Office Parties - A 10 Point Survival Guide For Speakers

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The office Christmas party season is looming again and you cannot recall how it got to be so near the event so quickly. Yikes, time flies when you’re crawling your way up the corporate ladder!

And of course you need to organise and give a speech. And the Board Chairman and the CEO will be attending. And you want to impress them and staff. And you do not have much time to prepare and you do not want to make a blethering fool of yourself. And you have a secret - you are petrified of making speeches and what if you dry up or stutter, or sweat profusely….?

Don’t fear dearies, help is at hand. Here is a 10 point Office Party Speech survival plan from Andrew Ivey.

Office Parties - A 10 Point Survival Guide For Speakers
By Andrew Ivey

At this time of year our normally industrious business thoughts turn to seasonal traditions. But rather than family, peace and goodwill, our thoughts concern the traditions of the office party. And if you believe that nothing could be further from peace and goodwill than it then we have probably been to the same parties over the years. Even if the thought of the noise, gossip, cocktail sausages, crackers and liquid refreshments didn’t upset you then you probably haven’t yet thought about a speech at this year’s office party. But it’s a fact: the more you climb the greasy pole of business success, the closer you come to the ritual that is the office party speech.

And talking about facts, it’s a sad fact that whilst the festive period hits us at the same time every year we are typically under-prepared and end up buying presents at the last minute. And it is often the same with the office party speech - we are under-prepared and haven’t thought about it at all. So, thinking about it now, if you are the VP, the Director or the organiser it’s incumbent on you to say something effective in public at this year’s office revelry. And like most things in business, timing and execution are everything. With the festive season in mind and wanting us all to both survive and enjoy the office party, I have laid out a 10 point survival plan for speakers at this year’s party.

1. Party planning. Try to consider what type of speech might be appropriate. We need to think about our audience and the type of occasion — not least how formal it might or might not be. Take a note of any ideas that we have and prepare a cue card or two. We should not forget to speak with the party organizer or, if that’s you, speak to the caterers or hotel staff. If it is possible, we should take a quick look at the party venue when it is being set up. Consider the room layout and where we might best stand. If there is to be music at the party then it should be possible to rig up a microphone if needed.

2. Drinks. An absolute must for party survival — we should not even think about speaking when both the party and the alcohol have been flowing some time. Our audience’s attention will definitely be elsewhere, it will be hard to quieten them and we run the risk of interruption. And it goes without saying that we should not try to make even a mini-speech in public when we have had some festive cheer. It doesn’t work and can be embarrassing.

3. Starters. Aim to speak near the beginning of the party — perhaps when people have arrived, had a drink and relaxed. If this is not possible aim to speak before dinner or lunch is served. Not afterwards.

4. More starters. Thank the party organiser(s), caterers or hotel team. Office parties at this time of year are hard work to arrange which is why so few of us want to do it!

5. Presents. Thanking people and teams is a good idea for the office party. But the technique is all important. Try something along the lines of…”and now someone who’s always committed to the customer…someone who always puts the customer first…someone with whom it is a pleasure to work…first name, second name”. When we get it this way round our audience knows instinctively when and where to applaud. If we name them first then the audience misses the prompt. Using this simple listing technique we also have the benefit of a 3-part list and some good repetition.

6. More presents. The same theme of thanking people can be used more extensively if we want to give more focus to a worker of the year or perhaps a team of the year. We can plan this beforehand. We simply make a list of their “virtues” and a smaller list of their “non-virtues”. There has to be a better word for these — but the idea is not to poke the knife in too hard. It’s only the office party. Using these lists we select 3 virtues and 1 non-virtue. In our speech we can detail their first two virtues illustrating with anecdotes wherever possible. Then we mention their non-virtue (their messy desk, their choice of car or their favourite suit maybe). It will draw a laugh of recognition. Then finish with the final virtue point and bring to a conclusion by naming the person or team. Again, we don’t need to name the individual or the team until the end — it builds suspense.

7. Party take-away. Beyond the obvious, note more party positives. Examples might include: “the band will play until 2 a.m.” or, “taxis home are on the office tab” or “the office doesn’t open until 1100 tomorrow”. These are easy points to make and will ensure a good reception.

8. Be brief. It’s the office party. You might be paying for all the fun, the food and not least the drinks, but you have other opportunities for the annual review.

9. And finally. We bring our very brief speech to a close with a toast along the lines of…”a toast to ourselves, absent friends and future possibilities”.

10. Party time. Relax, you’ve made it. Roll on next year.

Office parties can be survived. And they can also be enjoyed. I trust that this simple survival guide for speakers helps you to do both whilst making an effective office party speech. All the best for the party this year.

Andrew Levy is the principal presentation skills trainer at Time to Market the UK presentation skills training resource.

Public Speaking Training

Article Source: Andrew Ivey
Article Source: Office Parties - A 10 Point Survival Guide For Speakers

Office Parties - A 10 Point Survival Guide For Speakers