how to give appreciation speech

Use These Employee Appreciation Speech Examples In 2024 To Show Your Team You Care

The simple act of saying “thank you” does wonders.

Yet sometimes, those two words alone don’t seem to suffice. Sometimes your team made such a difference, and your gratitude is so profound, that a pat on the back just isn’t enough.

Because appreciation is more than saying thank you . It’s about demonstrating that your team is truly seen and heard by thanking them for specific actions. It’s about showing that you understand and empathize with the struggles your team faces every day. And it’s about purpose too. True appreciation connects your team’s efforts back to a grand vision and mission.

According to Investopedia ,

“Appreciation is an increase in the value of an asset over time.”

So it’s time to diversify your portfolio of reliable tips and go-to words of wisdom for expressing your undying appreciation. After all, you diversify your portfolio of investments, and really, workplace appreciation is an investment.

Let’s set aside the standard definition of appreciation for a second and take a look at the financial definition.

In the workplace, appreciation increases the value of your most important assets—your employees—over time.

Here are some ways appreciation enhances employee relations:

• Appreciation makes employees stick around. In fact, statistics suggest that a lack of appreciation is the main driver of employee turnover , which costs companies an average of about $15,000 per worker .
• Appreciation reinforces employees’ understanding of their roles and expectations, which drives engagement and performance.
• Appreciation builds a strong company culture that is magnetic to both current and prospective employees.
• Appreciation might generate positive long-term mental effects for both the giver and the receiver.
• Appreciation motivates employees. One experiment showed that a few simple words of appreciation compelled employees to make more fundraising calls.

We searched through books, movies, songs, and even TED Talks to bring you 141 amazing motivational quotes for employees you’ll be proud to put in a Powerpoint, an intra-office meme or a foam board printing cutout! Find plenty of fantastic workplace quotes to motivate any team.

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in American business built companies, and lasting legacies, by developing employees through the simple act of appreciation.

Charles Schwab, founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation, once said:

“I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement. There is nothing else that so kills the ambitions of a person as criticism from superiors. I never criticize anyone. I believe in giving a person incentive to work. So I am anxious to praise but loath to find fault. If I like anything, I am hearty in my appreciation and lavish in my praise.”

Boost your ability to arouse enthusiasm by learning how to deliver employee appreciation speeches that make an impact. Once you master the habits and rules below, sincere appreciation will flow from you like sweet poetry. Your employees are going to love it!

Page Contents (Click To Jump)

The Employee Appreciation Speech Checklist

Planning employee appreciation speeches can be fast and easy when you follow a go-to “recipe” that works every time. From a simple thank you to a heart felt work anniversary speech, it all has a template.

Maritz®studies human behavior and highlights relevant findings that could impact the workplace. They developed the Maritz Recognition Model to help everyone deliver the best appreciation possible. The model asserts that effective reward and recognition speech examples touch on three critical elements: the behavior, the effect, and the thank you.

Here’s a summary of the model, distilled into a checklist for your employee appreciation speeches:

• Talk about the behavior(s). While most employee appreciation speeches revolve around the vague acknowledgment of “hard word and dedication,” it’s best to call out specific actions and accomplishments so employees will know what they did well, feel proud, and get inspired to repeat the action. Relay an anecdote about one specific behavior to hook your audience and then expand the speech to cover everyone. You can even include appreciation stories from other managers or employees in your speech.
•  Talk about the effect(s) of the behavior(s). What positive effect did the employee behaviors have on your company’s mission? If you don’t have any statistics to share, simply discuss how you expect the behaviors to advance your mission.
•  Deliver the “thank you” with heartfelt emotion. Infusing speeches with emotion will help employees feel your appreciation in addition to hearing it. To pinpoint the emotional core of your speech, set the “speech” part aside and casually consider why you’re grateful for your employees. Write down everything that comes to mind. Which aspects made you tear up? Which gave you goosebumps? Follow those points to find the particular emotional way you want to deliver your “thank you” to the team .

Tips and tricks:

• Keep a gratitude journal (online or offline) . Record moments of workplace gratitude and employee acts you appreciate. This practice will make you feel good, and it also provides plenty of fodder for appreciation speeches or employee appreciation day .
• Make mini-speeches a habit. Try to deliver words of recognition to employees every single day. As you perfect small-scale appreciation speeches, the longer ones will also feel more natural.
• When speaking, pause frequently to let your words sink in.
• Making eye contact
• Controlling jittery gestures
• Acting out verbs
• Matching facial expression to words
• Moving around the stage
• Varied pace. Don’t drone on at the same pace. Speak quickly and then switch to speaking slowly.
• Varied volume. Raise your voice on key points and closings.

Employee Appreciation Speech Scripts

Build on these customizable scripts to deliver employee appreciation speeches and casual meeting shout-outs every chance you get. Each script follows the 3-step approach we discussed above. Once you get the hang of appreciation speech basics, you’ll be able to pull inspirational monologues from your hat at a moment’s notice.

Swipe the examples below, but remember to infuse each speech with your own unique perspectives, personality, and heartfelt emotions.

All-Purpose Appreciation Speech  

Greet your audience..

I feel so lucky to work with you all. In fact, [insert playful aside: e.g. My wife doesn’t understand how I don’t hate Mondays. It drives her nuts!]

Thanks to you, I feel lucky to come to work every day.

