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How to Write a Memorable Retirement Speech + Examples

Updated 12/28/2023

Published 03/2/2020

Belinda McLeod, BA in Secondary Education

Contributing writer

Follow this guide to write a memorable retirement speech, whether for yourself, a friend, or colleague.

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Stepping up to the podium for your own retirement speech or perhaps for a colleague’s grand exit? Bravo! Whether you’re bidding farewell to your own illustrious career or celebrating a coworker’s legacy, it’s a momentous occasion. And guess what? The spotlight’s on you, and people are eager to be moved, amused, and maybe shed a tear or two.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Who Gives a Retirement Speech?

Retirement Speech Etiquette

Tips for writing a retirement speech, short retirement speech examples.

If this is your debut into the world of retirement speeches, you don’t have to fret too much. Think of it as giving a wedding toast but with fewer embarrassing stories and more career highlights.

Even if you’ve mastered the art of public speaking, a retirement speech is a unique beast. After all, you want your words to capture the essence of decades of dedication and hard work.

This article will help you do just that. Keep reading to learn how to write a retirement speech that resonates and leaves an indelible mark.

Tip: Growing older and entering retirement also means watching your friends and family members grow older, too. And that often means coping with loss and grief. If you know a retiree who's facing a loss, our post-loss checklist may be able to help.

Who Gives a Retirement Speech?

Retirement speeches are a rite of passage and a moment to reflect on years of service, shared memories, and the legacy left behind. But who steps up to the mic to deliver these poignant words during an office farewell or retirement party ?

While the retiree is an obvious choice, there are others who’ve shared in the journey and can offer unique perspectives. Each speaker brings something unique to the table, painting a comprehensive picture of the retiree’s impact. Let’s take a look at the roles of these speakers and the insights they can bring to the celebration.

The retiree

If you’re the retiree taking center stage, this is your chance for personal reflection. You can share:

Anecdotes from your journey
The challenges you overcame
Milestones you celebrated
Gratitude for colleagues, mentors, and the organization

A retiree’s speech often carries pride in their achievements, nostalgia for the memories, and excitement for the future. You might also sprinkle in some humor like a light-hearted mistake or a memorable office prank. This speech is your curtain call, so make sure to leave a lasting impression and maybe impart some wisdom to those still in the midst of their careers.

A coworker’s perspective is invaluable because they’ve been in the trenches together, weathered the same storms, and celebrated mutual successes. If you’re giving a retirement speech for a close coworker, you can highlight:

The retiree’s professional attributes and teamwork
The camaraderie you shared
Recollections of shared projects, inside jokes, and day-to-day interactions
Your personal bond and the times you spent together

Your words have the power to connect with many in the room, echoing shared sentiments and reinforcing the retiree’s impact on the team.

A boss or manager

When a boss or manager speaks, it’s a testament to the retiree’s professional impact. Your perspective offers a birds-eye view of the retiree’s contributions, leadership, and the legacy they leave behind.

You can also touch on the personal qualities that made the retiree stand out, such as their resilience, dedication, or mentorship to younger colleagues. The retirement speech is a chance to express gratitude on behalf of the organization, pride in their accomplishments , and to assure the retiree that their shoes were hard to fill.

Retirement speeches are a tribute, a celebration, and a farewell all wrapped into one. As with any significant occasion, there’s etiquette to follow to make the event memorable for all the right reasons. Understanding these nuances can make the difference between a speech that’s cherished and one that’s merely endured.

Consider some retirement speech etiquette to ensure your words resonate with grace, respect, and warmth.

Dress appropriately

The way you dress not only reflects your respect for the occasion but also sets the tone for your speech. Dressing appropriately signifies that you value the event and the person being honored. It's not just about looking good; it's about showing that you've put thought into your appearance as a mark of respect.

Whether it's a formal event or a casual gathering, ensure your attire matches the occasion. Remember, it's always better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.

Use humor wisely

Humor can be a fantastic tool to lighten the mood and engage the audience. However, it's a double-edged sword. What's funny to one person might be offensive to another.

When incorporating humor, make sure it's in good taste and won't alienate or upset anyone. Steer clear of inside jokes that only a few might understand or controversial topics that could divide the room. The goal is to evoke smiles and laughter, not raised eyebrows.

A retirement speech is a heartfelt tribute, and sincerity is its cornerstone. While it's okay to refer to notes or an outline, ensure your words come from the heart.

Authenticity resonates. People can tell when sentiments are genuine versus when they're merely rehearsed lines. Speak with conviction, share genuine anecdotes, and let your true feelings shine through.

Be positive

Retirement is a celebration of a significant milestone. While it's tempting to bring up past challenges or conflicts, focus on the positive. Highlight achievements, growth, and the good times.

Even if there were hurdles, frame them as learning experiences or stepping stones that led to greater successes. A positive tone uplifts the atmosphere and leaves the retiree with fond memories.

Time the speech correctly

While you want to cover all your points, you don’t want to bore anyone to sleep. A speech that's too long can lose the audience's attention, while one that's too short might seem insincere.

Aim for a sweet spot, typically between 5 to 10 minutes. This gives you plenty of time to convey your message without overstaying your welcome. Practice beforehand and, if possible, time yourself to keep on track.

Be grateful

Whether you're the retiree thanking your colleagues or a manager expressing appreciation for years of service, always express gratitude. Recognize the contributions, the memories, and the shared journey. A simple 'thank you' can resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impression on the retiree and the audience alike.

Crafting a retirement speech is an art that can seem daunting. After all, you have to encapsulate decades of memories, achievements, and emotions into a few minutes.

Thankfully, with the right approach and a sprinkle of creativity, you can pen a speech that’s both memorable and moving.

General tips

Whether you’re a retiree or a colleague, retirement speeches should be given with utmost care and respect. Add a touch of creativity, and you’ve got a well-prepared speech that will move hearts and honor the star of the show.

Here are some general tips for crafting a memorable retirement speech.

Choose a speaker who knows the person well

Selecting the right speaker is the foundation of a memorable retirement speech. The speaker's connection with the retiree can make all the difference. Here are some qualities the ideal speaker should have:

Personal connection: The speaker should have a personal rapport with the retiree so they can give genuine anecdotes and heartfelt sentiments.
Knowledge of career journey: Choose someone familiar with the retiree's professional journey, milestones, and achievements.
Eloquence: While personal connection is vital, the speaker should also be comfortable speaking in public and conveying emotions effectively.
Representative of the team: Ideally, the speaker should represent the sentiments of the larger group, ensuring the speech resonates with everyone present.
Avoid last-minute choices: Plan ahead so the speaker has ample time to prepare. Don't leave the selection of the speaker to the last moment.

Focus on the honoree

The retiree is the star of the show, and the speech should reflect that. Here's how to keep the spotlight on them:

Highlight achievements: Discuss significant milestones, projects, and contributions made by the retiree.
Share personal anecdotes: Personal stories add warmth and depth. Share moments that capture the retiree's essence.
Avoid generic praises: Be specific in your compliments. Instead of saying "You're great," mention what makes them so.
Incorporate feedback: Talk to colleagues and gather shared memories or sentiments to include.
Acknowledge growth: Discuss how the retiree evolved over the years, both professionally and personally.

Keep it short — but not too short

Timing is everything when you’re giving a retirement speech. You’ve got to strike the perfect balance. Here's how to ensure your speech is just right:

Set a time limit: Aim for 5-10 minutes. It's long enough to cover key points but short enough to retain attention.
Practice out loud: This helps in gauging the length and making necessary edits.
Prioritize content: Focus on the most impactful memories and achievements.
Engage the audience: A well-timed speech ensures the audience remains engaged throughout.
Leave room for applause: Factor in moments of applause or reactions, ensuring the speech doesn't feel rushed.

Carefully use humor

Humor can elevate a speech, but you’ve got to tread carefully. Here's how to infuse humor without overstepping:

Know your audience: Choose jokes that are appropriate for the audience's sensibilities.
Avoid sensitive topics: Steer clear of controversial or potentially hurtful subjects.
Test your joke: Share them with a trusted colleague to gauge their reaction.
Use light self-deprecation: It's a safe way to add humor without offending anyone.
Stay authentic: Forced humor can fall flat. If humor isn't your strength, focus on warmth and sincerity.

Preparation is key to delivering a confident and heartfelt speech. You can thoroughly prepare in several ways:

Write an outline: Organize your thoughts and structure your speech with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Rehearse: Practice multiple times to get the flow right and make necessary tweaks.
Seek feedback: Share your speech with a trusted colleague or friend for feedback.
Visualize the day: Imagine yourself giving the speech. This mental rehearsal can boost confidence.
Stay calm and composed: Remember, it's a celebration. Take deep breaths, stay relaxed, and speak from the heart.

As the retiree

If you’re a retiree, there are several ways to create a great speech:

Reflect on your journey: Talk about where you started, the highs and lows along the way, and where you feel like you've "landed" at the end of your career.
Acknowledge and appreciate: There are a lot of people who have helped you on your way. Take the time to acknowledge and thank them for their role in your life and career.
Share life lessons: What lessons have you learned that you want to pass along? Share these during your speech.

As a trusted coworker or superior

What about if you’re a coworker or superior? Focus on highlighting the retiree’s impact, sharing personal anecdotes, and offering well wishes for the future.

You might know the person pretty well, but it's always important to make sure you've got the right information on hand. Make sure to gather information and fact check for items like:

How long the retiree has been in the industry.
How long the retiree has worked for the company.
The previous positions the person held within the company.
The contributions they made while working.
Awards the person who is retiring may have received in the course of their career.
Pertinent information about the retiree's work history.

Here are some snippets of retirement speeches that you can amend for your situation. Remember, it is important to speak from the heart. Your audience will appreciate a more authentic speech rather than a stoic message.

For a friend

When Max began work at our firm, gas was $1.19 a gallon, and Ronald Reagan had just been elected president. Kramer vs. Kramer won Best Picture, and “Call Me” by Blondie was playing on the radio. All that to say, she’s been a fixture here for quite a while. To say that Max knows every aspect of this business like the back of her hand is not an understatement.

I remember the first time I walked into this office. Maxine was the first person to greet me. She gave me advice on where to park, showed me how to fill out a PTO request, and answered all my questions during lunch. She introduced me to everyone on staff. And she made sure I knew all the ins and outs of working for Brighton Industries. This wasn’t part of her job, but she did it anyway. She made every new person in the office feel welcome.

Every office has a “go-to” person. The person who knows how to handle the difficult client. The person who knows how to hire the right person for the job. The person who knows how to load new toner in the printer. Max has been our go-to person for 25 years, and she leaves big shoes to fill.

One of Max’s best qualities is her ability to stay calm in the middle of the storm. Do you remember the great Jones Company fiasco in 2004? While the rest of us panicked about the loss of our biggest client, she went out and found us a new client. And that client brought in twice as much revenue as the client we lost!

We know that Maxine is looking forward to retirement. She told me she is planning to spend more time quilting. And she’ll be hanging out with her daughter and three adorable grandbabies. You’ve all seen pictures of her grandkids, right? Of course, you have! We are all so excited to wish Maxine well as she starts checking off items from her retirement bucket list .

For your retirement

Thank you so much for all the kind words. I have loved working at Brighton Industries. I have had some of the best times in my life at this office. I have made lifelong friends who I treasure. Thank you for being the best coworkers and friends a woman could ask for.

There are a few things that I won’t miss about working for Brighton. I won’t miss filling out the TPS reports. I won’t miss the late nights that came with tax season. I won’t miss how cold the office is in the summer, or how hot the office is during the winter. But I will miss all of you. You have made this office feel like a second home to me. Thank you.

I discovered what amazing coworkers I had when I lost my mom to cancer three years ago. You all stepped in so willingly to pick up the slack when I couldn’t perform my regular duties. Not only did you take on more responsibilities in the office, but many of you also provided meals to my family. It meant the world to me, knowing that I could depend upon you all for help.

For a coworker

I have witnessed many people come and go throughout my years here at Smith and Smith. However, I am sadder today than ever, knowing Michelle won’t be stepping out of our elevator Monday morning.

Even though Michelle has only worked at Smith and Smith for the last eight years, she has contributed much to our organization. For example, she made our network more secure by spearheading our cybersecurity efforts. But she also had a knack for streamlining processes, allowing us to work more efficiently. Before Michelle began working here, we worked a great deal of overtime. The reason we are now able to leave at 5 p.m. is because of the processes she began.

On a personal level, Michelle was always a delight to be around. She’s not one to complain – even when we had to put in extra hours last winter. Michelle was always the first to jump in to help when someone was sick or had a personal emergency. We all have stories of how Michelle helped us during a pinch.

Michele – I will remember you with fondness. I am excited that you will have more time to spend with your beautiful grandchildren, and I wish you every happiness in the future.

I was honored to be asked to speak about Samuel this afternoon. After working for Samuel for over 20 years, I have a lot to say. Don’t worry, Sam. Most of it is good.

First, I would like to tell you some things about Sam’s background that you might not have been aware of. Sam has a degree in Chemistry from Perdue. Even though he was prepared to spend his life in a lab setting, he sat next to a stranger on the subway one day while going to a job interview. He spoke with this person and learned he was starting a new shoe company and looking for someone to oversee the distribution. Of course, that stranger was Frank Jones, our illustrious founder. And that was why Sam never used his chemistry degree.

The second thing you may not know about Sam is that he is a violin virtuoso. I didn’t know this about him until a few years ago when Sam and his wife had me over for dinner. I saw a music stand in the corner of his living room and asked about it. Sam’s wife encouraged him to play for me. Needless to say, I was dumbfounded by his talent.

