How to Prepare an Acceptance Speech

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 17:31

Preparing an acceptance speech can be scary if you are a humble person, especially if you have focused so much on your goals that you have not kept your speaking skills trained! Fortunately, with the right planning and execution, an acceptance speech can be an opportunity to shine, rather than get anxious. By following some basic rules in the speech writing and revision stages, and by studying the speech guidelines in advance, you can make your acceptance speech as painless as possible - fun, even!

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Write a great speech

Step 1. Don't try to "improvise"

For any public occasion, planning and preparation are essential. Even if the talk you were asked to give only lasted a minute, preparing and organizing your thoughts in advance can make the difference between a cold and a lukewarm reaction. '' Always '' invest some time in the development of the speech before going on stage. Don't rely on your natural charm or your ability to think on the spot - in front of dozens or hundreds of people in the audience, you may find that your ability to be charming and profound is less natural than you think.

Step 2. Know your audience

Like talented writers, the best speechwriters know how to arrange the content of the text according to the needs of the audience. Serious or formal occasions with important guests will require similarly formal speeches, while more informal situations may require a lighter tone. When in doubt, opt for formality - formal speech in a light event tends to be less embarrassing, rather than the other way around.

As a general rule, the smaller the audience and the more you know their members, the more informal your speech can be

Step 3. Start by introducing yourself

Unless you are sure that your importance has been recognized by the whole audience, you should probably start with a few words about yourself, just to give the audience an idea of your story. It will probably be appropriate to mention your professional position, some important work and your link with the honor or the award you are receiving. Be short and humble - your goal is not to brag, but to introduce yourself to those who don't know you. Furthermore, it is always good to be ready to skip a few paragraphs in case you are introduced in depth by those who preceded you.

• For example, if you are accepting an award as "Employee of the year" in the IT company you work for, considering that there are people in the public who do not know you, you can try to start with an introduction like this:

  • "Greetings. Thanks for this award. As you have just heard, my name is Giulia Motta. I have been working here since 2009, and have been involved in marketing, content and analytics in various roles ever since. This year, I had the honor of collaborating with my manager, Dr. Bernini, on a new system for processing data, which is why we are here today ".

  

  Step 4. Establish a clear and defined goal from the beginning of your speech

  Every speech should have a minimum of purpose or "point" - otherwise, why should it be heard? After introducing yourself, don't waste time getting to the "meat" of the speech. Try to tell the audience why they should listen to you and what you hope they will get out of your speech in the first few minutes, to provide them with perspective and prepare them for what you need to say.

  • Since you are supposedly accepting some kind of award or honor, a good topic to focus on is gratitude. Rotating at least part of your speech around those who helped you get to where you are makes you appear humble and worthy of the reward you are receiving, rather than dismissive or conceited. Additionally, you may also want to give advice to your audience or push them towards some worthy cause. In any case, be sure to briefly and clearly establish your purpose from the outset. For example, you might say:

    • "I am here today to express my sincere gratitude to those who made this experience possible. I would also like to briefly discuss the role played by the idea of "making an extra effort" in launching this company, truly new goals in the IT field ".

    

    Step 5. Illustrate the personal meaning of the honor you are receiving

    As you thank and advise the audience, try to explain how much the reward you are receiving means to you. For example, you could say it's a sign of respect for the most important people in your life. In this way, you demonstrate your sincerity and offer the public your appreciation for the honor they are honoring you. It is not just a trophy or a plaque - it has a symbolic value that goes far beyond the object.

    • A good trick is to draw attention to the fact that the honor in question, although important to you, is not comparable to the constant honor that comes from doing what you love. This kind of recognition makes you appear humble, passionate and extremely deserving of the honor. For example, if you were receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award for your decades of work as a teacher, you might want to say something like this:

      • "As much as I appreciate this award and be grateful to you, the greatest award I could receive is the simple opportunity to help generations of kids learn to look at the world around them with a critical eye."

      

      Step 6. Close with a concise and powerful ending

      The conclusion of a speech is one of the most difficult parts to perfect, but it is also one of the most important, because it is the one that is most easily remembered. Try to give your ending emotional weight or an engaging call to arms - you want to end with a bang, not a moan. Try to use words and images with strong emotional connotations. For the last sentence, try to use a shrewd observation or a very wise statement.

      • For example, in the teacher's previous example, you could conclude like this:

        • “Having come to the conclusion, I would like to ask members of the public to think for a moment about how important it is to educate the children of this generation. The problems of tomorrow require bright and tireless individuals to be solved, and the only way to train these individuals is by acting as a community to support our schools, teachers and the countless people they depend on to stay strong."