Talk about behaviors you appreciate.

Everyone here is [insert applicable team soft skills: e.g. positive, inspiring, creative, and intelligent ]. I’m constantly amazed by the incredible work you do.

Let’s just look at the past few months, for example. [Insert bullet points of specific accomplishments from every department].

• Finance launched an amazing new online payroll system.
• Business Development doubled their sales last quarter.
• Human Resources trained us all in emotional intelligence.

Talk about the effects of the behaviors.

These accomplishment aren’t just nice bullet points for my next presentation. Each department’s efforts has deep and lasting impacts on our business. [Explain the effects of each highlighted accomplishment].

• The new payroll system is going to save us at least $20,000 on staff hours and paper.
• Revenue from those doubled sales will go into our core investments, including a new training program .
• And I can already see the effects of that emotional intelligence training each time I’m in a meeting and a potential argument is resolved before it starts.

Say thank you.

I can’t thank you enough for everything you do for this company and for me. Knowing I have your support and dedication makes me a better, happier person both at work and at home.

Formal Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by explaining why you were excited to come to work today..

I was not thrilled when my alarm went off this morning, but I must admit, I’m luckier than most people. As I got out of bed and thought about doing [insert daily workplace activities that inspire you], I felt excitement instead of dread. It’s an incredible feeling, looking forward to work every day, and for that, I have each and every one of you to thank.

Just last week, [insert specific anecdote: e.g. I remembered, ironically, that I forgot to create a real-time engagement plan for TECHLO’s giant conference next month. As you all know, they’re one of our biggest clients, so needless to say, I was panicking. Then I sit down for my one-on-one with MEGAN, worried that I didn’t even have time for our meeting, and what does she say? She wants to remind me that we committed to submit a promotional plan by the end of the week. She had some ideas for the TECHLO conference, so she went ahead and created a draft.]

[Insert the outcome of the anecdote: e.g. Her initiative dazzled me, and it saved my life! We met our deadline and also blew TECHLO away. In fact, they asked us to plan a similar initiative for their upcoming mid-year conference.]

[Insert a short thank-you paragraph tying everything together: e.g. And you know what, it was hard for me to pick just one example to discuss tonight. You all do so many things that blow me away every day. Thank you for everything. Thank you for making each day of work something we can all be proud of.]

Tip! Encourage your entire team to join in on the appreciation with CareCards ! This digital appreciation board allows you to recognize your colleague with a dedicated space full of personalized well wishes, thank-yous, and anything else you want to shout them out with! To explore Caroo’s CareCard program, take this 60-second tour !

Visionary Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by explaining why you do what you do..

Here at [company name] we [insert core competency: e.g. build nonprofit websites], but we really [insert the big-picture outcome of your work: e.g. change the world by helping amazing nonprofits live up to their inspiring visions.]

I want to emphasize the “we” here. This company would be nothing without your work.

Talk about behaviors and explain how each works toward your mission.

Have you guys ever thought about that? How what you do [recap the big-picture outcome at your work: e.g. changes the world by helping amazing nonprofits live up to their inspiring visions]?

[Insert specific examples of recent work and highlight the associated outcomes: e.g. Let’s explore in terms of the websites we launched recently. I know every single person here played a role in developing each of these websites, and you should all be proud.]

• The launch of foodangel.org means that at least 500 homeless people in the greater metro area will eat dinner tonight.
• The launch of happyup.org means thousands of depressed teenagers will get mental health counseling.

Now if that’s not [recap the big-picture outcome], then I don’t know what is.

Thank you for joining me on the mission to [big-picture outcome]. With any other team, all we’re trying to do might just not be possible, but you all make me realize we can do anything together.

Casual Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by discussing what upcoming work-related items you are most excited about..

I’ve been thinking nonstop about [insert upcoming initiative: e.g. our upcoming gallery opening]. This [initiative] is the direct result of your amazing work. To me, this [initiative] represents [insert what the initiative means to you: e.g. our true debut into the budding arts culture of our city.]

You’ve all been pulling out all the stops, [insert specific example: e.g. staying late, making 1,000 phone calls a day, and ironing out all the details.]

Because of your hard work, I’m absolutely confident the [initiative] will [insert key performance indicator: e.g. sell out on opening night.]  

Thank you, not just for making this [initiative] happen, but also for making the journey such a positive and rewarding experience.

Funny Appreciation Speech

Greet your audience by telling an inside joke..

I want to thank you all for the good times, especially [insert inside joke: e.g. that time we put a glitter bomb in Jeff’s office.]

Talk about behaviors you appreciate and highlight comical outcomes.

But seriously, you guys keep me sane. For example [insert comical examples: e.g.]:

• The Operations team handled the merger so beautifully, I only had to pull out half my hair.
• The Marketing team landed a new client, and now we can pay you all for another year.
• And thanks to the Web team’s redesign of our website, I actually know what we do here.

Talk about the real effects of the behaviors.

But for real for real, all your work this year has put us on a new level. [Insert outcomes: e.g. We have an amazing roster of clients, a growing staff, and an incredible strategic plan that makes me feel unqualified to work here.] You guys made all this happen.

So thank you. This is when I would usually tell a joke to deflect my emotions, but for once in my life, I actually don’t want to hide. I want you all to know how much I appreciate all you do.

That was hard; I’m going to sit down now.