For a subordinate

I know I have the reputation of being a bit of a perfectionist. In fact, before Lucy was hired four years ago, I had been through twelve assistants in thirteen years. That’s one reason why today is such a sad day for me. While I am ecstatic that Lucy will have more time to devote to her novel, I am sorry that I have to find someone to replace her. It’s not going to be easy.

Lucy is amazingly gifted at reading my mind. In fact, it’s a little scary how she seems to know what I want before I ask for it. This ESP, or whatever gift she has been blessed with, has saved me on more than one occasion. I’ll never forget how she interrupted me during a meeting with Mrs. Franklin to remind me of something that saved that account. She also kept me out of the doghouse at home by purchasing perfect Mother’s Day and anniversary gifts for Louise.

While I certainly will miss Lucy’s contributions to our workplace, I am most sad for our clients. Everyone loves Lucy, and they are as heartbroken as I am that she is retiring.

For a teacher

Throughout Mrs. Anderson’s career, she has taught approximately 2,300 students. That means she has graded more than 18,000 essays, 2,300 research papers, and more book reports than you can imagine. Incredibly, her purple flair ink pen isn’t attached permanently to her hand with all of the grading she has done over the years.

But more important than the essays and book reports are the relationships she has formed with her students over the last three decades. She has comforted students who have lost family members and helped kids find jobs. She has written letters of recommendation for scholarships and advised many in their careers.

On top of her work as an English teacher, she has overseen the publication of the yearbook and newspaper, traveled with students to Europe, ran the concession stand at football games, coached the cheerleaders, and sat through negotiations each year on behalf of the teachers’ union.

Mrs. Anderson – you deserve a break. We hope you can sleep in each morning, stay up late reading novels each night, and travel the globe without the fear of losing a kid. Congratulations on your retirement!

For a family member

It’s hard to imagine our Dad without a job. This place has been a part of his routine for so long that he may show up on Monday simply out of habit. In fact, we may have to put a sign on the back of his front door reminding him to stay at home.

And Dad loved every minute of it. Unlike most people, Dad never complained about his job. In fact, when we prayed as a family before each meal, Dad often expressed thanks for this company and his job.

But, we are thankful that he can now stay home. He’s worked hard for a long time and deserves a break. But don’t worry – he won’t be sitting around for long. My siblings and I all have lists of home repairs that only Dad can do. We’ve also scheduled a few fishing trips over the next several months.

Thank you for inviting my siblings and me to this retirement party. It’s been a lovely day. I only wish Mom could have survived long enough to see Dad retire. She was always so proud of Dad for everything he accomplished. I’m sure she is smiling down on us right now.

Funny retirement speech

Christopher has many gifts and talents. And he has contributed a lot to our company over the years. He’s been the top salesperson for twenty-three out of the twenty-five years he has worked here. He has worked hard to streamline our processes to work smarter, not harder. He has also been a leader in our industry by representing us in front of the state legislature.

Even though I can easily provide you with a long list of awards and accolades, he will forever be known in this office as the person who was always misplacing his stuff. We found his keys by the copier, his wallet next to the giant fern in the back room, his raincoat on Mitch’s desk, and his water bottles – everywhere. It’s always been a mystery to everyone how someone absentminded can perform in a high-pressure job so well.

So, we have purchased a tile tracker system to help you keep track of all your stuff on behalf of your retirement. Now that you won’t have an entire staff of people keeping track of your personal belongings, we think this might help. It may also keep Louise from killing you during your first week at home.

Retirement: The Next Stage in Life

As we stand on the precipice of one chapter ending and another beginning, we must recognize and celebrate the journey that brought us here. Whether you’re the one stepping into the golden years of retirement or honoring a colleague making that leap, words are powerful. A heartfelt speech can encapsulate years of dedication, camaraderie, and growth.

Retirement isn’t just about saying goodbye to a job. It’s about acknowledging the passion, identity, and pride that one has in their career. For many, their career is a significant part of their life’s narrative.

As you craft your speech or pen down your thoughts, remember to celebrate this dedication. It might take a bit more effort, but the impact of genuine appreciation will resonate deeply, marking a memorable transition into the next exciting phase of life.

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Written Samples

7 retirement speech samples (from the retiree).

Retirement marks a significant milestone in an individual’s life, representing decades of work, achievement, and transformation. It’s a time of reflection, celebration, and sometimes bittersweet farewells.

A well-crafted retirement speech serves not only as a personal testament to one’s career but also as a source of inspiration and guidance for colleagues, friends, and family.

Sample Retirement Speeches (from the Retiree)

The speeches outlined in this article are tailored to encapsulate various careers, personalities, and sentiments, each offering a unique perspective on the transition from a professional life to retirement. They are detailed, and imbued with a mix of emotions and anecdotes, making each one a memorable ode to the retiree’s journey.

Speech 1: The Public Servant’s Lasting Commitment

As I stand before you, I can’t help but reflect on the journey that has brought me to this moment. My career in public service was more than a job; it was a calling that I answered wholeheartedly, driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. I remember the day I took my oath of office, feeling a profound sense of duty and anticipation for the work that lay ahead.

Over the years, I’ve served in various capacities, each with its unique challenges and rewards. I’ve been a steward of public trust, a policymaker, and an advocate for the voiceless. I’ve witnessed the power of community, the resilience of the human spirit, and the impact of collective action. My journey has taken me from local town halls to national forums, always with the aim of serving the greater good.

The life of a public servant is often unsung, with long hours, difficult decisions, and constant scrutiny. Yet, it is also a life filled with immense satisfaction and purpose. I’ve seen policies enacted that have improved lives, initiatives that have sparked change, and moments of unity that have overcome division. These are the milestones that have marked my career and the memories that I will cherish as I move forward.

As I retire, I do so with a heart full of gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had to serve, for the colleagues who have journeyed alongside me, and for the community that has entrusted me with their hopes and concerns. To those who will continue in public service, I leave you with this charge: serve with integrity, lead with compassion, and never lose sight of the people you are sworn to serve.

Retirement for me does not mean the end of my commitment to public service. It merely marks a transition to a new role. I look forward to supporting causes close to my heart, volunteering in my community, and perhaps, enjoying a little more quiet time with family and friends. The path of service is never truly complete; it simply evolves.

As I close this chapter, I am overwhelmed with a sense of fulfillment and anticipation for the future. My years of service have been an honor and a privilege, and I step down with the knowledge that the work we do matters, that each of us can make a difference, and that the journey of service is one of the most rewarding paths one can take. Thank you for the opportunity to serve, for the memories, and for the journey that lies ahead.

Speech 2: The Healthcare Hero’s New Chapter

Today, as I stand before you, I am reminded of the very first day I stepped into the hospital as a young, eager healthcare professional. It was a day filled with nervous excitement and a profound commitment to the journey ahead. My career in healthcare has been nothing short of a calling—a relentless pursuit to heal, comfort, and improve lives.

Throughout the years, I’ve witnessed the spectrum of human resilience and vulnerability. I’ve held the hands of those fighting for their next breath and shared the joy of those overcoming illness. Each patient’s story has left an indelible mark on my heart, reminding me of the profound impact healthcare workers have on individual lives and the community at large.

My path has been filled with continuous learning, adapting to new medical advancements, and always striving to provide the best care possible. The long hours and emotional toll were balanced by the camaraderie among colleagues and the unwavering spirit of our patients. I’ve seen the healthcare landscape evolve, driven by innovation and a collective commitment to bettering public health.

As I retire, I carry with me a treasure trove of memories and experiences. I leave behind a legacy of care and hope that the next generation of healthcare professionals continues to carry the torch with the same passion and dedication. The journey does not end here for me; it merely shifts. I look forward to volunteering, perhaps mentoring the next generation, and taking some well-deserved time to nurture my well-being.

To those who continue in the field of healthcare, remember the profound impact you have. Your hands heal, your words comfort, and your presence brings hope. Continue to advocate for your patients, for each other, and for the health of our communities. The world needs you more than ever.

Thank you for the honor of serving alongside you, for the lessons learned, and for the countless lives we’ve touched together. As I step into this new chapter, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and eyes looking forward to the horizon of possibilities that retirement brings.

Speech 3: The Journey of a Lifelong Educator

As I stand here today, I am filled with a multitude of emotions. After 35 years of waking up at dawn, preparing lessons, grading papers, and most importantly, nurturing young minds, the halls of education will surely miss my footsteps. My career began as a bright-eyed teacher in a small town, armed with nothing but a passion for literature and a desire to make a difference. Over the years, I witnessed thousands of students cross the threshold of my classroom, each leaving a mark on my heart.

I remember the countless school plays, the science fairs, and the joy of seeing a struggling student finally grasp a difficult concept. These moments were not just the milestones of my career but the building blocks of the community we created together. However, this journey was not without its challenges. Budget cuts, policy changes, and the ever-evolving landscape of education meant constant adaptation. Yet, these hurdles only strengthened my resolve to provide the best education possible.

As I retire, I carry with me not just memories but lessons learned and friendships forged. To my colleagues, I leave behind a legacy of dedication and hope you continue to inspire as I have been inspired. To the students, past and present, remember that education is a lifelong journey, and you are its navigators. I look forward to the next chapter, knowing that the impact we’ve made together is indelible.

Speech 4: A Financier’s Farewell

Today marks not an end but a culmination of a three-decade-long adventure in the world of finance. From the bustling floors of the stock exchange to the intense boardroom negotiations, my career has been nothing short of a thrilling ride. I started as a junior analyst, fueled by ambition and an insatiable curiosity about the markets. Each fiscal year brought new challenges and opportunities, from navigating economic downturns to celebrating record-breaking profits.

My journey was underscored by the relationships I built. To my clients, I was not just a financial advisor but a trusted partner in their aspirations. We celebrated successes and weathered storms together, always looking forward to the next opportunity. To my team, your dedication and ingenuity have been the driving force behind our success. Your resilience and commitment have not only shaped our company’s legacy but also defined my career.

As I step into retirement, I am excited for the future. The world of finance is ever-changing, and I have full confidence that the next generation will continue to innovate and lead with integrity. I look forward to watching from the sidelines, perhaps over morning coffee rather than market reports. Thank you for an incredible journey.

Speech 5: The Architect’s Blueprint for the Future

After years of drawing lines and envisioning spaces, the time has come for me to put down my pencil and step back from the drafting table. Architecture has been more than a career; it has been a passion that shaped my worldview and allowed me to leave a tangible mark on the world. From the first sketch to the final brick, each project was a story, a challenge, and an achievement.

My career took me to different cities and countries, each project reflecting the culture and community it was built for. I have had the honor of designing homes, institutions, and public spaces, each with its own story and significance. The late nights, the client meetings, and even the occasional setbacks were all part of a fulfilling narrative.

To the young architects just beginning their journey, I leave you with this advice: never stop dreaming and drawing. Architecture is not just about buildings; it’s about the lives that unfold within them. As I step into retirement, I look forward to seeing the skyline continue to change, knowing that I had a hand in shaping it.

Speech 6: The Scientist’s Last Experiment

As I hang up my lab coat for the last time, I am struck by a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. My career as a scientist has been driven by an insatiable curiosity and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. The laboratory has been my home, where hypotheses were tested, discoveries made, and sometimes, the impossible made possible.

From my early days as a doctoral candidate to leading groundbreaking research, the thrill of discovery never waned. I’ve seen the power of science to change lives, from developing new treatments to understanding the mysteries of the universe. My journey was not a solitary one; it was filled with collaboration, debate, and the shared joy of discovery.

To the next generation of scientists, keep questioning, exploring, and pushing the boundaries of what we know. The world is full of mysteries waiting to be solved, and now it’s your turn to lead the charge. As for me, retirement doesn’t mean the end of discovery; it’s simply a new chapter with unbounded possibilities.

Speech 7: The Entrepreneur’s Next Venture

Standing here today, I am reminded of the day I started my first business. It was more than just a venture; it was a leap of faith into a world of unknowns. Entrepreneurship is not just a career; it’s a lifestyle characterized by risk, innovation, and perseverance. I’ve had the pleasure of starting businesses, seeing them grow, and sometimes, letting them go.

Each business was a chapter in a larger story, filled with its own set of characters, challenges, and triumphs. I’ve learned that success is not just about profit but about impact and legacy. It’s about the jobs created, the communities supported, and the innovations that push society forward.

As I step into retirement, I do so with the knowledge that the entrepreneurial spirit never retires. I look forward to mentoring the next generation, investing in new ideas, and perhaps even starting a new venture or two. The future is bright, and I can’t wait to see what it holds.

Each speech reflects the essence of a career filled with dedication, challenges, and achievements. They serve as a farewell but also as a beacon for those who continue the journey. Retirement is not an end but a transition, an opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and look forward to new beginnings.

About To Retire And Need To Give A Speech? 5 Retirement Speech Ideas With Examples

After a lifetime of hard work and dedication, retirement is a big milestone in life.

It’s a time to reflect on all the amazing moments experienced over the years and celebrate the future ahead.

As such, it often requires giving a retirement speech to acknowledge the occasion and those with whom you’ve worked for many years.

Knowing what to say when passing the baton and sharing final words of wisdom is challenging.

Should you be funny or serious?

Go into detail or keep it brief?

Look no further if you’re stuck and need some ideas or inspiration.

We’ve put together a few examples of retirement speeches from the retiree’s perspective (and from an employee’s, as well) to help ignite your creativity.

How to Outline Your Retirement Speech

Tips for writing your retirement speech, 1. farewell type of retirement speech, 2. short retirement speech, 3. funny retirement speech, 4. heartfelt/serious retirement speech, 5. retirement speech for an employee, final thoughts.

