| Retiring is a big step. You've spent years building a | | | | But remember to keep the beginning of your speech |
| career. And finally, after years and possibly decades | | | | focused. Avoid rambling on and on about one event |
| of service, you are ready to retire. If you find | | | | in your career. Instead, hone in on the events or |
| yourself in this situation, chances are you will need to | | | | accomplishments that meant the most to you. |
| write a retirement speech. With that in mind, it is | | | | Describe them in detail, if possible, and be sure to |
| important to remember that writing retirement | | | | thank those who helped you along the way. |
| speeches is an art. You will need to think of a unique | | | | However, be sure to stay focused. |
| way of capturing what you want to say, and you | | | | Have an outline in front of you that highlights key |
| want to say it in a way that is meaningful to you. | | | | points you hope to get across. Remember that you |
| Before you begin writing your retirement speech, | | | | don't have to follow exactly what your outline says. |
| however, you will need to decide what kind of | | | | Instead, gaze at the key points and expand upon |
| message you want to convey. Of course, knowing | | | | them from memory. This tactic helps make |
| where to begin is the key. Retirement speeches, as a | | | | retirement speeches more authentic. It's important to |
| general rule, aim to capture a sentiment about your | | | | remember that retirement speeches should be |
| career. You can do that in the opening line. Called a | | | | upbeat and friendly to the audience. Avoid giving a |
| hook, the opening line to a retirement speech is | | | | long speech that goes on for hours. Keep your |
| designed to grab the audience's attention. Beginning | | | | speech short enough that you don't lose your |
| your speech with a toast is a great way to pay | | | | audience's attention. |
| tribute to your career. | | | | Be courteous. Thank people for their support and for |
| Speech writing experts recommend opening a | | | | giving you the opportunity to speak to them. |
| retirement speech with a poem or a bold statement. | | | | Retirement speeches are generally quite structured |
| You could start with a joke or a poem. Both capture | | | | and should follow a logical progression. Because of |
| a feeling. At the same time, your attention grabber | | | | this, it may help to review your speech ahead of |
| captures your audience's attention in a unique way. | | | | time to get familiar with it. That way, you're not |
| Or you could begin with a story that traces your | | | | scrambling for things to say. |
| career back to its start. For example, you could say, | | | | According to experts, retirement speeches require |
| "I can remember my first day of work as clear as | | | | certain flair to be effective. It may help to add |
| day." You could then use this as a springboard into | | | | imagery. This makes the speech more colorful, and it |
| your career. From that statement, you can expand | | | | is a great way to keep your audience entertained. |
| upon your experience; describing events that helped | | | | Whatever you do, remember that giving retirement |
| shape your career and who you've become, because | | | | speeches is a great way to pay tribute to your |
| of it. | | | | career and march forward into your future. |