Appreciation Speech for Employee of the Month

Greet your audience by giving a shout-out to the employee of the month..

Shout out to [insert employee’s name] for being such a reliable member of our team. Your work ethics and outstanding performance are an inspiration to all of us! Keep up the amazing work!

Talk about behaviors you appreciate in them and highlight their best traits.

It’s not only essential to work diligently, but it is likewise crucial to be kind while you’re at it–and you’ve done both wonderfully!

Talk about the effects of their behaviors on the success of the company.

You bring optimism, happiness, and an all-around positive attitude to this team.

Thank you bring you!

Appreciation Speech for Good Work

Greet your audience with a round of applause to thank them for their hard work..

You always put in 100% and we see it. Proud of you, team!

Talk about behaviors you appreciate in your team members.

You work diligently, you foster a positive team environment, and you achieve or exceed your goals. 

Talk about the effects of your team’s behaviors on the company.

Your dedication to the team is commendable, as is your readiness to do whatever needs to be done for the company – even if it’s not technically part of your job description. Thank you.

No matter the situation, you always rise to the occasion! Thank you for your unwavering dedication; it doesn’t go unnoticed.

People Also Ask These Questions:

Q: how can i show that i appreciate my employees .

• A: An appreciation speech is a great first step to showing your employees that you care. The SnackNation team also recommends pairing your words of appreciation with a thoughtful act or activity for employees to enjoy. We’ve researched, interviewed, and tested all the best peer-to-peer recognition platforms, office-wide games, celebration events, and personalized rewards to bring you the   top 39 recognition and appreciation ideas to start building a culture of acknowledgment in your office.

Q: What should I do after giving an appreciation speech? 

• A: In order to drive home the point of your employee appreciation speech, it can be effective to reward your employees for their excellent work. Rewards are a powerful tool used for employee engagement and appreciation. Recognizing your employees effectively is crucial for retaining top talent and keeping employees happy. To make your search easier, we sought out the top 121 creative ways that companies can reward their employees that you can easily implement at your office.

Q: Why should I give an employee appreciation speech? 

• A: Appreciation and employee motivation are intimately linked together. A simple gesture of an employee appreciation gift can have a positive effect on your company culture. When an employee is motivated to work they are more productive. For more ideas to motivate your team, we’ve interviewed leading employee recognition and engagement experts to curate a list of the 22 best tips here ! 

We hope adapting these tips and scripts will help you articulate the appreciation we know you already feel!

Free Download:   Download this entire list as a PDF . Easily save it on your computer for quick reference or print it for future team gatherings.

Employee Recognition & Appreciation Resources:

39 impactful employee appreciation & recognition ideas [updated], 12 effective tools & strategies to improve teamwork in the workplace, your employee referral program guide: the benefits, how-tos, incentives & tools, 21 unforgettable work anniversary ideas [updated], 15 ideas to revolutionize your employee of the month program, 16 awesome employee perks your team will love, 71 employee recognition quotes every manager should know, how to retain employees: 18 practical takeaways from 7 case studies, boost your employee recognition skills and words (templates included), about snacknation.

SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.

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10 Comments

great piece of work love it, great help, thanks.

great tips !!!!

Helpful piece. LAVISH MAYOR

Enjoy reading this. Nice work

Thank you. Very helpful tips.

This is the most helpful and practical article I have found for writing a Colleague Appreciation speech. The Funny Appreciation Speech section was written for me 🙂 Ashley Bell, you’re a rock star!

Very nice speech Well explanation of words And very helpful for work

Hi, Your notes are awesome. Thank you for the share.

Your article is very helpful. Thankyou :).

Your stuff is really awesome. Thankyou for sharing such nice information

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How to write a thank you speech

With a short thank you speech sample and a printable planner

By:  Susan Dugdale  

A thank you speech or appreciation speech prepared and given with sincerity means a lot to those you acknowledge.

Dive right in. There's all the assistance you need on this page to write an excellent speech of thanks.

What you'll find on this page

• the types of occasions it could be good to have a thank you speech ready to give
• best practice and content suggestions to guide you step by step through writing a short thank you speech
• a short  sample thank you speech for an award (and a link to an example thank you speech for a 18th birthday party)
• a printable thank you speech planner to download
• links to thank you quotations you may like to use
• notes covering rehearsal and delivery   

'No man is an island'

When we achieve, we usually do so because others have helped. Your speech of appreciation is the gift or acknowledgment you give in return for what was given you.

When is a thank you speech appropriate?

Any time is good to say thank you! However, a more formal speech of thanks could fit any of these occasions.

• for coming to my graduation, farewell, birthday, or retirement party
• for the promotion
• for the award
• for coming to our wedding and your gifts, our engagement party, our 50th wedding anniversary
• for coming to the opening of my new business...

Be prepared! Best practice guidelines

Generally the decision to leap to your feet and give a thank you speech is not spontaneous. You will likely have some forewarning and time to consider exactly what you want to say and who you want to mention.

Deciding on the content

Cover these three content areas and you'll be fine.

• WHO are you thanking? Note their names in ranking order- the most important first.
• WHAT are you thanking them for? Be specific rather than general. Naming what you are grateful for gives your thanks more meaning.
• WHAT did their gift of time, expertise, encouragement, money... mean to you? Again, be specific. This is your chance to publicly give credit where it's due, to compliment, to praise. Take it.