Like any other written work, your retirement speech should have a narrative that walks through the main points clearly and concisely.

To ensure your address resonates with your audience, you should outline it properly before delivering it.

When creating an outline for your retirement speech, make sure to consider the following steps:

Start with a strong opening statement: Begin your speech by introducing yourself and setting the tone for what’s to come. Starting with humor can break the ice.
Mention and thank everyone present: Take time to thank those who have been a part of your professional journey, such as managers, colleagues, family members, and mentors.
Share memorable moments: Reflect on your career highlights and share your favorite memories with the audience.
End with inspiring words: Leave your audience with a few words of wisdom encapsulating everything you’ve said.
Edit and practice: Once you’ve completed your outline, edit it as many times as needed to make sure there are no errors or unnecessary information.
Rehearse it out loud: Also, practice delivering your speech aloud, so you know exactly how it will sound when the time comes.

By crafting an effective outline and following these steps, you can ensure that your retirement speech is well-received by everyone in attendance. It may take a few drafts to get it right, but the effort will be worth it.

As you bid farewell to your work life and embark on a new chapter in life, a well-written speech will serve as an inspiring reminder of all that has been accomplished.

Decide on the tone of speech: Will it be a formal address or light-hearted? Will it start out with one tone and end with another? These decisions can help guide the story you tell.
Set the context: Choose a theme or story to open your speech so your audience can relate and follow along.
Establish a timeline: How long have you worked at the organization? What are some of your most memorable moments? Who did you work with in different eras? Answering these questions can help you craft an engaging narrative.
Offer gratitude: You didn’t make it to retirement on your own, and it’s essential to recognize the people who played a role in your journey. Be sure to thank them accordingly.
Keep it short: Keep your speech under ten minutes if possible, as this will keep your audience attentive and engaged. If any sentences don’t add value to the story, remove them. It should be easy to read out loud and follow along.
Identify key takeaways: What is one thing that everyone should leave with? What lessons have you learned in your time there that can help shape the future of the organization?
Close on an uplifting note: Your retirement speech should close with something inspiring and sincere – perhaps a quote or a personal expression of thanks. Sometimes humor is a great way to end on a high note and return to a more casual tone.

Use these pointers as a checklist that you can refer to when putting together your retirement speech.

With careful consideration, you’ll be able to deliver a heartfelt address that celebrates all the successes and memories of your time at the organization.

5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples

If you need help getting started with your goodbyes, here are some examples of retirement speeches by the retiree (and an employee speech) to help you craft the perfect address:

This type of speech is the most common and is often sentimental. It’s about saying goodbye while thanking everyone who helped you along the way.

It should help the audience understand what this change means for you while keeping them curious about where your next chapter will take you.

Example Farewell Retirement Speech:

It’s difficult to put into words just how much this moment means to me. After XX years of dedicated service, I’m finally ready to take on my next journey.

woman laughing in office retirement speech ideas

When I first started my career, I never imagined all the wonderful memories and relationships that would come with it. Every day has been rewarding in its own way, but today is an especially bittersweet occasion as I bid farewell to all my colleagues and look ahead to the future.

I think about all the fantastic people I’ve met who have helped me along the way – from supervisors who encouraged me through challenging times to mentors who gave wise advice when the going got tough. These relationships made coming to work each day a pleasure rather than a chore.

The biggest blessing must be my meaningful collaborations with some of my favorite coworkers over the years. We spent countless hours brainstorming ideas and building projects together, often coming up with solutions for problems we thought would never be solved. The sense of satisfaction and accomplishment was always worth it in the end!

Although I won’t be in this office anymore, there are still plenty of contributions yet to come from me and those like me who will carry this legacy forward into our respective futures. With every challenge you face, there will always be someone new at your side willing to help you move mountains if you need it.

So allow me to leave you with a few pieces of advice: Believe in yourself but never be afraid of asking questions and learning more; cherish every relationship you come across; and remember that hard work pays off even when you don’t see it right away! With that said, I will miss all of you and wish you and (name of company) continued success.

Many retirement speeches happen in spaces where we need to be brief, such as a Zoom meeting or other virtual space.

A short retirement speech will allow you to be concise and still convey your message. It can also make for an excellent written piece for a retirement card or email greeting.

Example Short Retirement Speech:

Today, I have many mixed emotions. I bid farewell to this great organization that’s played such a meaningful role in my life. And I’m saying goodbye to the most supportive and incredible colleagues.

I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve enjoyed here to make a difference by working diligently on staff development initiatives, fundraising efforts, and day-to-day operations. Our amazing team accomplished so much in the years I’ve been here, and I’m proud to have played a part in our success.

My gratitude extends beyond words as I am leaving behind something that’s defined me for over XX years. But I also look forward to embracing new challenges and experiences on my new journey ahead.

I will miss all of you tremendously and hope to stay in touch to see how everyone is doing. Thank you all for your encouragement and friendship – I will never forget it.

Retirement Speech Examples and Ideas That Get It Right

As a fomer educator and mom blogger who's a mother of four, Kristin shares helpful tips and advice on a variety of topics.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

It is customary for a person retiring to give a speech, either at a retirement celebration or at a final meeting in the workplace. If writing a retirement speech isn't really in your wheelhouse, don't worry! It's easy to write a retirement speech when you create some focus for your words.

Original Sample Speeches for Retirees

If you need a little more guidance on writing your retirement speech, check out these original sample speeches. They might help inspire your own speech or might be appropriate to use with a little customizing. For help with downloading or printing these sample speeches, refer to the Guide for Adobe Printables .

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A Grateful Retirement Speech

Over the last few decades, you have probably spent more time with your co-workers than you have with your own family! For better and sometimes for worse, your co-workers have been a huge part of your career and your life. They have celebrated weddings, babies, and promotions with you. They likely comforted you in times of loss and were there when you hit a rough patch on the job. Use your retirement speech to pay homage to the people you worked with and the family and friends who supported you throughout your working years. This speech format focuses on gratitude and acknowledges the speaker's coworkers and family.

A Serious Retirement Speech

Some workplaces are fun and relaxed environments to spend your days, and others have a far more serious tone to them. If your workplace does not appreciate humor, or if you feel more reflective than funny about this milestone, a serious speech can be a good way to close this chapter of your life. As long as a serious speech is heartfelt and doesn't feel cold or removed, it will surely do the trick.

A Funny Retirement Speech

Some retirees want to go out with a bang! These people need to nail a speech that engages the audience with humor and brings smiles to faces surrounding him/her. During the final moments of your career, remind your colleagues, superiors, friends, and family why you were so much to be around for all those years and how much they will miss your banter around the watercooler. This speech is meant to prompt laughter while poking a little fun at the people who must return to work on the next workday. When creating a humorous speech, be sure to balance jokes and jests with grace and class. Humor speeches should never tread into the waters of offensive.

Related: Funny Retirement Quotes for a Hilarious Send-Off

Giving a Retirement Speech for an Employee

If you are the head honcho at work and you have an employee retiring, you will want to send him/her off with a well-thought-out, carefully planned speech.

Tailor the Speech to the Employee

The person who is retiring has given the company you both work for decades of his/her life. Show the retiree respect by handcrafting a speech specific to them. If they are full of personality, jokes and have a fun-loving spirit, then write up a funny speech full of hilarious memories and inside jokes. If they are better known for their serious side and hard work ethic, play on those qualities, incorporating them into a more serious speech.

Retirement Speech Etiquette

When you're writing your retirement speech, keep in mind the culture of your workplace. While you want to inject your own personality into it, you don't want to deliver a speech that will make other people uncomfortable. Follow a few key etiquette tips to ensure that you stay in your lane and don't veer too far off course during your speech.

Stay Positive

A retirement speech is not the appropriate opportunity in which to air your grievances. Even if you're leaving a workplace that you largely considered toxic, filled with co-workers who might benefit from anger management training , you should focus on the positive. Do your best to drum up the good and steer clear of the bad. Thank your co-workers for their passion or comment on the promptness that the company functions under.

Time the Speech Accordingly

How long your speech runs largely depends on the venue and tone of the event. If you're standing up in a meeting to say farewell, you should take less time than if you're giving your speech at a formal celebration intended only to celebrate your retirement. Ask the event coordinator how much time they set aside for your speech and stick to the time allotted. If no guidance is given otherwise, for a formal celebration, aim for a speech lasting under 10 minutes. For a quick stand up in a meeting, you should not exceed three minutes.

Read the Room

Consider your audience. Your now-former colleagues are likely comprised of older and younger people who are now all sitting in the venue awaiting your words. When you deliver your speech, regardless of the speech style and tone, be sure to address those who have been with you for many years, as well as newcomers to the workplace. Pay homage to everyone surrounding you and make sure all feel like a part of your journey.

Be Grateful

Thank all the people who helped you along the way in your career, including those outside the workplace such as mentors, family, and close friends. It's important to thank the people within your workplace responsible for pulling together your retirement celebration. Before drafting a retirement speech, draft a list of must-mention people. If you have many people to include in your tribute, consider grouping some folks into a department. For example, you could say, "I could not have made it through my days without the dedication and assistance of the ______ department."

There is nothing wrong with asking a trusted person to review your speech before you finalize it. They may come up with ideas or insights you didn't think of. Allow a few people to read through your speech or listen to you read through a draft of your speech before finalizing it. Take their thoughts into consideration. You don't have to change up your whole speech on account of others, but ponder their suggestions in the very least.

Delivery Tips

Speaking in public can be difficult for people unaccustomed to it, but there are steps you can take to ease your anxiety.

Dress and Dazzle

Put on something clean and pressed, give yourself a shave or freshen up your nails and makeup. You don't have to look like a supermodel, but you do want to put a bit of thought and consideration into your look on your retirement day. For many in the audience, this is the last time they will see you, so give them a bit of a show. Sometimes when people put on their best, they feel more confident and ready to take on challenges that lie ahead.

Practice Beforehand

Nobody expects you to memorize your speech, but you should familiarize yourself with your completed speech before you try to deliver it to a crowd. Reading it aloud beforehand may reveal portions that will make you emotional, and you don't want to get caught off-guard by getting choked up. Knowing that you are not going into a cold read can help reduce your anxiety levels on your big day.

Breathe Deeply to Calm Down

As you wait to deliver your speech, take slow, deep breaths to help relieve your nervousness. Envision your lungs and balloons and fill them with air, then forcefully exhale. This type of breathing can help calm you.

Have Water Handy

The body reacts to stress in different ways. If you feel anxious about delivering a speech in front of people, your throat might tighten up. A cup of water by your side allows you to take a moment, clear your throat, and continue with the speech. Additionally, it's a good idea to have tissues or a handkerchief nearby in case you tear up.

Choose a Go-To Focal Point

Find a spot on the furthest wall of the room and make that your go-to focal point. It might be an exit sign or a clock but look at your focal point when you have trouble looking at your audience - especially if the people close to you are getting emotional and you're afraid you might become emotional too. The other benefit to the focal point being at the furthest wall is that it will appear to your audience as though you're simply looking at the back row instead of staring at an exit sign or clock.

Remember: The Speech Won't Last Forever

This speech, daunting as it may seem, is only 3-10 minutes of your entire life. You WILL get through it, and then it is over, tucked away to memories for the rest of your days. Remind yourself that you will only be standing and speaking for a short span of time, and then you will be done. Even if you envision a million things going wrong, the reality is that none of it likely will. Our concerns are always worse than the reality.

Enjoy the Moment

You worked hard to get to the point of retirement . Nobody expects an Emmy award-winning performance from you, so try to enjoy this one final work task of thanking the people who helped make your retirement possible.

How To Write A Memorable Retirement Speech: A Complete Guide

Retirement—a remarkable milestone, a time for celebration and heartfelt appreciation. As you prepare to deliver a speech that honors the retiree, it’s essential to make it truly exceptional. This guide is here to help you do just that with a conversational and engaging approach.

In this practical guide, we’ll unlock the secrets to crafting a stand-out retirement speech. From expressing genuine gratitude to sharing light-hearted anecdotes and inspiring words, we’ll cover the essential elements that will make your speech shine.

You’ll find valuable tips, techniques, and relatable examples to guide you every step of the way. With this guidance, you’ll gain the skills to deliver a speech that captivates, uplifts, and creates cherished memories for the retiree and everyone present. Whether you’re a close colleague, a dear friend, or a loving family member, this guide will be your trusted companion as you create a retirement address that resonates deeply.

Are you ready to honor the retiree and craft a speech that leaves a lasting impact? Let’s dive right in and uncover the secrets to preparing a retirement speech that will be remembered and cherished for years.

What Makes a Great Retirement Speech?

A heartfelt and memorable retirement speech is a culmination of several key elements. Let’s explore what separates a great retirement speech and how to incorporate these elements into your tribute.

Expressing gratitude

One of the fundamental aspects of a remarkable retirement speech is expressing sincere gratitude to the retiree. Take the time to reflect on their contributions, impact, and how they have touched the lives of others. Share specific examples and heartfelt appreciation for their dedication, expertise, and the positive influence they have had on colleagues, students, or the community.

Understanding the audience

An excellent retirement speech is tailored to resonate with the audience. Consider who will be present at the retirement gathering and what they value most about the retiree. Adapt your speech to connect with their shared experiences, sentiments, and why they hold the retiree in high regard. Understanding the audience helps you create a speech that truly speaks to their hearts.

