important names but don’t list everyone you know. Focus on those who truly made a difference.
- Watch award shows like the Oscars or Emmys for inspiration on thanking multiple people gracefully.
Conclude your speech effectively. After thanking everyone, wrap up by expressing gratitude once more and reiterating your heartfelt appreciation. For a memorable finish, consider adding a touch of eloquence.
- Say something inspiring. If accepting an award for work with a nonprofit, you might say, "Our work is challenging, but what we’ve achieved together has changed countless lives. Let’s roll up our sleeves and continue this journey with even greater dedication. If we’ve made this much progress in a year, imagine what we can do in three."
- Dedicate the honor. Show appreciation for a loved one or mentor by dedicating the award to them. For example, "Finally, I’d like to dedicate this award to my mom. When teachers told her my dyslexia would prevent me from learning to read, she scolded them and said I’d become a writer one day. Her belief in me brought me here today to accept this Pulitzer. I love you, Mom."
Practice Your Speech
Take notes. A thank-you speech should be concise and easy to remember. However, having a note card or outline handy can help you jot down key points and ensure you mention all the names you intend to.
- Avoid writing the speech word-for-word, as this will make you focus on the paper instead of engaging with the audience. This can lead to nervousness and a lack of sincerity.
- Instead, if there’s a specific heartfelt section you don’t want to miss, write it out in full. Practice delivering it smoothly.
- Try writing the first line of each paragraph you plan to say. This will serve as a quick reminder when you glance at your notes.
Set a time limit. If speaking at a formal awards ceremony, there’s usually a set time for speeches. Ask the organizers if there are any guidelines you should follow. If no time limit is specified, consider how long other award recipients typically speak.
- As a general rule, speeches should be brief. For example, Academy Award speeches are often limited to 45 seconds or less. Going over 2-3 minutes can bore the audience, so get straight to the point.
- When practicing, time yourself to see how long your speech runs. Recording it can help identify sections to trim if it’s too lengthy. The core of your speech should focus on gratitude; the rest can be adjusted as needed.
Practice in front of someone who makes you nervous. If you lack public speaking experience, rehearse your speech for a person or group that makes you anxious. Practice 4-5 times, or more, until you can deliver it smoothly without your heart racing or breathing heavily. This will help you feel less intimidated when speaking to the actual audience.
- Ask for feedback from your practice audience. Find out if any parts feel too long or if you missed anything important.
- Ensure you practice in front of at least one trusted person who can provide honest feedback.
Replace filler words with pauses. Many people use words like "um" or "uh" when nervous. Practice eliminating these fillers from your speech. Instead of using them, pause briefly and stay silent. This will make your speech sound more polished and thoughtful.
- To break the habit, record yourself speaking and identify where you tend to insert fillers. Practice those sentences until you can deliver the entire speech without them.
Focus on natural body language and tone. Conveying genuine gratitude is the heart of a thank-you speech, and this is hard to achieve if you appear stiff, arrogant, or insincere. Practice behaving as you normally would in conversation: use hand gestures, smile, pause, and laugh when appropriate. Ensure your tone and word choice reflect your true emotions.
Delivering the Speech
Stay calm before speaking. If you often feel nervous before addressing a crowd, take time to calm yourself. For some, mental tension is unavoidable, no matter how many times they’ve spoken publicly. Fortunately, there are proven methods to help you deliver your speech clearly and composedly:
- Visualize yourself speaking flawlessly. Imagine delivering the speech without stumbling. This technique can reduce anxiety when the moment arrives.
- Some find it helpful to smile genuinely before starting. It can help you feel more relaxed.
- If possible, practice at the venue beforehand. This is another excellent way to ease nerves.
Maintain eye contact with the audience. Avoid looking down at your notes too often; glance at them only to remind yourself of key points. Choose 2-3 people in different sections of the audience and alternate eye contact with them as you speak.
- Eye contact makes your delivery more engaging. Pretend you’re speaking to a friend rather than an anonymous crowd.
- It’s important to rotate between multiple people instead of focusing on one. This makes the audience feel included in your message.
Remember to express gratitude while speaking. You might worry about forgetting parts of your speech and lose sight of why you’re there. Reflect on the meaning behind your words and deliver them with genuine emotion. Think about the effort it took to earn the award and the people who supported you along the way. This will make your speech feel heartfelt.
- If you can look at the people you’re thanking as you mention them, do so. For example, if thanking a colleague in the front row, focusing on them while speaking will make your gratitude more apparent.
- Don’t be afraid to cry. Tears often appear in heartfelt thank-you speeches.
Use profound words that move people and make them think, "Wow, this person is mature and graceful." Varying your language is essential.
Exit the stage gracefully. When your speech concludes, smile at the audience and leave the stage promptly. Lingering too long is common but can bore the audience and cut into the next recipient’s time. Once your allotted time is up, exit politely and return to your seat.
Tips
- Use a standard three-part speech structure. Start with an introduction about yourself and the topic, expand on the topic in the body, and conclude with a summary and closing remarks.
- Express gratitude to the audience for attending this special event.
- Practice your speech until you’re fluent, then ask a trusted friend to watch and listen. Request feedback on: content relevance, tone, transitions, verbal delivery, body language, sincerity, and timing.
- If possible, use note cards instead of a word-for-word script. Notes allow for a more natural delivery.
- Write about what the award means to you, including how the organization’s values, goals, or mission inspire you.
Warnings
- Use humor cautiously in thank-you or acceptance speeches. If you belittle or mock yourself excessively, you risk undermining the organization honoring you. They’ve deemed you worthy—don’t make them question their judgment by suggesting otherwise.
