3+ Thank You Speech Examples – PDF
You might come across a situation wherein you will be asked to give a speech expressing gratitude towards a certain person or groups of people. Like any other speech, you need some planning before the actual occasion so that your speech will go according to your plan. Whether the thank you speech is for the assistance of some kind, or a material gift, it is important to make your speech sound genuine so that listeners will understand your appreciation of what the person you are dedicating thanks to and the impact of your speech will make.
Brainstorming a list of the ideas you want to include in the speech is a good move. It will help you remember all the things you want to say to this person. If appropriate, consult other people who would like to express their gratitude and take note of what they have to say. For example, if a service group has joined in your efforts as the parks and recreation department of your local government to beautify your local parks, visitors of the park may want to tell you what the clean-up meant to them. You may also see appreciation speech examples & samples
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Prepare the Speech
Spend some time thinking about the speech venue and the people you’re going to thank. The speech will depend whether it is one of many at the same event, or if the entire event is intended as an expression of appreciation. Take note whether your speech will be relevant to the entire audience or to a small group or even an individual. Consider as well as what the recognition really means to you. Note what positive results will come about in your speech. Also, don’t forget to make a list of all benefactors and beneficiaries and determine who should be named individually in your speech. Also, bear in mind that some gift givers prefer to remain anonymous. You can, however, still recognize their deeds. You may also like special occasion speech examples & samples
Outline the Speech
Although the purpose of your speech is to express thanks, provide your audience with some background information as to why you’re thanking the person in the first place. For example, if you’re writing a thank you speech for a longtime group donor, start with a concise description of how desperately your organization needed donations. Move into a short throwback during the time when you first met the donors and then give the high points of their involvement. Move on to how important their donations have been; for example, perhaps they enabled your organization to build and staff a nursing home in an area with high rates of abandoned senior citizens. You may also check out graduation speech examples & samples
Write the Speech
Write an introduction that clearly and specifically states what you are expressing gratitude for, and, if you are speaking on behalf of a group, why you are delivering the speech. During the opening of the speech give the name of the organization you are thanking and express gratitude to as many individuals within that group as possible. For example, if an organization sponsored a dinner at a homeless shelter, single out those who did the preparing, cooking, serving, and so on. If you are expressing gratitude for support of your organization over a period of years, mention specific individuals who have helped. You may also see examples of writing an appreciation speech
Start your speech with an interesting anecdote. For example, “Seven years ago, I was a high-school dropout working as a barista in a coffee shop.” Work out a smooth transition from the introduction to the body: “Everything changed when I ran into director Richard Harrison.” Note the specifics of your speech, such as the amount spent, exact time when the money is spent and money raised. Ambiguity can indicate you haven’t thoroughly prepared and you’re not sure exactly what you’re expressing gratitude for. Close with a reaffirmation of your gratitude, such as: “I can never thank you enough for your help to my personal and professional growth.” You may also check out examples of writing a salutatory speech
Express your gratitude by talking specifically about the effects of the gift, support, or assistance. For example, you might say that because of a company’s generous gift, dozens of indigenous children were able to go to school easily because they provided a mode of transport to take them to school. If possible, include some of the children’s comments about their experiences. You may also see acceptance speech examples
You may include slide shows or other graphics in your speech if possible. Photos of people engaging in volunteer work are fun for an organization to watch. Charts showing clearly how funds that were donated has been apportioned can be effective. Drawings and snapshots of children who were given assistance are also effective. If the gratitude is for some kind of mentoring, short notes could be shown on a screen while the speaker reads them. Of course, if you’re using this kind of technique, don’t just read all the words in the screen. Elaborate more on the meaning. You may also like speech templates and examples
You may want to conclude your speech with an appropriate quote that is meaningful to you; you can use some of these quotes from famous personalities:
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” Albert Schweitzer
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” A.A. Milne
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” John F. Kennedy
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
“We only live once. We all have an expiration date after that we will never come again. I am not saying that to make you sad. I am saying that so you can cherish each moment in your life and be grateful that you are here and you are Special.” Pablo
Then end your speech with simple words of thanks expressed on behalf of your entire group.
Practice and Deliver the Speech
Review and practice your simple speech until you feel yourself developing familiarity with the words. Remember not to just memorize your speech but also to always familiarize it. Time yourself until you can deliver the speech comfortably within the time limit. Picture the person or group you are thanking and imagine you are speaking directly to them. This will help you in the delivery of your speech be sincere and genuine. Once you’ve got a firm grasp of the material, focus on giving the speech with a smile and plenty of individual eye contacts.
If you’re a first timer in speeches, you can do this occasionally in your speech. Of course, don’t try too hard on this. Your smile and eye contact will become forced and fake and you may have a hard time to remember your lines. When it’s time to give the speech, let your gestures come naturally; as you speak, allow yourself to feel moved by and grateful for what you have received. Don’t make it look forced or else you may look awkward.
Additional Tips for You to Follow:
1. Write As if You are Conversing with One Person
Like in the previous post, write your speech as if you’re speaking with the people you are thankful for face to face. Again, this will help in the authenticity and sincerity of your speech. With your great thank you speech, you are helping them in some aspects of their personal life.
2. If You Can, Try to Give More and More Speeches
If you think you have the guts and skills in delivering future thank you speeches (or any speeches for that matter), volunteer yourself to do it. With each experience, it will help in honing your speaking skills and makes you improve every time you do it. You may also see orientation speech examples & samples
3. Don’t be Too Verbose
Keep your sentences short and sweet. If you make your speech like a Shakespearean sonnet, chances are, your audience won’t know what you are talking about. They will scratch their heads and try to keep up with you. With this situation, you already lose the interest of your audiences’ comprehension and appreciation over your speech. Worse, the people you are thanking won’t even understand what your point is. Use simple words and skip the compound sentences. You can be informal if you want to, just avoid being rude. Limit your ideas in one to two sentences and express them as clearly as possible. You may also like introduction speech examples & samples
4. Skip the Intro and Abandon Formalities
Some believe Abraham Lincoln was the ultimate speaker. “The president usually starts his State of the Union Address by acknowledging all the dignitaries, and thanking a million people,” writes Leo Babauta on Lifehack. “Many other speakers make this same mistake and ruin their speeches. By the time you’re done acknowledging and thanking everyone, you’ve lost your audience. Go right into the meat of the issue, and your audience will pay attention. You may also check out leadership speech examples & samples
Sometimes it is better to write a speech without beating around the bush and just get to it right away. Most people start their speech by thanking everyone individually and this really cost time and it ruins their speech. They spent the precious seconds of their speech by losing their entire audience. You can do this in the middle of your speech since this is a thank you speech. Skip the formalities, and just get to your proper speech right away. Through this, you still have the undivided attention of your audience and you can heighten their interests by saying some rhetorical questions, making a joke, or if you want, singing. You may also see award speech examples
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Thank You Speech Example
Now that you know how to write a thank you speech, the secret formula of making a speech that will be truly felt by everyone is your own sincerity in thanking the person or the people who have shown you, or your group help and support to achieve your goals. This is your chance to thank them all, so pour your heart out on the sleeve and be thankful for the people who supported you. This is one good way of showing your gratitude towards them. You may also see tribute speech examples & samples