Writing your speech

When you've sorted out who you wish to mention and what for, you are ready to begin writing.

Like any other form of speech you need 3 parts:- an opening, the body or middle where you put all your acknowledgments, and a conclusion.

1. Introduction/opening

In your introduction or opening give the reason for the occasion and why it is you're going to thank everyone. What you say, and how you say it, will set the tone for the remainder of the speech.

Depending on the number of people on your 'thank you/appreciation' list and the amount of time you have, consider including a small story about the lead-up making this event possible. A well-chosen personal anecdote will always go down well because it lets those listening share your experience more deeply.

Check out this page on story telling in speeches for more information.

In the body of your speech, start at the top of your list of people to thank and work your way through it. Take care to give the most important people the most time.

For those whom you want to mention but don't have enough time to make individual acknowledgments consider grouping them according to function.

Example: "To Alex, Mary, Judy and Sam, thank you for making me remember to laugh. You helped me keep my sanity and perspective when the going was tough."

3. Conclusion

In the conclusion, summarize your main points and finish.

Return to Top

A short thank you speech sample 

Here's a short example thank you speech for you to see how it could be done. There are many ways covering the required content. This is just one.

The person giving this speech is thanking an organization for giving him an award. 

It is 374 words long. When spoken it will take approximately 2 minutes + to deliver. That's about the right length. It's brief and covers everything needed.

As you read it through imagine hearing it out loud. 

Speech text

"Who's considered the incredible power and range of meaning in 'thank you'?  Those two words express gratitude, humility, understanding, as well as acknowledgement.

I am here with you: my family, many of my friends and colleagues because I need to say all of that, and then some more.

Thank you for coming to share my being given the Fred Smith Award for Community Service. It's very humbling.

There's a phrase I'm sure you know: it takes a village to raise a child. In this case it's not a child that's been raised but awareness and a long-needed community resource - the  Parksville Community Literacy Center.  The village behind it and me, is you.

In particular, thank you to my wife Marlene who has always understood and shared my conviction that communities are healthiest when its resources are equally shared, and that the ability to read underpins long term social and economic wellbeing.

I know the hours I spent after work helping to establish our new Center tested her, especially when I was home late, again.

Remarkably she continues to support, and love me.  For that I will always be grateful.

Mary Hill, Catherine Beech and Matthew Fall from the Fred Smith Foundation – thank you for sharing the vision of an integrated community and for being so incredibly supportive. You understood what we were trying to achieve and helped make it possible. Your generous gifts of time, expertise and funds are deeply appreciated.

This award may have my name on it, but in truth it belongs to everybody who has worked to make the center a reality. Have you got a spare day or two? If I called out all those people we'd be here for quite some time! Instead, I'll simply say thank you. You know who you are.

The time and effort you've given ensures that the Parksville people who want it will have access to effective literacy programs and resources. That is a priceless gift.  As Nobel Peace Prize winner former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan said “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.”

Thank you for the award and thank you on behalf of all those who will cross that bridge to a brighter future." 

Here's another example. This one is a thank you speech for a birthday . The speaker is thanking their parents and guests for the celebration in honor of their 18th birthday. 

Thanks but NO thanks!

What I really need is a Thanksgiving Speech!

And it's here. Choose a theme. Complete the template. And give your Thanksgiving Speech with confidence.

Get a printable thank you speech planner

Regardless of whether you are preparing a thank you speech for the guests who came to your wedding, engagement, retirement, farewell, graduation or birthday party, the steps are the same.

This printable planner will guide you through the four needed. Each one is fully explained with an example.

Completing it will make writing your speech so much easier.

Either click the link or the image below to: download a printable thank you speech planner .

Use a quotation to help show your gratitude

Before you finalize the content, check out these 'thank you quotations' .

They offer different ways of expressing your gratitude. You could find just what you need to spark your creativity and provide the thread/theme to unite your speech. It can be so much more than a long string of thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ...

Tips to help you get your thank you speech right

Rehearsal, practice and feedback.

Many people make the assumption that once they've got the words of their speech sorted, they're set to go.

That's not true! Practice completes the process.

Giving yourself several  rehearsals, firstly by yourself and then in front of  friends or family, will help enormously. Click the link for detailed information about  how to rehearse effectively .

For the condensed and shortened version covering good rehearsal practice follow the points below.

1. Content check

Before investing too much time and energy into rehearsing your speech say it through in front of a few trusted friends or colleagues.  It is much, much easier to change text prior to practicing it than after you've begun working with it. Ask them to listen:

• to make sure you've included everyone you should, in the right order and thanked them for the right things.
• for tone. Does the vocabulary fit the occasion? Are the stories right? Is the speech positive? Is it inclusive?

Edit as needed, and then have your test audience listen again. 

Getting the timing right is an essential part of making it a success. Go on too long and people stop listening. Be too brief and there's a danger you've missed things out.

The only way to find out how long your speech is, is to time yourself as you say it out loud at a normal speaking rate. If it's too long, look for areas you can cut. Maybe you need to group a few  more people together or perhaps you need to shorten some of the specific examples about why it is you're thanking someone.  If it's too short, add more detail.  Repeat until you get the length right.

If you'd like to check the number of words you have in your speech against how many minutes it will take to say them go to: how many words per minute are there in a speech .

