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5 Tips: How to Deliver Your Best Company Holiday Speech

The time has come again! It seems we all collectively blinked and now find the holiday season quickly (too quickly?) approaching once again – with all its impending celebrations in tow.

And while this festive time of year may bring thoughts of time spent outside of the workplace to revel and recharge with family and friends, for many it also brings an annual tradition within the workplace – the company / office holiday party.

These year-end celebrations – whether held as traditional in-person gatherings or as virtual ones featuring interactive fun and games to better accommodate preferences and schedules – can be much more than an excuse to let loose. They also offer a great opportunity to bring employees together from all areas of your business.

By delivering a great speech as you have all your colleagues gathered, you can help set the tone for the coming year while motivating morale and enthusiasm by making employees at every level of the business feel appreciated.

If you’re in charge of crafting or delivering a CEO’s speech at your company’s holiday or year-end gathering for 2024 and need some tips to help you maximize the moment with something noteworthy, consider these 5 tips for giving a memorable holiday speech:

1. Stick To a Script – While a holiday gathering with your colleagues might not feel like a high-pressure situation compared to a big sales pitch, that doesn’t mean you should win it or take it too causally.

Be prepared, have notes, and rehearse your speech in advance to identify changes you might want to make, set a good tempo, practice vocal enthusiasm and set the right tone. This will not only give you more polish, but it will also make you feel more confident and on-message, resulting in a better, genuine delivery.

2. Don’t Drag It Out – Plan to deliver your speech earlier during the celebration rather than later. It’s only natural that people’s attention starts to wane the longer the event goes on. This can especially be a factor if people have to leave / log-off early due to the busy holiday season packing their calendars … or if there’s an open bar involved!

You want to wait long enough for everyone to arrive and get settled but early enough so that they’re still going to be attentive.

3. Put the Positive Forward – Even if your company experienced a less-than-stellar year with results that didn’t meet expectations, the holiday soiree is not the time to focus on it. Use your speech to highlight successes instead of setbacks, even if the successes have been few and far between, and the brighter potential in store for 2025.

You want your team to feel positive, hopeful and energized for the year ahead and ready to help take business to the next level. Help create that atmosphere when addressing the crowd. End 2024 on a high note!

4. Keep the Festive Spirit – Employees have gathered for this event to have some fun and enjoy a celebratory atmosphere, so plan on keeping your speech succinct. You don’t want attention to wander or eyes to start rolling. Skip the long, detailed stories and any type of serious business / performance analysis.

However, be specific when acknowledging individuals, teams, or departments that brought impactful, notable achievements to the table over the past year. Your rehearsal time can help you incorporate these details while keeping things light and without running too long.

5. Be Sincere with Your Gratitude – Always remember: the whole point of your holiday event speech, and of the celebration itself, is to recognize everyone for their past year of effort and how you look forward to what’s to come with your team in the new year. Sincerity when giving thanks is key.

One nice gesture is to thank the families / significant others of your employees – this shows you are aware and appreciative of people’s lives outside of the workplace and that you acknowledge their dedication.

If you speak at your company’s holiday party this year, let us know how it goes!

What other tips do you suggest when preparing for a company celebration speech?

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