Choosing a speaker who knows the retiree well

When selecting the person to deliver the retirement speech, choose someone who deeply understands the retiree’s journey, accomplishments, and personal qualities. This speaker should have an intimate knowledge of the retiree’s impact, allowing them to authentically convey the retiree’s story, achievements, and character traits that deserve recognition.

Keeping it short but meaningful

While it’s tempting to recount every detail of the retiree’s career, it’s essential to strike a balance between brevity and meaningfulness. Keep your speech concise, focusing on the most significant aspects of the retiree’s professional journey. Select anecdotes, achievements, or moments that best represent their impact, and share them in a way that captures the essence of their career and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

Organizing notes and structuring the speech effectively

Organize your notes and structure the speech effectively to ensure a smooth and coherent delivery. Start with a compelling opening that grabs the audience’s attention and establishes a connection. Arrange your thoughts logically, transitioning smoothly from one point to the next. Consider using storytelling techniques to engage the audience and make your speech more relatable. Conclude with a powerful closing that leaves the audience inspired and grateful for the retiree’s contributions.

By incorporating these elements into your retirement speech, you’ll create a powerful tribute that expresses gratitude, resonates with the audience, and captures the essence of the retiree’s career. So, let’s move forward and explore how to write and deliver a retirement speech that will be remembered for years.

How to Write a Retirement Speech

When it comes to writing a retirement speech, it’s all about capturing the essence of the retiree’s journey, expressing heartfelt gratitude, and creating a memorable experience for the audience. This section explores practical tips and creative strategies to help craft a speech that has a lasting impact. From finding inspiration and injecting humor to tailoring your words to the audience, let’s delve into the art of writing a remarkable retirement speech.

a thank you note sitting on top of a table next to a pair of glasses

Start with expressing gratitude

Begin your retirement speech by expressing genuine gratitude to the retiree. Thank them for their dedication, hard work, and the positive impact they have had on others. Share specific examples of how their contributions have made a difference, leaving a lasting legacy. Remember, heartfelt appreciation sets the tone for an impactful tribute.

Ideas and inspiration for the speech content

When brainstorming speech content, consider the retiree’s notable achievements, memorable moments, and the unique qualities that define them. Reflect on their professional journey, personal growth, and the challenges they overcame. Incorporate stories, anecdotes, and quotes that highlight their character and contributions. Let their story inspire and resonate with the audience.

Crafting a funny retirement speech

Humor can be an excellent addition to a retirement speech, lightening the atmosphere and bringing smiles to everyone’s faces. Consider incorporating a well-placed joke or lighthearted anecdote if appropriate and in line with the retiree’s personality. Remember, humor should always be respectful and inclusive, ensuring it enhances the overall speech experience.

Keep the audience in mind while writing

As you craft your retirement speech, always keep the audience in mind. Consider their relationship with the retiree, their shared experiences, and what they value most about them. Tailor your words and anecdotes to resonate with the audience, ensuring they can connect with your sentiments and feel a sense of unity in celebrating the retiree’s accomplishments.

Seek a review from a trusted person

Before finalizing your retirement speech, consider seeking the feedback and review of a trusted individual who knows the retiree well. They can provide valuable insights, help refine the content, and ensure that your speech accurately reflects the retiree’s journey and impact. Their input can add depth and authenticity to your tribute.

Skills Required to Deliver a Retirement Speech

Now that you’ve mastered the art of writing a great retirement farewell speech, it’s time to explore the essential skills that will elevate your delivery and leave a lasting impact on your audience. Crafting the perfect speech is just one piece of the puzzle—how you deliver it is equally important.

Confidence and public speaking skills

Confidence is key when delivering a retirement speech. Embrace the fulfilling career and remarkable accomplishments of the person retiring. Stand tall, speak with conviction, and let your confidence shine through. Remember, you are chosen to honor their journey, so own the stage and captivate the audience with your words.

Engaging with the audience

o create a memorable experience, engaging with everyone present at the retirement party is essential. Look into the eyes of family members, colleagues, and friends, making a genuine connection. Use your words to transport them into the retiree’s world, evoking emotions and shared memories. Let your speech be a conversation that embraces and includes everyone in the celebration.

Using appropriate body language and vocal delivery

Your body language and vocal delivery are powerful tools to convey your message. Maintain an open and confident posture, using gestures to emphasize key points. Modulate your voice, allowing it to reflect the emotions and significance of the moment. You’ll capture the audience’s attention and create a captivating atmosphere using your body and voice effectively.

Choosing a go-to focal point for speech delivery

When delivering your retirement speech, select a focal point that symbolizes the retiree’s journey. It could be a cherished memento, a significant photograph, or even the retiree themselves. Let this focal point guide your speech, grounding you in the essence of their accomplishments and their impact on others. This visual representation will enhance your delivery and add depth to your tribute.

Tips for Delivering a Retirement Speech

So, the big retirement celebration is just around the corner, and you’re eager to deliver a speech that honors the retiree’s work and bids farewell with grace. In this section, we’ll share practical tips to help you shine on retirement day. From practicing and rehearsing your speech to expressing genuine gratitude, let’s dive in and discover how to make your delivery truly impactful while navigating the excitement and emotions that lie ahead.

Formal man with tablet giving presentation in office

Practice and rehearse the speech

Practice makes perfect, they say, and that holds true for delivering a memorable retirement speech. Review your words, familiarize yourself with the flow and pacing, and ensure you feel comfortable with the content. Practice in front of a mirror, enlist the help of a friend, or even record yourself to gain confidence and fine-tune your delivery.

Delivery tips for an impactful speech

When the retirement celebration arrives, it’s time to put your delivery skills into action. Remember to make eye contact, speak clearly, and project your voice to ensure everyone can hear your heartfelt words. Engage the audience through gestures, smiles, and pauses, allowing your words to resonate and create a genuine connection.

Keeping the speech length appropriate

While you may have a lot to say about the retiree’s accomplishments and their impact, it’s essential to keep the speech length in check. Aim for a balance between heartfelt storytelling and concise delivery. Time yourself during practice sessions and make adjustments as needed to ensure your speech fits within the allotted timeframe, allowing others to share their sentiments.

Expressing gratitude genuinely

As you stand before the audience, express your gratitude from the depths of your heart. Be genuine, sincere, and specific in your appreciation for the retiree’s contributions. Share personal anecdotes and stories that highlight their character and the positive influence they’ve had. Let your words convey the profound impact of their work and express heartfelt thanks for their dedication.

With these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to delivering an impactful retirement speech that celebrates the retiree’s achievements and sets the stage for the exciting chapter ahead in their personal life. So, let’s practice, prepare, and get ready to express your gratitude genuinely, leaving a lasting impression on this special day.

Retirement Speech Examples: Inspiration for your tribute

Looking for inspiration to craft your own remarkable retirement speech? This section presents a collection of retirement speech examples that will ignite your creativity and guide you in expressing heartfelt gratitude.

three crumpled yellow papers on green surface surrounded by yellow lined papers

These examples will help you strike the right tone and create a speech that leaves a lasting impact, allowing you to express gratitude for the retiree’s contributions eloquently. From heartfelt tributes to lighthearted anecdotes, let these speech examples guide you as you navigate the art of honoring a remarkable career and spending quality time with those who matter most. Get ready to embark on your journey of creating unforgettable retirement speeches filled with genuine expressions of gratitude.

Grateful retirement speech example

“Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and honored guests, today we gather together to pay tribute to a remarkable individual who has graced our lives and organization with their presence for many years. As we bid farewell to [Retiree’s Name], we reflect on an extraordinary career. They have exemplified excellence, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference throughout their tenure.

From their early days as a [mention early role] to their rise through the ranks, [Retiree’s Name] has consistently demonstrated a passion for [mention their main contributions]. They have become a true pillar of our team, a guiding force, and an inspiration to us all. Their tireless efforts and innovative thinking have propelled our organization forward, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of [industry/field].

But beyond their professional accomplishments, [Retiree’s Name] has also been a beacon of kindness and compassion. Always ready with a word of encouragement, a listening ear, or a helping hand, they have touched the lives of countless colleagues on both a personal and professional level. Their mentorship and guidance have shaped careers, fostered growth, and created an environment where everyone felt valued and supported.

Today, as we express our deepest gratitude, let us remember the invaluable lessons we have learned from [Retiree’s Name]. They have taught us the importance of perseverance, the power of collaboration, and the impact that one individual can have on an entire organization. We are forever indebted to their dedication and vision.

So, as we bid farewell to [Retiree’s Name], let us do so not with sadness but with pride and admiration. Let us celebrate their legacy, their impact, and the countless lives they have touched. On behalf of the entire organization, I extend our heartfelt thanks for the privilege of working alongside such an exceptional individual. We wish [Retiree’s Name] a retirement filled with joy, fulfillment, and new adventures. May this be the beginning of an exciting new chapter where they can fully embrace the well-deserved rewards that await them. Thank you, [Retiree’s Name], for everything you have done.”

Funny retirement speech example

“Hey everyone, can we get a round of applause for the star of the day? That’s right; it’s time to celebrate [Retiree’s Name]’s grand exit from the world of early alarms and office shenanigans! Today, we bid farewell to someone who has been a dedicated colleague and a master of turning the office into a place of laughter and good times.

[Retiree’s Name], where do we even begin? From the moment they walked through those office doors, they brought a breath of fresh air and a truckload of humor. It seemed like they had a secret stash of hilarious one-liners for every occasion, turning even the dullest of meetings into an improv comedy show.

But it wasn’t just their quick wit that made [Retiree’s Name] a comedic genius. No, they had a talent for finding humor in the most unexpected places. Remember that time when [share a funny and memorable anecdote]? [Retiree’s Name] managed to turn what could have been a disaster into a legendary tale that still has us laughing to this day.

Beyond their jokes and pranks, [Retiree’s Name] was a friend, a confidant, and the reason why coming to work felt like a visit to the comedy club. Their contagious infectious laughter brightened our spirits and made the toughest days seem bearable. We all knew that if we needed a pick-me-up or a good laugh, we could count on [Retiree’s Name] to deliver.

So, as we gather here today to bid farewell, let us not shed tears of sadness but tears of laughter, reminiscing about the hilarious moments we shared. [Retiree’s Name], you’ve left an indelible mark on our hearts, and our days at the office won’t be the same without your quick comebacks and infectious sense of humor.

As you step into this new chapter of your life, may the laughter continue to follow you wherever you go. May your days be filled with endless adventures, hilarious escapades, and moments that make you double over with laughter. Thank you, [Retiree’s Name], for being the office comedian, the laughter catalyst, and a true friend. We wish you a retirement that’s as funny and joyful as you’ve made our time together. Cheers to you!”

So, let’s raise our glasses and toast to [Retiree’s Name], the office prankster extraordinaire, as we bid them farewell and wish them an abundance of laughter in their retirement.

Short retirement speech example

“Ladies and gentlemen, today marks a bittersweet moment as we say goodbye to our esteemed colleague, [Retiree’s Name]. They have dedicated themselves to [mention specific achievements] in their years of service. Their impact on our team is immeasurable, and their presence will be deeply missed. As we bid farewell, let us carry forward their spirit of excellence, commitment, and camaraderie. Thank you, [Retiree’s Name], for inspiring us all and leaving an indelible mark on our hearts.”

Wrapping Up: Crafting Memorable Retirement Speeches with Gratitude and Impact

In summary, this guide has provided valuable insights into crafting memorable retirement speeches. We have emphasized the importance of expressing heartfelt gratitude, connecting with the audience, choosing a speaker who knows the retiree well, keeping the speech concise yet meaningful, and organizing notes effectively.

By incorporating these key points, you can create a retirement speech that resonates with the retiree and the audience. Remember, not everyone is a natural public speaker, but anyone can deliver a meaningful tribute with practice and honest feedback.

So, as you embark on this journey, remember to express gratitude sincerely, connect with the audience, and deliver a speech that leaves a lasting impact. Your words have the power to celebrate a fulfilling career and bid farewell with warmth and sincerity.

Use this guide as your roadmap, embrace the challenge, and create a retirement speech that will truly be remembered. The retiree and the audience await your heartfelt words.

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How to Write a Retirement Speech – Samples & Ideas

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Like other types of speech, a retirement speech takes preparation. You can dedicate one to a friend or colleague or deliver a message as the retiree. But how do you write a retirement speech?

My guide will help you give sample speeches for a retirement party. Discover the steps you need to follow, mistakes to avoid, and some tips to improve. I even included an example to follow.

What Is a Retirement Speech?

A co-worker can give a retirement speech to a retiree or a retirement speech by a retiree.

Someone who has worked with the honoree for a long time can extend their congratulations for racing this unique milestone at the end of their career. They usually share interesting information while showing respect to the person who contributed significantly to the workplace.

A retirement speech can also be given by the person retiring. They may thank their fellow employees for the beautiful years and for helping them grow in the company.

These occasions are usually informal. That means you can deliver a casually funny retirement speech that’s the opposite of typical, formal speeches. But it is always helpful to plan what you will say in the speech so that everything flows smoothly.

What Makes a Good Retirement Speech?

A speech is a critical medium for presenting information and entertainment to a group of people. Here are some qualities of an excellent retirement speech.

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Focuses on the Honoree

Whether it’s a formal or informal retirement speech, it’s essential to focus on the honoree . Do not focus on yourself but on the accomplishments and values of the retiree.

A speech should be free from ambiguity so everyone can understand it easily. Make sure to break up run-on sentences and reduce wordiness. Using the active voice also improves the clarity of the speech.

Originality

It’s okay to insert famous quotes in your speech. But it’s also important to customize your message to the person you are honoring. Do not give a generic retirement speech you copied from Google or a speech builder.