3. Use cue cards

If you're at all worried about forgetting things, losing your place or muddling what you want to say, use cue cards. They'll take the anxiety away.

Write the main points of your thank you speech on cue cards. Good notes will keep you on track while ensuring you cover everything you want to like, for instance, the name of every person you want to thank and why.

(Click the link if you don't know about using or how to make cue cards . Cue cards are preferable to reading your speech.

However sometimes you just have to read because...for all sorts of reasons. If that's you, do it well. Find out how to read a speech effectively .)

Are you sweating over a business thank you speech?

One thanking your colleagues for a job well done?

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Appreciation Speech

Appreciation speech generator.

An appreciation speech is not your everyday kind of speech. This kind of speech is only being said when a special occasion or a very commemorative event requires you to give a speech. Let’s take in graduation speeches for examples. Other than the fact that they are about taking the next step forward into reality, graduation speeches also take the time for the valedictorian or the cum lade graduate to give thanks to the people who have helped him or her come this far in life. Be it the parents, friends or relatives.

• Examples of Persuasive Speeches
• Examples of Writing a Salutatory Speech

Anyone who you think deserves the glory and honor must be recognized and acknowledged in your speech. Here are some examples that you can begin to draft your appreciation speech as to make it worthwhile and noteworthy and not to pass it off as just another boring speech.

Composing Your Speech

1. the formality of the event.

If it is simply as a casual and non-serious event, then you can lighten up the mood you are going to give thanks to. For example, you could say “I can’t express how grateful I am to have all of you here with us tonight.”

Start with an expression of gratitude.You can start by thanking the people who have helped you receive this award then and there. Normally, a form of acknowledgement of why you’re giving the speech is the best way to start. Your expression of gratitude will set the tone for the rest of your speech. Take the following factors into account when you deliver your speech:

1. If you’re being honored by your company, you can talk about how the organization has molded you to become a better person.

2. If you’re receiving an award from an outside party, like an arts organization awarding you for a film you directed, acknowledge the fact that receiving an award from them is truly a blessing and an opportunity to be thankful for. You may also see welcome speech .

3. If you’re giving a speech to thank friends and family for honoring you, honor them by saying giving your most sincere and heartfelt thanks.

2. Talk about your esteem for the people honoring you.

Do not forget that you did not just win this award because of your sheer hard work and responsibility. Even in a thesis paper, you would have to give thanks to your thesis adviser and panelist as well your teachers and parents for helping you formulate this thesis. Take the time to recognize their actions and put it in paper. You may also see introduction speech .

3. Tell a funny or poignant story.

We all have stories to tell. By adding a story in a speech, it acts as an icebreaker to give the people an opportunity to understand on what you have experienced along the journey into accepting your award. Whether it is comedic or simply poignant, you just have to deliver it to give the audience something that they can remember, even when they forget everything else. You may also see informative speech .

4. Mention the names of people who helped you.

It is assuring that there are several people who have helped you on your journey to where you are right now. So as you formulate your speech, draft a list of names on who you think deserves the credit and acknowledgment he or she deserves for helping you through thick and thin, through all the good times and bad.You may also see tribute speech .

5. End it on a high note.

Start strong and end strong. When you finish listing people you want to thank, the speech is just about over. End it by saying thanks once more, and repeating how sincerely grateful you are. If you want your speech to be especially memorable, you could consider adding some finesse into it like adding a quote from a movie or from some other famous speeches. You may also see farewell speech .

6. Write out your notes.

Appreciation speeches are surprisingly short. Try not to make it too lengthy, otherwise, you would just bore your audiences to death. Make it to a point that it is not only short, but it is also catchy at the same time to give your audience something that they can recall. Create an outline or simply jot the important details own as to avoid forgetting too much when you arrive on stage. People would normally rely on their notes as a refresher in case they forget what they are talking about. You may also see speech examples for students .

7. Time yourself.

There are some events that have a specific time limit for their speeches while there are some events that do not have any. When you’re faced with a time limit, you can always try to tie yourself in order to see as to whether you have exceeded the required time or not. If yes, then it is important to make some adjustments to your speech so that it will fit within the given time frame. If you think there is no time limit, then you can check out other speeches to see how long they would usually give their speeches. Once you know how long, then time yourself with their time. You may also see award speeches .

8. Practice in front of someone who makes you nervous.

It’s nice and all to practice in front of a mirror. But there are times, that it will not be enough. So, if you have family or friends, then you can bring them over in order to help practice your speech. But since you will be delivering your speech to an audience other than your parents, then try practicing with total strangers. In that way, it will help you get over your fear from public speaking.You may also see leadership speech .

9. Work on looking and sounding natural.

Review your speech and see if there is anything that you need to work on. If it is just going to be some wordings then and there, try working on that to make your speech sound more natural. It is important not to use too fancy words or terminologies that you are not comfortable of saying. Speeches are said best when the speaker is comfortable with his or her choice of words. You may also see special occasion speech

10. Calm your nerves right before the speech.

Inhale and exhale. Breathe in and breathe out. It is OK if you get nervous just minutes away from delivering your speech. That’s OK. It happens to the best of us. The trick is trying to get the shakey and jittery feeling out of your system. Jump up and down. Do warm ups. Run around. Drink water. Say a mantra. It does not matter what you do. As long as you get it off your system, you’ll be fine. You may also see retirement speeches .