        

        Step 7. Be sure to thank everyone who helped you

        It is absolutely necessary for acceptance speeches - somewhere in the speech you have to thank those who helped you, even if you don't think they were fundamental. Forgetting to politely thank those who contributed to your outcome can hurt someone's feelings, and make you feel ashamed. All this can be easily avoided by dedicating a part of the speech to personally thank as many people as possible among those who have helped or supported you (preferably towards the beginning or the end of the speech, to make them remember more easily).

        Thanking people, it is wise to conclude with something like “and finally, I would like to thank everyone who helped me - there are too many people to list, but I want to thank everyone, bar none”. This way you are covered in case you have forgotten those who played a minor role in your success

        

        Step 8. Get inspired by the greats

        If you're having a hard time writing your speech, try turning to famous speeches for ideas on how (and how not to) proceed. Modern history is full of examples of excellent (and terrible) acceptance speeches to inspire you. Here are some examples:

        • As a positive example, consider Jimmy Valvano's fantastic speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards. Eight weeks before he died of cancer, the famous basketball coach delivered an incredibly moving speech in front of an ecstatic standing ovation from the audience.
        • As an example of what not to do, consider Hilary Swank's Oscar speech for "Boys Don't Cry" in 2000. The actress accepted the award gratefully, thanking all of her fans, with the glaring exception of her husband., captured by cameras as she cried tears of joy during the speech.
        • As an example of eccentricity, consider Joe Pesci's Oscar speech. After taking the stage in 1991 for “Goodfellas”, Joe Pesci simply said “I'm honored. Thanks". The actor was both praised and ridiculed for his very short speech.

        Part 2 of 3: Perfect your speech

        

        Step 1. Go for simplicity

        Unlike written texts, speeches cannot be "reread" - when you say something, it is said, and your speech continues, regardless of audience understanding. To minimize misunderstandings and keep attention during the speech, use simple words. Use clear and concrete language. Don't stretch your sentences (or speech) more than necessary to convey the points you are trying to prove. It is much easier for people to enjoy a short, simple and exciting speech than a talkative, complicated and convoluted one.

        

        Step 2. Aim to memorize at least one basic idea of the speech

        For long speeches, it may be impractical or even impossible to memorize every word. However, even in cases where it is necessary to have a schedule or a copy of the speech at hand, it is always better to keep the main points of the speech in mind before starting to speak. Make sure you know the main points, their order, and the main transitions or examples you use.

        Knowing the speech lineup in advance is useful for many reasons. For example, it will not only prevent any technical problems (such as a gust of wind blowing away the papers) from distracting you, but it will also help you to declaim more confidently. After all, if you know roughly what you need to say, why should you worry?

        

        Step 3. Make the speech yours

        Mediocre speeches are worth very little. Make your speech memorable by making it yours. Shape the speech by making it a product of your personality - give the audience a chance to remember not only the speech, but the speaker as well. An easy way to do this is to include short personal anecdotes, as long as they are relevant to the honor you receive or to the topics covered in the speech. Insert them however you like, but don't forget moderation - remember, short, simple speeches are appreciated by most people.

        

        Step 4. Be brief and dignified in humor

        Humor is suitable for certain acceptance speeches. A brilliant observation is excellent for breaking the ice at the beginning of a speech and a couple of lines here and there can keep the attention alive. However, keep the amount (and genre) of jokes in check. Don't rely too much on constant laughter and avoid low, offensive, or controversial jokes. Unless you are a professional, your audience probably expects a pleasant, dignified speech, rather than a plethora of insults and heavy jokes, so give them what they want.

        Also, don't forget that your “opponents” may be in the audience in the race for the prize you receive. For this reason, it is better not to belittle the organization that rewards you or to imply that they have made the wrong choice. Respect yourself, the organization that rewards you and the public by accepting the prize

        

        Step 5. Try it, try it, try it

        As with writing, singing or acting, oratory is a form of art. The more you do it, the more proficient you become. As impossible as it is to recreate the experience of standing in front of an audience and declaiming seriously before actually doing it, rehearsing alone or in front of a small audience can help you memorize the main points of the speech and gain the experience needed to take. confidence with the text. Plus, tests can help you fix any problems early. For example, if a part of the speech does not get the desired effect on your test audience, you could take it as a sign and remove or modify that part before the event.