Conciseness

A person who served in your organization deserves a long speech. But avoid repetitive, cliche , and filler words. Don’t bore your audience with a 30-minute speech.

Interesting

An attention-grabbing story in the introduction is a quick way to make your speech enjoyable. Other methods include using examples, inserting quotations, and citing jokes.

Use of Body Language

An outstanding speech is not only about verbal communication but also comes with necessary body language. Use non-verbal cues with your hands, mouth, and eyes.

How Long Should a Retirement Speech Last?

The length of the retirement speech depends on the time allotted for this part of the event. It usually lasts around 5-10 minutes and comprises 600-1000 words.

Some people do not need to read from their manuscripts at this length. They may prepare and practice using only their outline. But if you’re a beginner, you can bring an entire manuscript when delivering.

Retirement Speech Writing Steps

Follow these six steps to creating a retirement speech.

Step 1: Gather information

The first step to creating a retirement speech is to gather information about the person’s life from different people. Hopefully, you can get extraordinary stories from them and a core idea of what you will put in the speech.

Gathering information will be a breeze if the retiree has been a long-time employee. You’ll find out how multi-faceted the person is. To their fellow employees, the person might be friendly and good-humored. But to their supervisor, the retiree might be intelligent and strategic.

Try gathering as much information about their personality as possible. But remember the key details. Try asking the following questions:

How long has the retiree been in the industry?
How long has the retiree worked in the company?
What were their contributions to the field or company?
What were the awards they received in the course of their career?
What were their previous positions?

Step 2: Learn All the Special Qualities of the Person

Your retirement speech should not only highlight the person’s career. It must also involve legendary stories or perhaps funny stories from their personal life.

For example, what are their personal hobbies? If the retiree likes to golf, you might try a golf-related theme for the party. If the retiree is an English teacher, try inserting English puns in your speech.

Here are some questions you can ask during interviews with people to craft a fantastic retirement speech.

What are their nicknames?
What is the name of their current spouse and kids?
What would people say is the best trait of the retiree?
How has the person made an exceptional contribution to the workplace?
What lessons did the people learn from the retiree?

However, some people want to keep their private life private. You don’t have to snoop around when gathering information about the retiree.

Step 3: Write an Outline

The entire speech writing process and public speaking stage are much easier if you start with an outline.

You have to decide how the farewell speech will sound. Do you want a heartfelt speech, a humorous speech, or a mix of both? Once you have decided, it’s time to brainstorm what to include in each part.

Introduction – This part should include an attention-grabbing story. It’s an essential part of memorable retirement speeches.
Body 1 – Name one or two traits of the person. Are they great listeners? Do they always have the most brilliant ideas in meetings? Are they approachable to everyone?
Body 2 – Discuss the person’s entire career journey. This should be easy if you’ve worked with them for a long time or gathered enough information. Make it clear what the person has attained and the differences they made to the company.
Body 3 – Share personal lessons you’ve learned from the person. A short story can be used.
Thank the person – Wish the person well in their retirement. End the speech with a memorable punchline and a “Happy retirement!”

Step 4: Write Out the Speech (Optional)

Skip this step if you’re already a skilled public speaker. Some practiced orators can even deliver humorous speeches on the spot without stuttering.

But if it’s your first time delivering a retirement speech for a boss, it’s best to write it down. Start with retirement speech starter headlines. It can include interesting daft stories, milestones, or a philosophy.

But overly preparing a speech can make it sound less heartfelt. Make sure you’re writing an authentic speech that feels natural to deliver.

You also don’t want to use the word “I” very often. Otherwise, it will give the impression of a boastful speech.

Step 5: Get Feedback

Seek people’s help before delivering a grateful retirement speech in front of a large crowd. Try asking someone who knows the retiree well to listen to your speech. Ask them about their thoughts on the fun story you shared, and make sure to consider their alternative ideas.

It also helps to ask an editor to fix any spelling or grammar issues. They can help you keep the speech more concise and engaging.

Step 6: Record a Video of Your Speech Before You Give It

The last step before offering a tribute speech to a retiree is to record yourself. Check your appearance when you’re talking. Are you smiling or not? Was your brow creased? This step is essential if you don’t always talk in front of a large audience of people.

Retirement Speech Tips

Now that you know the correct procedure for speech-writing, here are some tips you can follow.

Choose a Speaker Who Knows the Person Well

If you were chosen as the speaker, then you must have enough knowledge about the person’s entire life. One advantage of knowing the person too well is that you instantly have various content ideas for your speech.

This person can be someone other than the head of the organization. It can be their work best friend, business partner, or family member.

Focus on the Honoree

Your priority is to think about how the person will feel. Do you want to focus on their success, positive attributes, or their future success? Brainstorm some characteristics or key points you want to include in the tribute speech.

You may evoke emotion in this speech by highlighting a sense of fondness. But don’t make it too dramatic, especially when your relationship was formed in the workplace.

Mentioning memorable moments improves bonds with the honoree. Let them know what you will miss most about them.

Keep It Short—But Not Too Short

An important person in the company deserves more than three minutes of tribute. But that doesn’t mean you must include every detail of their previous career. Keep it short and sweet at around five to ten minutes to not bore the audience.

Use a Simple Framework

Keep your outline organized and simple to clarify the main message. It should serve as a blueprint to track your entire speech.

You already know the five parts of a retirement speech. However, you can still make it simpler using these parts:

Greet the audience and thank them for coming to the party.
Express why everyone is gathered.
Talk about how this person made a difference in the company and industry.
Talk about how this person made a difference in your personal life.
Extend best wishes on the next chapter of their life.

Balance the Past and Future

Refrain from assuming that the best days of the retiree are over. They are likely to be excited about their retirement. So instead of making a eulogy-like speech, deliver one that covers both the past and future.

Carefully Use Humor

You’ve probably heard hundreds of speeches with funny punchlines. But you should always plan your humor around your audience. Avoid jokes that rely on profanity and controversial topics. No one also wants to hear you put the retiree down harshly.

As with any other type of speech or presentation, preparing is always worth it. Try talking with people who have worked closely with the retiree. Look for common themes, then start crafting.

I also don’t recommend spending too much time discussing the career highlight reel. The audience might already know the honoree’s professional development in minute detail. Focus on their impact, values, and the larger lesson they taught you.

Don’t Read Your Speech

It’s okay to bring an outline or manuscript as long as your eyes stay longer on the audience. Tell the speech from the heart, take deep breaths, and know exactly what you will tell next.

Stand Up Straight

Maintain a good posture as you walk across the stage and give the speech. It shows confidence in your discussion, making the audience more interested.

Avoid These Retirement Speech Pitfalls

Overlooking.

Are you talking too much about yourself? Is your anecdote losing focus on the retirement speech’s goal? Make sure your address aims to make the retiree feel appreciated. The conclusion or final part of the speech should be direct gratitude toward the individual.

Joking Too Much

Using humor in speeches can be challenging, especially if your audience is a bunch of serious people. Although sharing a boys’ night out story is tempting, others might not appreciate it. That said, do your research on the audience to avoid awkwardness.

Becoming Out of Touch

No, retirees don’t sit on their porches all day reminiscing about their previous job. Many people continue working or start their own businesses. The correct term for this is “active retirement.” So avoid retirement cliches in your speech that will make you sound tone-deaf.

Joking about old age may have been common in earlier retirement speeches in an attempt to make a funny speech. But today, it’s considered insensitive. Avoid offensive words toward the retiree and the audience.

What Are Some Good Retirement Quotes?

Consider these thirty-five examples if you need some retirement quotes for your speech.

Inspirational Quotes for Retirement

“Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway.”
“Half of our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” – Will Rogers
“For many, retirement is a time for personal growth, which becomes the path to greater freedom.” – Robert Delamontague
“Don’t act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you have always been.” – J. A. West
“Retirement, a time to enjoy all the things you never had time to do when you worked.” – Catherine Pulsifer
“Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials: much to live on and much to live for.”
“Retire from your job, but never retire your mind.”
“Age is just a number, but retirement is one of the greatest gifts to mankind.”
“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” – Vince Lombardi
“Choose a job that you love and you won’t have to work another day.” – Confucius
”Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain
“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.” – Bill Waterson
“Retirement is a blank sheet of paper. It is a chance to redesign your life into something new and different.” – Patrick Foley

Funny Retirement Quotes

“He who laughs at the boss’ jokes probably isn’t far from retirement.”
“Congrats on being so tired that you had to retire.”
“The best time to start thinking about your retirement is before the boss does.”
“There really are two lives we live. The first life and then the second life when we realize we only have one life.”
“The best part about being retired is never having to request time off.”
“My retirement plan is to get thrown into a minimum security prison in Hawaii.” – Julius Sharpe
“I’m always announcing my retirement. I’m still not retired.” – Dick Van Dyke
“How do you know it’s time to retire? It’s when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it!”
“During your work life, you pick up a lot of bad habits… like working.”
“The world’s longest coffee break is often referred to as retirement.”
“Now Fridays aren’t the best day of the week anymore… they all are!”
“I never reveal my age, but I do let people know I’m retired. They can just guess my age from that statement.”

Retirement Wishes

“Wishing you the best retirement ever! Enjoy the new chapter of your life and enjoy being your own boss.”
“It is not easy to say goodbye. But, I will hold on to the fond memories of working with you. I hope that this retirement brings you joy and peace.”
“Enjoy your new weekends which will last 7 days!”
“We wish you the best retirement possible.”
“You have been a great boss. I appreciate the effort you put into mentoring me.”
“You have reached an incredible level of freedom.”
“I can’t believe I will be working as you nap. Enjoy your retirement!”
“Cheers to a lifetime of weekends!”
“Goodbye to the coats and ties.”
“May your dreams come true as you begin your retirement.”

Retirement Speech Sample

Here’s an example of a short but heartfelt retirement speech you can give to someone you want to pay your respects to.

I have witnessed many friends come and go to this school. But today, we have gathered to show our love and respect for Hartford Elementary School’s English teacher, Bradley McAdams. After working with him for more than 30 years, I don’t think I have the right words to say about his inspiring impact, dedication, and character.

Bradley, or, as many people call him, “Mr. Brad,” has handled over 1,000 students. That includes 10,000 essays checked, 80 English lessons taught, and 60 literary works recommended.

But beyond the schoolwork checked, Bradley has made meaningful relationships with his students over the past few years. He became a good friend to individuals who need comfort and a family to children who want to feel a sense of belonging.

We are also proud of him for publishing his dissertation in 2018 and obtaining a doctorate in 2019.

Mr. Brad, you are one of the most inspiring educators in the teaching profession. You made a lasting impression on the world through your grit. You deserve a break! We hope you get enough rest, travels, and pampering in this new stage of your life. Congratulations on your retirement!

Craft a Well-Written Speech

Hopefully, my guide helped you learn how to write a retirement speech. Whether it’s for a friend or boss, that person deserves appreciation and support on their special milestone.

Another popular category for these speeches is when it comes to friends, family, service professionals, or a college commencement speech. Learn how to create an inspiring speech for different people!

How to Write a Farewell Speech – Tips & Samples

Father of the Groom Speech – Best Tips, Ideas & Samples

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Amazing Retirement Speeches Examples & Writing Tips

Writing memorable retirement speeches: expert tips & examples.

Writing your retirement speech seems daunting? You are not alone. In this post, our professional speechwriters share techniques for writing a truly memorable speech.

People with whom you've worked for years have become an important part of your professional and personal life. You have spent more time with your coworkers than with your family members, and they witnessed your achievements as well as rough times. Thus, you'll want to craft a heartwarming retirement farewell speech to thank everyone for the good times spent together.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a good retirement speech for any situation. The duration of the speech and what to include will depend on your relationships with coworkers, how many years you have spent in the company, and the corporate culture. In this blog, we have summarized the main principles for writing a great retirement speech plus some examples for your inspiration.

If writing isn't your forte and you still want to express your co-worker with a memorable retirement speech, get professional help. On our website, you can order a custom retirement speech at a pocket-friendly price. Share what you'd like to include in your speech, and our expert will find the right words for your important event, keeping your speech professional yet powerful and emotional.

Two memorable retirement speech examples

If you are looking for sample speeches for your retirement party or the final meeting at the office, check out the examples below. You can customize them a little, or use them as an inspiration to write your own speech.

Formal retirement speech

This example of a speech of a person retiring has a formal tone and is focused on their professional achievements. It also expresses sincere gratitude towards colleagues and reiterates important professional highlights.

Funny retirement speech example

This humorous speech won an international speech contest decades ago. If you want to draft an informal speech, pay attention to the structure and tone of voice in this example.

Professional tips on what to say in your retirement speech

As you give a speech for your retirement celebration, things can easily go wrong. Some people get carried away and use unprofessional jokes and personal stories that make others feel uncomfortable. Others prepare thoroughly, but their speech lacks warmth and emotion. Here's how to compose a speech that will sound professional, appropriate, and sincere.

Keep it on a positive note

Not all companies can boast a positive working environment and strong relationships between the co-workers. Even if your boss had anger management issues and some coworkers were toxic, do not bring this up on your retirement day. Focus on the positive side of things - you can think of some good moments during your fulfilling career which are worth mentioning. If coworkers failed to become your second family, compliment them on their work ethic and mention the results you've achieved as a team.

Be grateful

As you spend time creating your speech, devote at least one paragraph to expressing gratitude. Thank your boss, people that worked next to you every day, and mention a few people you had strong relationships with. You may even share a short story about some project or achievement. If at least one family member is present, thank them for supporting you in your career as well. To make a lasting impression also mention what you've achieved with the company, what challenges you faced, and who helped you along the way.