11. Make eye contact with audience members.

Don’t forget that your audience is in front of you and not down there in your notes. If you do not make eye contact with your audience, it will not only look like that you are not talking to them, but it is also considered rude and demeaning to you audience. Establish a connection between you and the audience. You may also see speech examples .

12. Remember your gratitude as you’re talking.

You might be so worried about forgetting part of your speech that you forget the reason why you’re up there giving it. Think about the meaning behind your words as you say them, and deliver your speech with the true emotions you feel about the honor you’re receiving. Think about the hard work you did to earn the award, and all the people who helped you along the way. If you do this, your speech will come off as sincere. Say thoughtful words that could make people emotional and feel like “Oh this person is so thoughtful and sweet.” Saying different kinds of words will matter. You may also see speech templates .

13. Leave the stage on cue.

Once you are done with the speech, smile and bow and say thank you to the host. If you think there is still extra time, do not take it simply because the program must go on and that it will look like you are hogging away the all the attention to yourself. Return to your seat graciously once finished. You may also see youth speeches .

If you have a fear of public speaking, now is certainly the best time to overcome your demons and face your fears. Only when facing your fears allow you to become stronger and better at what you do. You may also see acceptance speeches

Text prompt

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Write an Appreciation Speech for a retiring colleague.

Create an Appreciation Speech for a teacher's lifelong dedication.

20 Short Thank You Speech Samples For Various Occasions

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Words have the ability to etch a lingering and everlasting impact on any listener. Therefore, we believe that expressing thankfulness is something that can go a long way in conveying gratitude to a person. But saying a mere “thank you so much” makes it look more like a formality rather than demonstrating indebtedness. Hence, a thank you speech can be used to demonstrate appreciation in a heartfelt manner. Keeping this in mind, we have prepared a set of Short thank you speech samples for various occasions to make it easier for you to give credit to your loved ones in a wholesome manner.

Short Thank You Speech Samples For Various Occasions

• Here’s to those who inspire you and don’t even know it.
• Let us be kinder to one another.
• Thank you for being an important part of my story.
• A moment of gratitude makes a difference in your attitude.

Wedding Thank You Speech

A wedding thank you speech from the bride and groom is a special way to thank all the loved ones and the guests. The wedding thank you speech is a way to heartfully thank everyone around for making the most important day of their life special.

Rachel and I want to thank all of our guests for being here to celebrate our special day. We are grateful to the love and courtesy which everyone has garnered upon us, not just today but since the time you all have known us. We also want to thank everyone who was involved in the planning of the wedding. The wedding would not have been as beautiful without your service. As we venture into our married life, I hope that the love and support which we have received continues. I thank you all, again, for taking out time out of your busy schedules to be here on our special day. It means a lot to both of us, and words fall short to express my thankfulness today.

• It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.
• The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.

Business Thank You Speech

The most important rule in corporate life is acknowledgement and appreciation. If your colleague has done extraordinary work or helped you in some day. If you have been promoted and want to formally thank everyone in your team, a speech is formally the best way to do so.

Thank you so much for the warm welcome which you all have bestowed upon me. I would like to thank everyone who was involved in opening the operations of our well-renowned business. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the CEO for giving me the responsibility to head the Indian operations. The employees, who are the strength of our company, cannot be thanked enough for making this company a global giant. I would also like to thank the Indian citizens for their hospitality and receiving our company so openly and warmly. Lastly, I would like to thank the government for allowing us to set up operations in the country and fast-tracking the permits and the licensing processes.

• Thank you for always being there for me even when I’m being a pain in the rear.
• Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them, the rest of us could not succeed.

Event-Based Thank You Speech

Thank you speech in the beginning and end of the event is a way to express your gratitude to all the people who supported the event.

Thank you, everyone, for being a part of this charity drive on empowering women from rural towns and villages. We feel humbled from the immense support which we have received from everyone for this cause. Since we are an NGO, it is only your unconditional assistance which makes it possible for us to garner more support and concern towards this critical issue. I would also like to express my gratitude to the event organisers for implementing this event at such short notice and making it a memorable one. The sponsors, also deserve a mention, for giving us the needful funds which brought this issue into the minds of everyone. Lastly, I would like to thank all the volunteers and we assure you that your voice will not go unheard and your donations will be put to fruitful use.

• A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.
• For it is in giving that we receive.

Retirement Speech

Retirement is a time when you feel so overwhelmed and feel short of words. Express your mixed feeling and thank everyone around with a short flattering speech. Retirement speech can be for your own retirement or for the retirement of your mentor.

Thank you, Mr Morris, for the kind and flattering words. It has been a joy working for you over the past 22 years. Moreover, I want to thank everyone for being present here on my last day at the office. I must particularly mention Mr Brooks, Mr Finch and Mrs Brown from the Sales Department, who have been with me for the past 22 years. Thank you, all three of you, for teaching me so much and developing me into the person that I am today. I would also like to thank Dora for taking care of all of us and making sure that the coffee which we received every morning was always strong. Lastly, I would like to thank my family without whom none of this would have been possible.

• Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.
• It’s not about how much we give but how much love we put into giving.

Birthday Thank You Speech

It takes a lot to spare some time from everyone’s busy lives and plan something special for someone. If you have been lucky to have surrounded by people who throw a surprise birthday party or take some time for your birthday party, make sure to bestow them with a kind thank you speech.

