Saying goodbye graciously

By: Susan Dugdale | Last modified: 04-09-2021

Farewell speeches mark significant departures. They are so much more than a casual 'see you later' and a mumbled 'thanks for everything' as you make a dash for the door.

A planned goodbye speech crystallizes the moment of leaving, giving it focus, form, and dignity. It provides an opportunity to publicly acknowledge people and events, as well as to graciously show your appreciation and gratitude for them.

And that, I think, is the sort of leaving speech most people want to give!

What's on this page?

Everything you need to prepare an excellent farewell speech. Click the video for a complete overview.

Occasions for giving a farewell speech

A farewell speech is frequently expected when leaving a job to take another and is given by the person leaving or, to the person leaving by a colleague, their manager or boss.

Template.net offers various templates you can use for the invitations for the farewell party/event you are going to organize. Elements of a Farewell Invitation If you are organizing a party to send people off as they move along with life or to celebrate the deceased, it is important that you send out invitations for your farewell party/celebration. Nevertheless, farewell party could be the happiest moment if celebrated with all great friends. Invite the colleagues now by using this great collection of sample Invitation Messages for Farewell Party to Colleagues at Office. A farewell party should be seen as an opportunity to reminisce about fond memories. A lot will depend on how long the employee has been with the company, obviously, but you should be able to highlight a few stories and refer to them during the party. Surprise party invitation template lovely birthday program templates free farewell programme strand dna and encoded rna are. Amend house party agenda farewell programme template c typename vs class. Farewell party invitation wording going away best invitations ideas on moving template complex presentation programme monster login. Sample farewell speech. To show you how the content suggestions and the 'graciousness' guidelines work together I've prepared a sample speech. The speech is 573 words long. Depending how fast or slow you speak that will take approximately four minutes to deliver. (You can find out more speech rate here) About this speech.

Other situations calling for farewell speeches are graduations (leaving a school, a class..), retirements, (leaving the paid work-force), or perhaps when a long-time member of your club or neighborhood departs. A funeral speech or eulogy is yet another form of a goodbye or farewell speech.

Retirement & funeral farewell speeches

Click to find out how to prepare, write, deliver and read examples of:

retirement speeches
funeral speeches

Traps of a particularly nasty sort

I think one of the biggest public speaking traps is allowing yourself to play that old con game in which you suddenly, without regular practice, become a marvelous impromptu speaker.

When asked to say a few words at the function marking either your leaving, someone else's you'll be fluent! You'll remember everyone and everything you wanted to mention.

Farewell Party Program Format For A

Your farewell speech will be structured. It will open with a flourish, offer something of substance and close with a slice of unforgettable wisdom. Perfect.

Reality can be very nasty sometimes. 'Umming and erring', rambling, missing out things and ending with a limp 'Yeah, well, that's it' and a shrug exposes the con. Yep, fell for it. Again. Sigh.

Just like the Scouts: Be prepared!

Think ahead. Plan. You will know if you're expected to give a farewell speech.

Learn from either your own previous experience or from what you've witnessed. Be it the good, the bad or the ugly!

There is a fine line between formal and informal, particularly in a work place. Straying too far on either side may not be received well, and the impact could ripple on in ways you have little control over.

Like for instance, being overlooked in the future rather than being offered the opportunity to speak on behalf of your colleagues and your company again.

Pitching your speech appropriately and delivering it well takes practice. For your own sake do it.

Good communication skills, (which includes public speaking), will open more hearts, minds, and therefore doors, than any other skill you might have!
(For more, please see The Importance of Communication Skills in Business.)

Hallmarks of gracious farewell speeches

So having established the need to do more than bumble through a hastily cobbled together farewell speech, here's what you are aiming for.

These are the characteristics of a speech that an audience, (your co-workers, employers, classmates, friends, fellow club members ..), would be delighted to hear.

It is respectful and sincere. The speech expresses appropriate honest and genuine feelings about people, events and ideas.
It is positive. The speech acknowledges outcomes, projects and events positively, without undue exaggeration or puffery, and expresses hope for the future. If being positive is difficult be very careful about publicly passing judgement or making comments that could cause embarrassment or something far worse.
It is brief. The speech is succinct and concise, minus padding or waffle. There are no prizes for rambling on and on. Three to five minutes is enough!

Content ideas for a leaver's going away speech

If it's you who is leaving and you're preparing a speech to mark the occasion, here is a list of the type of material expected, and appreciated in a farewell speech.

A brief summary of involvement eg. how long you've been with the company, club etc
What you have enjoyed, admired or appreciated about the workplace, job, neighborhood, club
The admiration and appreciation you have for the people - their qualities/skills
What you feel about leaving
Your gratitude and thanks for support, opportunities to learn, friendship..
Special memories or good humored anecdotes
Your reasons for leaving
What, or where, you are going to
Hopes and good wishes for those remaining

Obviously you're not expected to cover all nine points in lavish detail. Pick what feels right to you. Apply the guidelines and, prepare your speech.

Sample farewell speech

To show you how the content suggestions and the 'graciousness' guidelines work together I've prepared a sample speech. That's below.

The speech is 573 words long. Depending how fast or slow you speak that will take approximately four minutes to deliver. (You can find out more speech rate here)

About this speech

The speech is entirely fictional. I've written it from the point of view of a person working for a company called Smith and Black. Here he/she, (I've not defined gender.), led a team which was involved in community initiatives. He/she is leaving to do further study. The speech will be given at a gathering in the company staff room.

Farewell speech from the leaver to colleagues

'Thank you for coming along. I am delighted to see you all here.

Do you realize we've been sharing each other's company for 2920 days?
We've been together through approximately 417 Mondays. 417 Wednesdays. (Half way! It's the weekend soon. Hang in.) And 417 yay, it's Fridays!

Eight years of fun times, challenging times and everything in between.

And today I am officially leaving you!

In the past some of you have questioned my sanity. Now, standing here in the midst of you all, I'm wondering about it too!