Mind the event and the audience

You will want to adapt the content of your speech depending on where the event will take place and how many people will be present. Obviously, the text of the speech for a company-wide meeting with two hundred people and a small gathering in your office will be different. In the latter case, you can keep your speech less formal as if you were speaking to close friends, but do not forget to keep it professional. If speaking for a larger audience, you might want to leave insider jokes out and focus on things that everyone in a room will understand.

Choose the right tone

If you work for a company that encourages a laid-back environment, casual clothes, and informal team-building events, it is absolutely fine to come up with a funny retirement speech. Your colleagues will appreciate it and see it as a sign of warm, friendly working relations. On the flip side, if you work in a serious organization with a formal professional culture, such as an investment bank, law firm, or a government institution, it is best to keep your speech formal and polite.

Share your ideas for retirement

The public opinion about retirement today is different from that of twenty years ago. Now, not everyone is looking forward to receiving a gold watch and a calm time off work. Your retirement speech will look even better if you share plans for the future. Tell what you'd like to do during your next chapter of life: consult and mentor others, start a new exciting hobby, or maybe travel. Let your friends and family know that you are looking forward to something new and interesting.

Use visual aids

Another good idea for retirement speeches is supporting them with visual aids. You can prepare a presentation with pictures from corporate events or celebrations, or share a video of some memorable moments. If you launch a presentation during your speech, it will evoke a bigger emotional response and help you truly connect with an audience.

Get professional help

After you've written a draft of your speech, ask for honest feedback from a trusted person, such as a family member or a friend. They will look at the text with a fresh eye and recommend what to add and remove. If you truly care about the success of your speech, consult a professional speechwriter. They will review your speech with a professional perspective and recommend improvements that will work better with the auidence.

Just a kind reminder: at SpeechPaths, you can order a customized speech for any special occasion, including a retirement speech. A dedicated expert will work one-on-one with you to craft the text that you'll be satisfied with. Hire an expert to write a retirement speech with a 20% discount today - chat with us to claim your code!

How to give a retirement speech for an employee?

If you aren't the one who is retiring and need to pay tribute to a retiring coworker or subordinate, you'll want to prepare thoroughly. The most important thing about such speeches is to keep them personalized. Find features specific to that person, and focus on these features as you bid farewell to them. You may not only pay homage to a retiree's work, but also mention their personality, complement their sense of humor, the ability to solve unsolvable problems, or a high-achieving spirit. Thank the person for their contribution to the company - after all, they have devoted years of their life to it, and their achievements need to be mentioned.

Preparing to give your retirement speech

Composing your speech is only a half of the journey. You also need to deliver it efficiently to impress the audience. Since public speaking is a challenge to many, take these tips from professional speech writers into account:

Prepare and practice

It is hardly possible to deliver a persuasive speech without proper preparation. Start practicing your speech days in advance: read it aloud, and work on your gestures and body language. You will have plenty of time to hear how your words actually sound, and add/paraphrase something to make the speech better. Moreover, as you practice delivering the speech to your family, you will feel more confident speaking to the audience on your big day.

Dress for success

A polished professional attire will help you feel more confident in everything you do, including public speaking. You don't need to be overdressed, but wearing a new pressed suit and freshening your nails will make you look more considerate during the official retirement day.

Master techniques to stay calm

Many people find speaking to a large crowd intimidating. You may feel anxious, have sweaty palms, and other symptoms of stress. To calm down before the speech, try breathing exercises - the simplest one is counting to four as you breathe in and out. Other methods to beat anxiety include meditation - give yourself a few minutes before getting on stage - and visualization techniques. Imagine the room and the audience, and plan every move in advance. Keep a glass of water at hand in case you have a sore throat - you can also take a sip or two when you need to pause.

Keep it brief

Whether delivering the speech is an exciting perspective for you or you are anxious about it, remember to keep it short. As a rule, you need to keep it between 5 to 10 minutes. No need to pay tribute to every person you worked with and recollect every workplace situation. Mention only the most important milestones and people who played a key role in your professional life. Time yourself as you practice speaking at home to keep your speech at optimal length and not to bore the audience.

Choose a point you will look at

If you don't deliver speeches frequently, your eyes may start to wander as you speak, and you can get distracted or simply feel uncomfortable. Here's the solution: find a point that you will look at as you speak. This can be a clock or a poster on the opposite wall. The audience will think that you are looking at the back row, and you'll be able to concentrate on your speech entirely.

As you write and deliver your retirement speech, do not forget about the main thing: have fun during the process! Speeches may sound stressful, but eventually your retirement party will become a memorable day that will evoke only positive emotions.

Get professional help with your speech, anytime

At SpeechPaths, we deliver insightful and memorable speeches for every professional and personal occasion. If you lack inspiration to draft your retirement speech, let us know and our expert will prepare a speech tailored to your requirements in as little as 12 hours. We offer amazing prices for first-time customers - contact us and make sure!

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How to Give a Retirement Speech: Making Your Farewell Count

The Speaker Lab
February 14, 2024

Picture this: You’re about to deliver your retirement speech. It’s more than just words; it’s the capstone of your career. But how do you wrap up years of dedication in a few minutes? You’ve got tales to tell and thanks to give—how can they all fit?

Believe it or not, there’s a way to craft that perfect goodbye, one that leaves everyone not just listening but feeling every word. Stay tuned as we unpack how to turn memories into narratives, sprinkle in life lessons, personalize for impact, nail the delivery tone right on target, and even handle emotions that come uninvited.

Crafting the Perfect Retirement Speech

Standing at the podium, you might find your career flashing before your eyes. Crafting a retirement speech that captures years of experiences while engaging colleagues is no small feat. But fear not, we’re going to dissect how to create a memorable address that will resonate.

The Art of Storytelling in Retirement Speeches

Storytelling isn’t just for kids around a campfire. It’s the secret sauce that can turn your retirement speech from a mere summary into an epic tale that captures hearts and minds. By weaving narratives throughout your speech, you not only entertain your audience, but also connect with them on a deeper level.

When crafting these narratives , simplicity reigns supreme. A well-told story beats elaborate vocabulary any day because what sticks with people is how you made them feel, not the words you chose.

Start by selecting anecdotes that showcase challenges overcome, moments of camaraderie, or even light-hearted office blunders. Use memories that involve the listeners, so they can see their role in your journey and feel part of something larger than day-to-day work.

Let’s say there was a project that nearly went off the rails but became a triumph—a classic underdog story. Share that. Or maybe recall those little day-to-day victories with humor because everyone loves a good laugh, especially when they can nod along as they remember your references. These shared experiences forge stronger bonds than any list of achievements could.

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Key Themes to Include in a Retirement Speech

Think of your retirement speech as the capstone to a grand building you’ve been constructing over years of hard work. Let’s dig into some themes that suit such a momentous occasion.

Celebrating Milestones and Achievements

The meat and potatoes of any good retirement speech are the milestones. Reflect on what you’ve accomplished, emphasizing gratitude as you do so. Avoid bragging as you give credit where credit is due, both to yourself and those who helped along the way. Acknowledging shared successes fosters a sense of unity and could boost morale long after you leave.

The Power of Relationships

Your colleagues weren’t just coworkers but comrades-in-arms against every challenge faced together. Highlighting these relationships gives warmth to your farewell and lets others know how much their camaraderie meant. This theme also allows the opportunity for humorous stories, another great way to engage your audience.

Growth and Change over Time

You’re not leaving your job as the same person who walked through those doors however many moons ago. You’ve grown, changed, evolved. Sharing this personal journey helps others see change as positive and inevitable rather than something scary or negative.

“I started here thinking I knew everything about sales,” could be an opening line before detailing lessons learned that shaped both career and character.

Vision for the Future

Inspire confidence in your colleagues by painting vivid images of continued success. Let your words be the legacy that inspires others to climb higher, even when you’re not around. They’ll stand as a testament to the idea that progress isn’t about reaching a final destination—it’s an ongoing journey of evolution and improvement.

Tips for Personalizing Your Retirement Speech

When it’s time to hang up your hat, a retirement speech is in order. This final address should be as unique and as authentically you as possible. But how do you pour decades into minutes? Let’s look at some strategies.

Including Anecdotes in Your Retirement Speech

Your career wasn’t all spreadsheets or sales pitches—it was packed with moments unique to you. So light up your speech with anecdotes only you can tell. Maybe it was the time you turned an office blunder into a win or that company retreat that still gets laughs at reunions. These are nuggets of gold in personalizing your message.

Anecdotes work because they’re windows into who we are beyond our titles. They show vulnerability, humor, and humanity. People remember stories better than facts anyway.

Finding Your Speech’s Signature Style

A great chef has their secret sauce—what’s yours when speaking? Think about phrases or words synonymous with you. Perhaps “unconventional wisdom” rings true for your approach or “straight talk” sums up how colleagues describe those pep talks by the coffee machine?

Carve out your style within this framework, You want folks nodding along thinking “That’s so them.”

The Delicate Dance of Humor

Humor disarms an audience like nothing else but balancing professionalism while cracking jokes takes finesse. Consider working in lighthearted quips related to common experiences everyone shares at work—the never-ending quest for inbox zero or conference call woes.

Pulling off humor requires reading the room correctly—a well-timed joke lands perfectly but always be prepared to pivot if not all faces in the crowd are smiling back.

While leaving behind familiar halls may tug at heartstrings, infusing personality makes sure those listening get one last memorable glimpse of who you were within these walls—and isn’t legacy what we’re really talking about here?

The Importance of Tone and Delivery in Your Retirement Speech

Think about your favorite comedian’s delivery. They could read the phone book, and you’d still crack up, right? That’s because how you say something is often as potent as what you’re saying—especially when it comes to retirement speeches.

A speech can be full of great stories and shout-outs, but if delivered in monotone or without feeling, it might fall flat. It’s not just words that convey your message; it’s the laughter in your voice when recalling a funny moment or the slight quiver during a heartfelt thank-you. These nuances breathe life into your speech.

To truly connect with listeners, let them hear who you are through variations in pitch, strategic pauses for effect, and even appropriate silence—a powerful tool for letting important points sink in. Don’t underestimate body language either. Standing tall with open gestures invites audience engagement more than crossed arms ever will.

Mastering Vocal Variety

Vocal variety isn’t about being loud—it’s about using volume smartly to emphasize key points or to draw people back if their attention has wandered off (admit it: we’ve all been there). The ebb and flow of volume keep ears perked and minds focused on what matters most: your experience coming alive through anecdotes only you can tell.

Sometimes whispering can have more impact than shouting ever could. It has the power to draw everyone closer like they’re part of an inside joke or a secret success story from behind-the-scenes battles won together at work. And don’t forget pace; speeding up through exciting achievements builds momentum while slowing down adds gravity to moments that shaped careers—including yours.

Leveraging Pauses like a Pro

We’ve all seen speakers who never seem to take a breath between sentences, but audiences actually need those breaks just as much as lungs do. Strategic pauses give folks time to digest information before moving onto the next big idea. Whether it’s the brief pause at the end of a sentence or a longer pause given after stating your main point, they’ll appreciate this courtesy (and so will their brains).

In addition, pausing, like after a shout-out to your team, subtly emphasizes thanks in a way that words alone can’t match. It’s powerful.

Visual Aids and Props in Retirement Speeches

Picture this: you’re at a retirement party, the mood is nostalgic, and then out comes a prop that sends everyone into an uproar of laughter. That’s the power visual aids and props can have when used effectively in retirement speeches. But it’s not just about getting laughs; these tools can underscore your message with memorable impact.

Choosing the Right Visuals

Selecting visuals or props for your speech should be like picking the right spice for a meal—it must complement, not overpower. If you’ve worked decades at an architecture firm, why not show off a miniature model of your first project? It connects to your journey personally and professionally.

A wise guideline is to contemplate if it contributes worth or only empty show. Your audience will appreciate something tangible that represents your legacy—like showcasing awards or photos from significant company milestones—but they’ll see through anything that feels gimmicky.

Making Technology Work for You

In today’s digital age, technology offers endless possibilities to enhance presentations with slideshows showcasing career highlights. Imagine projecting images that span across eras while sharing anecdotes—that kind of storytelling sticks with people long after they leave.

But remember, tech snafus happen even to seasoned pros. Always have backups ready and do run-throughs beforehand so you’re comfortable no matter what happens on stage.

The Power of Simplicity

Sometimes less really is more. A single item—a first employee badge or perhaps a classic product prototype—can symbolize growth without overwhelming listeners. The beauty lies in simplicity allowing stories told during one’s farewell moment shine brighter than any elaborate setup could ever hope to achieve.

Tying everything back to heartfelt narratives ensures those memories linger well beyond the confines of the event venue—and isn’t leaving behind enduring impressions what every retiree wishes for?

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Preparing for the Unexpected During Your Speech

Even the most carefully crafted plans can still go wrong, especially when it comes to giving a presentation in public. You’ve rehearsed your retirement speech, you know it by heart, but life loves a curveball. When an unexpected moment arises during your address, stay cool and your audience will follow suit.

Navigating Emotional Surprises

Sometimes emotions catch us off guard. One minute you’re sharing a lighthearted story, the next, you’re choked up reminiscing about good times gone by. If tears or laughter come knocking unexpectedly, breathe deep and pause if needed. Remember that showing genuine emotion can be powerful; it connects you with listeners because they see themselves in your vulnerability.

Tackling Technical Troubles

A slideshow goes blank or a microphone starts giving feedback—it happens. The key here is not just having a backup plan but also being able to transition smoothly into Plan B as though it were part of the show all along.