Thank you, everyone, for taking out some time and being present on my 25 th birthday. I don’t mean to be a buzz killer, therefore, I’ll keep it short and simple. Birthdays make me realize how grateful I am to each and every one of you, who have played such an immense part in my life. I would like to thank all my friends, with whom I’ve shared innumerate memorable moments. My colleagues from work deserve a special thanks for teaching me so much in such a short time span. I would also like to thank my boss who has allowed me to take a day off on my special day and made time to grace this occasion. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents for their unconditional support and making this life possible for me.

• There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.
• Thank you for making so many ordinary moments, extraordinary.
• Thank you for always giving me the extra push I need.
• You are the best because you brought out the best in us.
• We don’t know them all, but we owe them all! Thank you.
• I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you, my heart has no bottom.
• We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.
• Thank you for touching my life in ways you never know.

There were some thank you speech samples for various occasions like wedding, birthday, retirement and many more. Hope these words give you an idea for your next remarkable speech.

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How to Write a Short Thank You Speech

Do you ever find yourself in a position where you need to deliver a thank you speech? Perhaps you've been asked to speak at an awards ceremony, a retirement party, or a wedding reception. Whatever the occasion, expressing gratitude is an important part of our interpersonal relationships. However, crafting an effective thank you speech can be challenging. In this article, we'll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write a short thank you speech that will leave a lasting impact on your audience.

Understanding the Purpose of a Thank You Speech

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of writing a thank you speech, it’s important to understand why they are essential. Expressing gratitude is at the heart of all human relationships, and a thank you speech is one way to show appreciation. Let's take a look at the three main purposes of a thank you speech:

Expressing gratitude

The primary purpose of a thank you speech is to express gratitude. Whether you're thanking a group of people, an individual or an organisation, a thank you speech is an opportunity to express your sincere appreciation. It is important to note that expressing gratitude is not only beneficial to the person receiving it, but also to the person giving it. Studies have shown that expressing gratitude can improve mental health, increase happiness and improve relationships.

When expressing gratitude in a thank you speech, it is important to be specific. Mention the actions or contributions that the person or group has made that you are grateful for. This not only shows that you have taken the time to reflect on their efforts, but also makes the thank you speech more meaningful and personal.

Acknowledging achievements

Another purpose of a thank you speech is to acknowledge achievements. You might be thanking someone for their hard work, dedication, or contribution to a particular project or organisation. A thank you speech gives you the opportunity to highlight specific accomplishments and recognise the efforts of others.

Acknowledging achievements in a thank you speech not only shows appreciation, but also motivates the person or group to continue their hard work and dedication. It is important to note that acknowledging achievements does not have to be limited to professional accomplishments. Personal achievements such as overcoming a challenge or reaching a personal goal can also be acknowledged in a thank you speech.

Celebrating milestones

Finally, a thank you speech can be used to celebrate a milestone. Perhaps you're thanking people for helping to organise a successful event or celebrating a particular milestone, such as an anniversary or a retirement. Whatever the occasion, a thank you speech can help you commemorate a special moment.

Celebrating milestones in a thank you speech not only shows appreciation for the people who helped make the milestone possible, but also allows everyone to reflect on the journey that led to the milestone. It can be a time to share stories, memories and experiences that brought everyone together to achieve the milestone.

In conclusion, a thank you speech is an important way to express gratitude, acknowledge achievements and celebrate milestones. Taking the time to write and deliver a heartfelt thank you speech can have a positive impact on both the person giving it and the person or group receiving it.

Preparing Your Thank You Speech

Now that you understand the purpose of a thank you speech, let's move on to the preparation phase. Here are three essential steps you should follow when preparing your thank you speech:

Identifying your audience

Before you start writing your speech, you need to consider your audience. Think about who you will be speaking to and what their expectations might be. Are they colleagues, friends, or family members? What is the occasion, and what is the tone of the event? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your message to their needs and expectations.

Listing key points to include

Next, make a list of the key points you want to include in your speech. Think about the purpose of your speech and what you want to say. Make a list of important people you want to thank, particular achievements or milestones to celebrate, and any other relevant information that you want to share.

Choosing the right tone

Finally, consider the tone of your speech. Do you want it to be formal or informal? Do you want to use humour or keep it serious? Think about the occasion and your audience, and choose a tone that is appropriate.

Structuring Your Thank You Speech

Now that you have prepared the groundwork for your speech, it's time to start structuring it. Here are three essential steps to structure your thank you speech:

Crafting a strong opening

The opening of your speech sets the tone for the rest of your message. Start with a strong opening that grabs your audience’s attention and sets the tone for the rest of your speech. You can use a quote, anecdote, or a personal story to capture their interest.

Organizing your main points

Next, organise your main points. You want to structure your speech in a way that is easy to follow and understand. Start with the most important points and work your way down. You can use chronological order, a logical sequence or a thematic structure to help convey your message.

Concluding with impact

Finally, end your speech with impact. The conclusion should be memorable and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Restate your main points, thank your audience for their attention and conclude with a call to action or a memorable quote.

Tips for Writing an Effective Thank You Speech

Now that you have the structure of your speech in place, here are three essential tips to help you write an effective thank you speech:

Keeping it concise

A short thank you speech is often the most effective. Keep your message concise, clear and to the point. You don't want to bore your audience with lengthy speeches, so keep it short and sweet.