        Trying, time yourself. It may surprise you how much longer (or shorter) your speech is than you thought. If you're on a tight schedule, use the time trial results to edit the text accordingly

        

        Step 6. Review and correct technical errors

        If you use a written version or a lineup of the speech to keep the thread, be sure to correct any factual and grammatical errors, pronunciation and syntax. It is very embarrassing to discover an error in the speech while reciting it, so avoid this embarrassing situation by proofreading at least once or twice.

        Part 3 of 3: Declaim your speech with dignity

        

        Step 1. Manage anxiety with anti-stress techniques

        Waiting for your turn to take the stage, calm and quiet will likely be your last thoughts. However, knowing how to relax your nerves early can make an otherwise stressful speech much easier. Here are some effective techniques to help you minimize performance anxiety:

        • Rising heart rate: Breathe deeply and slowly. Focus on someone in the room that you are comfortable with, such as a friend or family member. Start reciting the words of the speech - you will naturally relax as soon as you start speaking.
        • Rising fright: breathe deeply. Observe the audience and grasp the irony of their empty, inexpressive expressions. Alternatively, imagine that the audience members are somehow useless or ridiculous (e.g. that they are all in their underwear, etc.).
        • Salivation cleared: bring water with you to the stage. Also consider chewing gum before (but not during) the speech. Reproducing the nutritional process can be able to calm emotions. In addition, it can stimulate saliva production, avoiding dry mouth and throat.
        • Tremor: Breathe deeply and slowly. If necessary, try to stretch and release the muscles slowly, in the part of the body that trembles, to release the excess energy due to the adrenaline rush.
        • Mostly, take it easy. You have prepared yourself, so you have no reason to worry. Anxiety will only make it more difficult to recite the excellent speech that you are perfectly capable of reciting.

        

        Step 2. Know what to avoid

        Even those who never have tics or neuroses sometimes develop strange repetitive behaviors, finding themselves under pressure in public. The best cure for almost all tics is to relax with the techniques listed above. However, in addition, having a mental list of tics commonly associated with speech can help you recognize them as they appear. Here are some of the more common problems you'll likely want to avoid:

        • Speed up during the speech.
        • Sputter.
        • Shake or fiddle with something with your hands.
        • Stagger from side to side.
        • Excessive coughing / sniffling.

        

        Step 3. Speak slowly and clearly

        As mentioned, one of the most common problems for less experienced speakers is the tendency to speed up or mumble without meaning to. The way you speak during a speech shouldn't be the same as when you speak in an informal context - speak slower, more clearly and somewhat louder than normal. It does not necessarily mean that you have to mark each word and take long pauses between sentences, but simply that you should make an effort to make sure that even the hardest of ears in the audience can understand you.

        

        Step 4. Maintain eye contact

        When you deliver an acceptance speech, you are speaking to the audience, so you have to watch it for most of the speech, just as you would look at a person if you were talking to them. It's okay to look at the sheets so as not to lose the thread. Try to limit these glances to a couple of seconds at most. The rest of the time, keep your head up and speak directly to the audience in front of you.

        If you can remember to do it, try to gradually shift your gaze from one side of the audience to the other. In this way, every spectator will have the impression that you are talking to him. If this movement is difficult for you, try randomly choosing individuals from the audience to watch for a couple of seconds at a time while you speak

        

        Step 5. Remember that the audience is made up of human beings

        For those who are nervous, the public can seem like a large, frightening and impressive entity to face and tame. But in reality, the public is quite another - it's made up of many different individuals, each of whom has their own internal motives and concerns (just like you!). Some in the audience may be thinking about their own problems or just daydreaming while you speak. Others may be practically (or literally) asleep. Others may not even be smart enough to understand what you are saying! On the other hand, some may find your speech interesting or important. Few, however, will find it as important as you do, so don't let the audience scare you! Thinking of the audience as a collection of real and imperfect people, rather than an expressionless, monolithic crowd, is a great way to relax more easily.

        Advice

        • Fall the world, avoid forgetting to name someone. It is always better to mention groups or teams, and to avoid talking about individuals, rather than leaving someone unintentionally.
        • Be polite and flattering in jokes. Don't mortify yourself or anyone else.
        • As you write your speech, keep the audience in mind. Awareness of the formality and age of the audience should guide your vocabulary.
        • If there are multiple speakers, remember to limit your speech to make room for others.
        • Be humble, but don't humble yourself. Acting as if you don't deserve an award is offensive to those who gave it to you.