Ditching dependency on tech means knowing which parts of your speech pack enough punch on their own—the stories and jokes that need no visual aids yet leave lasting impressions are goldmines for such occasions.

The Audience Factor

An interruption from an enthusiastic retiree-to-be? A question thrown from left field? These aren’t disruptions—they’re interactions. They offer unique chances to engage directly with individuals who share this milestone moment with you. Here’s how we suggest weaving those interactions back into the narrative flow:

Show appreciation: Thank them for contributing,
Pivot gracefully: Bridge their input back to what you were discussing,
Leverage humor: Lighten any tension while acknowledging their participation.

Examples of Memorable Retirement Speeches

Taking the stage to give a retirement speech can feel like stepping into the spotlight for one final bow. It’s your opportunity to share reflections, motivate, and leave a lasting impression on those you have worked with. One shining example is Lou Gehrig’s farewell at Yankee Stadium in 1939; his poignant words captured hearts as he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.” The power of this statement lies not just in its optimism but also in its vulnerability during what was clearly a personal trial.

A more recent memory brings us to Steve Jobs’ address at Stanford University’s commencement in 2005. He urged graduates to stay hungry and foolish—a simple yet profound message that resonated globally because it came from someone who lived those words every day. By sharing his own story about love, loss, and redemption, Jobs left us with life lessons beyond career success or technological innovation.

The impact of such speeches often lies in their authenticity—how well they capture an individual’s essence while striking universal chords with listeners. To craft something memorable, look beyond mere accomplishments. Instead, tell stories that reveal character, share insights gleaned over years, maybe even sprinkle some humor if it suits you—and always speak straight from the heart because sincerity speaks volumes.

Rehearsing Your Retirement Speech

You know the saying, “practice makes perfect,” right? Well, it couldn’t be more true when it comes to nailing your retirement speech.

Practice your speech to perfect the delivery, just as a musician tunes their instrument before a concert. Imagine yourself as a musician tuning an instrument before a concert; every note matters for the performance of a lifetime. When rehearsing your retirement speech, pay attention not only to what you’re saying but also how you’re saying it—your pacing, pauses, and inflection can change everything.

If you get nervous just thinking about speaking in front of people, take a look at these tips on how to overcome your fears . We’ll give you effective strategies for public speaking success—even if all eyes are on you during one of life’s big moments.

FAQs on How to Give A Retirement Speech

What should a retiree say at a retirement party.

Thank the team, share highlights, and express hope for the future. Keep it heartfelt yet concise.

What do you say in a farewell speech?

Acknowledge good times, give thanks to colleagues, and wish well for everyone’s path ahead.

How do you emotionally transition to retirement?

Create new routines, pursue passions and stay connected with former coworkers to ease into this chapter.

How do you start a retirement speech for someone else?

Kick off with an anecdote or praise that captures their essence and contributions they’ve made.

Stand tall as you craft your retirement speech. Capture hearts with stories and gratitude, maintaining a personal yet professional tone throughout. Perfecting tone and delivery matters just as much as words do.

Consider visuals—they can turn a good speech into an unforgettable one—but be prepared for those unexpected technical difficulties or emotions.

For inspiration, leverage lessons from great speeches past. And practice? It’s non-negotiable for delivering with confidence.

Your farewell marks a new beginning. Let it echo with warmth, wisdom, and wit.

Last Updated: February 29, 2024

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How to Write a Retirement Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to celebrating the end of a career, few things can be more meaningful than delivering a well-constructed retirement speech. This is an opportunity to show appreciation, offer well wishes, and leave a lasting impression on colleagues, friends, and family members. However, crafting the perfect speech can be a daunting task. In this guide, we will explore the key steps to writing a unforgettable retirement speech.

Understanding the Purpose of a Retirement Speech

Before diving into the specifics of constructing a retirement speech, it is essential to understand its purpose. Simply put, a retirement speech is a public address given by an individual at the end of their career. The goal of the speech is to express gratitude, reflect on past achievements, recognize colleagues and mentors, and offer well wishes for the future.

Celebrating the Retiree's Career

The first aspect of a retirement speech is to celebrate the career of the retiree. This means highlighting their accomplishments, sharing meaningful moments from their career, and emphasizing how their contributions have made a difference. Mention their notable achievements such as awards, promotions, and successful projects. Give examples of moments where they went above and beyond to help the company or clients. Make sure to paint a thorough and accurate picture of their professional achievements.

Expressing Gratitude and Appreciation

A retirement speech is an opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation. This means taking the time to thank colleagues, mentors, and the organization as a whole. It is important to highlight how these people have made a difference in the retiree’s career and how their support and guidance have had a lasting impact. Thank individuals for their specific contributions and express sincere gratitude.

Offering Well Wishes for the Future

A retirement speech should also look to the future. This means offering well wishes for the retiree's future endeavors and highlighting their plans for retirement. This can include talking about the retiree's passions outside of work, such as travel plans, hobbies, or time with family. Encourage them in their next chapter and make the speech inspirational for them to kick start their new journey.

Knowing Your Audience

Once you have a clear understanding of the purpose of your retirement speech, the next step is to know your audience. This means tailoring your speech for the people who will be present.

Considering the Retiree's Family and Friends

Retirement is a family affair, and many people will bring their loved ones to the event. It is important to include a personal touch in the speech and make it relatable to both the retiree and their loved ones. Tell stories that bring out the retiree's character, hobbies, and family life. Highlight the retiree's achievements outside of work, and emphasize how they have made a difference in the lives of their loved ones.

Addressing Colleagues and Coworkers

The retiree's colleagues and coworkers are the people who have shared in their daily work experience. Make the speech understandable to everyone in the organization by not using too much jargon or technical terms. Make it concise and informal so that everyone can follow along. Address the current and retired colleagues as a team who have had the opportunity to work with and learn from the retiree.

Acknowledging the Retiree's Superiors and Mentors

Throughout their career, the retiree has undoubtedly had influential mentors or managers. Show appreciation for those who have given guidance, support, or mentorship throughout their career journey. Acknowledge the retiree's superiors who have given support through promotions, important assignments, and performance reviews. Make sure these people's contributions are recognized during the speech.

Gathering Information and Stories

The next step to writing a retirement speech is gathering information. This includes researching career highlights, conducting interviews, and collecting personal anecdotes and memories.

Conducting Interviews with Colleagues

To get a more personal feel of the retiree's career, consider conducting interviews with colleagues. Start by asking open-ended questions such as "What did you admire most about the retiree?" or "What story would you share about their time with the company?" Encourage people to recount meaningful moments or stories that speak to the retiree's character both at work and outside of work.

Researching the Retiree's Career Highlights

Researching the retiree's career highlights can provide valuable information to highlight during the speech. Look up relevant milestones, projects, presentations, awards to capture key achievements of the retiree's career. Incorporate industry accolades or recognition that show off the retiree's expertise and what is his/her remarkable contribution to the industry.

Collecting Personal Anecdotes and Memories

Collecting personal anecdotes and memories is another crucial aspect of the speech-making process. Reach out to friends, family members, or colleagues to gather stories that capture moments that were special with the retiree. Use these stories to highlight the retiree's unique character and personality traits.

Organizing Your Speech

With a deep understanding of the purpose of a retirement speech and your audience in mind, you can now start organizing your speech.

Creating an Outline

Start with an intentional outline. The outline should reveal your ideas in an organized manner. It gives the speech effortless flow on a logical sequence. Start with an introduction to set the tone for your speech and include the celebratory aspects of the retiree's career. The body of the outline will include expressing gratitude and well-wishes in an organized manner. You can also mention career highlights. A conclusion is an appropriate way to sign off with some of the most meaningful highlights from the speech.

Balancing Humor and Sincerity

When writing a retirement speech, it is important to strike a balance between humor and sincerity. Balance humor by adding a few funny anecdotes for levity. On the other hand, it should be sincere and heartfelt with genuine feelings communicated by all speakers. Keep the humor lighthearted and avoid using inappropriate stories or comments that can be taken in the wrong way.

Ensuring a Logical Flow of Ideas

Ensuring a logical flow of ideas is an essential part of effectively delivering a retirement speech. Make sure to incorporate personal stories or experiences that help build the story. Make sure to highlight significant achievements but also balance the speech by engaging the audience. Organize the speech ideas chronologically or on the order of importance to help enhance the speech’s cohesion. Take breaks between paragraphs and don't rush the speech.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Retirement Speech

Chatgpt prompt.

Compose a well-crafted and thoughtfully written speech that captures the essence of your retirement and expresses your gratitude, reflections, and future aspirations. Ensure that your speech is engaging, memorable, and appropriate for the occasion, and that it effectively conveys your personal experiences and sentiments to your audience.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Retirement speeches are an excellent way to celebrate a long career journey, express appreciation, and leave a lasting impression on colleagues, friends, and family members. To write an unforgettable retirement speech, you need to have a deep understanding of your audience, the retiree's career journey, and show balance between humor and sincerity. Follow the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, and you'll be well on your way to delivering an unforgettable retirement speech.

A Free Guide On How To Craft A Memorable Retirement Speech By A Retiree And For A Retiree

Feeling overwhelmed by crafting a memorable retirement speech? Look no further! This guide provides you with all the essentials: insightful ideas, helpful tips, and inspiring examples.

Whether you’re the retiree taking center stage or someone tasked with honoring a colleague’s achievements, you’ll find everything you need to deliver a heartfelt and impactful speech.

Crafting A Retirement Speech: A Guide For Retirees

Use this guide as a structural template to help you craft a retirement speech that’s both personal and impactful. Let’s dive in!

1. Hook ’em From The Start

Begin with a bang! Use a funny anecdote, a heartfelt reflection, or a powerful quote to grab the audience’s attention and set the tone for the speech. For example:

Well, well, well, look who’s getting the boot! Seems the company thinks I’m past my prime—a victim of planned obsolescence, you might say. But fret not, my friends! Retirement doesn’t mean rusting away. This ol’ machine is getting upcycled! Get ready, world, because there’s a brand new chore-doing robot about to hit the scene—my house to be precise!

2. Journey Through Your Career

Take your audience on a trip down memory lane. Reflect on your career’s highs and lows, the lessons learned, and the challenges overcome. Briefly mention key achievements you’re proud of and how these experiences shaped you for retirement. For example:

Can you believe it? It seems like just yesterday I was a flailing intern, working tirelessly for mere scraps—just enough allowance to do laundry and nibble on a cracker or two.

Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of challenges conquered, lessons absorbed, and yes, a few late nights powered by coffee. Somehow, those breakfasts morphed into impromptu beer pong parties; don’t ask me how it happened, my memory’s still foggy from our boss’ last invitation for breakfast.

Reflecting on it all, I take pride in my journey with this company, starting as a wide-eyed intern and rising through the ranks to join the industry’s elite. It’s a testament to perseverance and the power of good alcohol tolerance.

And now, as I stand on the brink of retirement, I’ll finally see a return on that initial investment of time and effort—the paycheck I once dreamed of as an intern, now a reality in the form of a retirement pension.

3. Share Your Wisdom Nuggets

Offer your insights and wisdom gleaned from your experience. Briefly touch on what it takes to succeed in your field, leadership lessons learned, and perhaps even a “what I would do differently” piece (avoid dwelling on negatives). You can also share thoughts on work-life balance and the importance of loved ones.

For example:

Let’s get serious for a moment. For all of the new members of our team, remember that retirement is the ultimate goal for us. Building up our savings, advancing to higher positions, or completing significant projects are just bonuses along the way. I might have said things differently at a different party when I was young—I was naive back then.

While work is enjoyable, it takes time away from you, your family, and your personal life. Thankfully, we get to see our friends almost every day, and they can fill in the gaps. So, don’t forget to be friends with your colleagues. It will help you survive until retirement.

I’m not saying that you should stop aiming for ambitious goals. What I’m saying is that you stay strong, keep at it, and reach the milestones of our careers to leave behind our work with a long-lasting legacy we created.

4. Express Sincere Gratitude

Show appreciation for the people who supported you. Thank colleagues, mentors, family, and friends for their guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support. Mention specific instances where their help made a difference. For example:

Also, I want to express my genuine gratitude to each and every one of you, as well as those who paved the way before me. Your support during both professional and personal challenges has meant the world to me. I hope I’ve been able to pay it forward by offering the same level of assistance and mentorship to my juniors. It’s crucial that we maintain and nurture the kind of supportive company culture we’ve cultivated.

And none of my accomplishments would have been possible without the unwavering support and encouragement of the incredible individuals in this room. To my colleagues, I extend my deepest thanks for your collaboration, innovation, and steadfast commitment to our collective goals. To my boss, your leadership, guidance, and belief in my abilities have been instrumental in my growth. And to my cherished family and friends, your love, patience, and understanding have been my rock throughout this journey.

5. Paint A Picture Of Your Future

Look ahead with excitement! Briefly share your plans, hopes, and dreams for the next chapter. Talk about upcoming adventures, passions you’ll pursue, or contributions you plan to make. For example:

While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here, I’m incredibly excited to enjoy the next chapter of my life. This will allow me to dedicate more time to my family, explore some cherished hobbies, and discover all the possibilities that retirement holds.

Of course, I won’t be a complete stranger! I look forward to staying connected and checking in with all of you. Feel free to reach out—perhaps we can grab coffee or even plan a future get-together.

6. End On A Heartfelt Note

Conclude by offering a sincere thank you to everyone who played a part in your career and retirement journey. Express your best wishes for your colleagues’ continued success. For example:

So with that, I want to express my deepest gratitude once more. Thank you for being here, thank you for your support, and thank you for making this a night I’ll never forget. Retirement may be the end of one chapter, but it’s also the beginning of a whole new adventure, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. Cheers!