Personalizing your message

Be sure to personalise your message. Use the names of people who have had an impact on your life and speak from the heart. This will make your message more memorable and help you connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Using anecdotes and examples

Finally, use anecdotes and examples to illustrate your message. This will help your audience relate to your speech and make it more engaging. Stories are one of the most powerful ways to communicate your message, so use them to make your speech come alive.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Short Thank You Speech

Chatgpt prompt.

Compose a concise and well-crafted speech expressing gratitude towards a specific individual or group in a sincere and appreciative manner.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

A thank you speech is an opportunity to express appreciation, acknowledge achievements and celebrate milestones. By following the steps we’ve outlined in this guide, you can write a concise, effective and memorable thank you speech that will leave a lasting impression on your audience.

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How to Write a Thank You Speech

Last Updated: February 20, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 995,380 times.

Writing a thank you speech can be intimidating. It is challenging to remember all of the people who have helped you along the way. If you recently reached a personal, spiritual or career milestone, you may be wondering how to compose a ‘thank you’ speech. A ‘thank you’ speech needs to identify all of the people you are thankful for, as well as the specific things you are thankful for and their personal or professional meaning to you. While ‘thank you’ speeches are relatively straightforward, they can be tricky to write, especially if the list of people to thank is very large or very small.

Sample Thank You Speeches

Prioritizing Your Thank You List

• Who helped you become the person you are today?
• Who offered you the most encouragement?
• What specific contributions are you thanking people for?
• Who gave you the time of day when you really needed help?
• Who offered valuable expertise at crucial moments?

• For instance, under the category expertise, you could rank individuals from most to least important contributions of expertise to the project or award you are giving the speech for.

• For instance, a ‘thank you’ speech at a wedding should be no longer than three minutes long.

Composing Your Speech

• In 1985, Sally Field spoke from the heart in her Oscar thank you speech. She said, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now you like me!”
• In 1970, at the age of 61, John Wayne was genuine about how long it took him to win, upon accepting the award for best actor for the role of one-eyed Rooster Cogburn. He said, “Wow! If I’d known that, I would have put the patch on 35 years ago.”

• For instance, you could say: “I am so humbled by this honor.”
• You could also use humor. For instance, when George Clooney won best supporting actor in 2006 but lost the best director award, he drew on his self-deprecating humor. He said, “Well, it looks like I’m not winning best director…”

• If it is a short ‘thank you’ speech, it is often best to skip the intro entirely. The audience will know why you are giving the speech, so follow the example of Abraham Lincoln who always skipped the introduction.

• Once you have written about the most important individuals, you can always edit the speech later for concision.
• Budget your time for each person. Remember that if you spend too much time on any one person, you may not be able to get to others who still really need to be thanked.
• If your speech needs to be really short, you could say: "I would like to thank Charley, my wonderful husband for supporting me through the long nights. I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks to my beautiful daughters, Kiera and Emily. Mommy can play more now. To Jeff Goldstein of Caracas, for feeding my crew; to Jake, Mindy, Paul, and Gwen for staying up so late, so we could get it right..."

• To recognize people by function, you could say, “I also want to thank everyone who brightened up this long journey with good humor, such as John, Johnny, Arjen, Peter, Ann, Zoe, etc.”
• So, for example, you might say: "And for the catering, thanks to Joe, Mike, Mindy, and Jeanette."

• “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice (Meister Eckhart)
• “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love” (Mother Teresa)
• “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks” (William Shakespeare)

Timing, Memorizing and Practicing Your Speech

• You could try using online script timers to get a rough sense of your speech time. However, you should still practice with a real timer because everyone speaks at a slightly different pace.

• You could dress up in the clothes you will be wearing at the event.
• Try practicing the speech at the event location to get more comfortable.

Community Q&A

• Have fun. Yes, you will be standing up in front of a crowd of people thanking them, but the important thing is that you do it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't worry about the length too much. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you forget somebody, especially somebody important, send them a thoughtful note right away explaining that you were nervous during the speech, and that what they have done for you or your organization is important and valuable. Let them know that they are appreciated and that you feel bad for leaving them out. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Don't mumble and keep looking down at your page, or it may seem too rehearsed. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
• Don't say anything that is likely to upset people in the audience, such as inside jokes. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
• ↑ http://www.write-out-loud.com/thank-you-speech.html
• ↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/structuring-speech
• ↑ https://www.examples.com/education/thank-you-speech.html
• ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/just_one_thing_speak_from_the_heart
• ↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/foundation-studies/feedback/verbosity
• ↑ http://www.write-out-loud.com/thank-you-quotes.html
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-delivery

About This Article

Writing a thank you speech can seem intimidating, but if you make a list of the people you’re grateful to first, it should be relatively simple. Make a note of anyone who has helped you get to where you are now, whether professionally, supporting you emotionally, or giving you valuable advice. Order the list by how grateful you are to each person. When you write your speech, give the top few people more time and add a few details about how they helped you. Then, you can list the people further down the list together. For example, say, “And I also want to thank my colleagues, Peter, Ann, Zoe, and John.” Practice saying your speech out loud so you can keep it within the time limit. For more tips, including how to prepare for giving your speech, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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