Putting It All Together

Here is a sample retirement speech using all the examples used in this section:

Approximately, reading this speech out loud can take around three to four minutes. With pauses, dramatic flair, and interjections and interruptions from the audience, this speech may take you around five to seven minutes to finish.

Craft A Retirement Speech: Guide For Honoring A Retiree

If you’re not the retiree but wish to deliver a memorable retirement speech for one, here’s a structured outline to help you along:

1. Introduce The Retiree

Begin your speech by introducing the retiree and shining a light on their remarkable career journey. Provide a concise overview of their professional achievements, highlighting how they’ve contributed to the company or organization. For example:

Tonight, we’re here to celebrate the well-deserved retirement of John Smith—a friend, a mentor, and an incredible colleague.

John, as a colleague, you’ve consistently inspired all of us. You have a knack for closing deals that initially seemed impossible. Your talent and dedication have truly set you apart, both here within the company and across the industry.

As a mentor, your impact is undeniable. Look around this room—so many of us have advanced in our careers thanks to your guidance and support. John, you helped me personally discover a drive to push myself and achieve more than I ever thought possible.

And beyond your professional expertise, John, you’ve also been a great friend. You have a way of making even the most challenging days here enjoyable. You might even say things get a little brighter after those legendary breakfast meetings! We’ll all miss those shared experiences.

2. Reflect On Their Career

Take a moment to reflect on the retiree’s career path and its significance. Share compelling stories and anecdotes that illustrate their talents, victories, and impact within the company or organization. Discuss the hurdles they’ve faced and their triumphant resolutions, emphasizing how their work has shaped the company or organization. For example:

John securing seemingly impossible deals isn’t merely a myth within our company; he’s become a living legend. John’s track record speaks for itself. He’s the pioneer of our first trial with clients abroad, a true feat at a point where our company had no presence outside the country, not even the state! And he didn’t achieve this through mere persistence. He went beyond what was needed.

John walks the talk in every sense of the phrase. It’s truly remarkable to witness someone go to such lengths, mastering a new language in record time just to ensure the success of a single deal. This dedication and adaptability have not only yielded tangible results but have also opened doors to the international market—a legacy that will continue to empower us all. Thanks to John’s vision and determination, we now have the opportunity to thrive on a global scale.

3. Express Gratitude:

Express heartfelt gratitude to the retiree for their unwavering dedication, hard work, and invaluable contributions. Acknowledge their service and commitment, recognizing the profound effect they’ve had on colleagues, the organization, and yourself. For example:

John, your contributions to this company, and more importantly, to the lives of the people here, are truly unforgettable. You haven’t just been a great colleague, you’ve also created an environment that empowers us to be better fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters.

This kind of supportive and positive work culture is something I never expected to find, and it’s a direct result of your kindness and dedication. Thank you for making a positive impact on our lives, both professionally and personally.

To the new team members, while you may not have had the chance to work with John for a long time, his legacy will continue to shape your experience here. The positive and supportive company culture he helped build is still very much alive, and the international business opportunities he opened doors to are yours to explore and expand upon. You’re joining a team with a strong foundation, and I know you’ll all continue to build upon John’s incredible work.

4. Share Personal Memories

Share personal anecdotes and memories that capture the essence of the retiree. Delve into their unique personality traits, work ethic, and core values. Highlight how they’ve left an indelible mark on the lives of those around them, blending both heartfelt and humorous recollections. For example:

Personally, John, I won’t forget you. You’re like a big brother to me. Remember when my wife and I were having trouble and on the verge of divorce? You went above and beyond your role as our kid’s godfather and helped us sort things out. Thank you for extending your care beyond our child to include us. I am very lucky to have you as a coworker, mentor, and friend.

Whenever you need help, even if it’s as small as your back aching, just call me and I will help you out within minutes of your call. And when I retire, you can count on me to be there for you. The wife would be happy to help too, of course. That’s how much we are grateful to you.

5. Extend Well-Wishes For Retirement:

Extend warm wishes to the retiree as they embark on this new chapter of their life. Express your hope that they’ll find joy and fulfillment in their retirement pursuits, encouraging them to stay connected and share their future adventures with you. Offer assurances of continued support and camaraderie. For example:

With that said, I hope that you have a great retirement, John. May life’s karma go full throttle in bestowing upon you as many blessings—or even more—than the number of positive things you have done for all of us.

While we know you’ll stay in touch, don’t forget to spend quality time alone with your family as well. Make the most of your time with them, especially with your grandkids.

And don’t let all the foreign languages you’ve learned go to waste; try to visit those places now that you have more time!

6. Raise A Toast

Conclude your speech by raising a toast to the retiree, inviting everyone to join in celebrating their illustrious career and contributions. Offer a final congratulations and words of encouragement as they embrace the exciting journey ahead. For example:

Now, this speech has reached its end. Let’s raise our glasses and give our very own legendary John his farewell toast. May this not be our last time sharing a good time together with him!

Here is a sample speech you can use as a guide for honoring a retiree you know. Just like before, it incorporates all the examples from the previous sections:

Tonight, we’re here to celebrate the well-deserved retirement of John Smith – a friend, a mentor, and an incredible colleague.

As a mentor, your impact is undeniable. Look around this room – so many of us have advanced in our careers thanks to your guidance and support. John, you helped me personally discover a drive to push myself and achieve more than I ever thought possible.

This speech should take three to four minutes to read aloud. It may extend to six to eight minutes once you incorporate pauses, some dramatic flairs, and interjections and disruptions from the audience.

Retirement Speech Writing Tips

Here are seven tips to help you write a good retirement speech:

1. Make An Outline

Follow the structures discussed above. For each section, include three subsections. For example, when introducing the retiree, add three subsections like introducing the retiree as a colleague, the retiree as a mentor, and the retiree as a friend.

2. Draft Freely

While I mentioned that you only need three subsections under a section in the outline, it doesn’t mean you should stop writing once you have three. Feel free to add more if you can. Doing so can give you options, and then you can choose the best three to use later.

3. Use Humor

Humor can be a universal method to engage with the audience. It also lightens the mood, which can relax both the audience and you. Having a few laughs here and there can boost your confidence in delivering the speech magnificently. Focus on commonly known gags and inside jokes in your office. Share funny anecdotes and stories if you can fit them into your speech to entertain.

4. Know Your Audience

Before you deliver jokes like a stand-up comic, know your audience. Your inside jokes may fall flat if there are outsiders at the retirement party or if members of the higher-ups attend. So, be sure you have an idea of who will be listening to you, and if possible, custom tailor your quips and stories to every member who may attend.

5. Be Authentic

Having to deliver a speech does not mean you need to conform to how great speakers write their speeches. Be authentic and make your writing similar to how you speak with the people in the audience.

6. Be Mindful Of The Word Count

Aim for a speech duration of three to five minutes—roughly 600-900 words, depending on your speech cadence. Factor in potential audience laughter or applause when estimating your speech length; allow one to three minutes of leeway for this.

7. Strike A Balance With Recognition

While the speech honors the retiree, avoid excessive flattery. Consider the retiree’s personality. If they’re shy, focus on acknowledgments and understated praise.

Retirement Speech Delivery Tips

Here are ten quick tips you can follow to make sure you deliver your speech in the best way you can possibly could:

Be Sincere And Grateful : Express genuine appreciation with warmth and eye contact. Let your emotions shine through while you tell a personal story about how the retiree has impacted you or the team or how the team impacted you.
Master Your Voice : Vary your pitch and pace to avoid a monotone. Emphasize key points and emotions through intonation. Imagine yourself captivating the audience as if you’re telling them a story. For example, excitement often involves a higher pitch, while sadness may involve a lower pitch.
Respect The Time : Use a timer and conclude confidently within the allotted timeframe. Aim for a strong closing sentence that summarizes your key message and leaves a lasting impression on your toast.
Practice Makes Perfect : Rehearse your delivery for polish and confidence. Breathe deeply and visualize success. Record yourself practicing to identify areas for improvement.
The Power Of Pauses : Use strategic pauses to emphasize points, transition smoothly, invite audience response, or gather your thoughts. A well-timed pause can build anticipation for your next words.
Embrace Silence : Don’t be afraid of silence. It can build anticipation or refocus the audience after a funny anecdote. Use silence strategically to create a more impactful delivery.
Emphasize For Impact : Highlight key words for contrast, emotion, and context to deliver your message effectively. Emphasize verbs to convey action and importance.
Prepare For The Unexpected : Have a few ad-libs ready to handle interruptions or lighten the mood. If a technical issue arises, use humor to acknowledge it and keep the audience engaged.
Confident Communication : Use strong body language and clear speech with a moderate pace and varied vocal delivery. Stand tall, maintain eye contact, and smile genuinely to connect with the audience.
Be Yourself : Express genuine emotions while maintaining focus. Leave a lasting impression with heartfelt sentiments. Let your personality shine through and connect with the audience on a personal level.

By practicing these tips, you can confidently deliver a heartfelt tribute to the retiree or yourself.

With these tips, ideas, and examples, you’re well on your way to delivering a retirement speech that will leave a lasting impression. Remember, a heartfelt message combined with genuine emotions is the key to a truly memorable tribute. So take a deep breath, step up to the podium, and celebrate this special occasion with a speech that truly shines.

Aside from this post, we have other articles you might find interesting and helpful. Here are some of the recent ones I posted:

Send A Retiree Off Smiling: 120 Retirement Wishes For A Friend
Unique Retirement Poems: Celebrate Their New Chapter
Retirement Card For Husband: Heartfelt Messages To Celebrate His Journey
Guide On How To Write A Heartwarming Retirement Card For A Coworker
Retirement Party Etiquette And Considerations

Happy reading!

My wife and I quit the rat race and retired in 2021. We RV'ed around the US for a couple of years and now we're slow traveling outside the US!

How to Write the Best Retirement Speech

To write a retirement speech for a retirement party is more complicated than it looks. I have done this exercise a few times now. To ensure I was successful in this new task, I did a lot of research to get the best result.

Key Points to Consider When Writing the Best Retirement Speech

First the purpose of the speech is to celebrate the big change signified by retirement. However, it may not be a celebration for everyone. The retiree may be worried about reaching this milestone. If you want to know more about this big step, you can read our article about How to Enjoy Every Moment of Retirement Life.

In general, the key elements of a retirement speech are an appreciation of the inspiration, guidance, support, leadership and kindness of the person.

Step 1 – Brainstorming to Write a Retirement Speech for a Retirement Party

This stage is particularly important if you want to succeed at writing a successful retirement speech. Brainstorming will help you generate ideas and information. You need to spend some time finding and reading retirement speech ideas.

To Write a Successful Retirement Speech You Need to Grab and Hold the Audience’s Attention

To make this happen, there are a few techniques to grab the attention of your audience and keep them with you. If you are making a speech for a colleague in front of a whole department, this can mean a lot of people. Unfortunately for you, there will be many people who do not know the person as well as you. For this reason, they have less interest in listening to you.

So, How to Grab the Audience’s Attention?

How to Keep your Audience’s Attention

Another efficient method is a story. If you incorporate a story inside your retirement speech, it will have the same effect as the present. Some people will know the story very well and they will already be laughing. The others will be very attentive because they want to be part of the laughter.

Headlines of a Retirement Speech

First, let us remember the key elements of a retirement speech:

Why do we respect and appreciate him/her? (Appreciation/Kindness)

John was always reliable and had a good word to say about everyone. We all recognise, respect and appreciate John’s contribution to the company.

John has a lot of knowledge which he was willing to share. We learnt a lot from him.

John has accumulated a lot of experience during his 20 years with us. His experience helped us to solve problems, to make decisions and guide us in the right direction.

Why are we not afraid to ask for his/her help? (Support)

Whatever your needs, John is always there to help and support us. He always finds the right words. He would probably write a better speech.

How to Organise a Retirement Speech?

There are three different parts to a retirement speech:

What to Put in the Opening Part of a Retirement Speech?

(Put the alarm clock on the table and make it ring.) “John this is the last time you will hear this song; you can now wake-up when you wish (laughs). I am honoured, and it is a privilege for me to speak on behalf of all the team. Today, we are here to celebrate John’s retirement. It is a new chapter for him but for us we need to close this chapter. John it will be different here without you.”

After that, you can make a small presentation about the person leaving.

What to Put in the Main Body of a Retirement Speech?

“John used these incredible skills to bring this company where it is now. He was more than an excellent leader; he was the Captain of our boat. We knew we could trust his expertise to face any kind of situation we faced in the past. I bought this crane for you (give him crane toy). Do you remember…”

What to Put in the Conclusion of a Retirement Speech?

“John will be extremely hard to replace. We worked together for many years and I had the opportunity to learn so much from him. John showed us the path to success….”

Resources to Further Improve Your Retirement Speech

It is a good idea to add quotes in your retirement speech. Depending on the quote chosen, they can add humour and reflection. If you want some ideas, read our post which includes a list of the Best Quotes for Retirement Party.

List of Words to Express Joy:

List of words to express trust:.

Trustworthy, Reliable, reliability, Faith, faithful, Admiration, to admire, Proven, Guaranteed, Scientific, science, Research-backed, Facts, factual, Absolutely, Authoritative, authority, Saint, Fool-proof, sure-fire

List of Words to Express Surprise:

List of words to express sadness:, examples of retirement speech for a retirement party.

“I am honoured and it is a great privilege for me to be chosen to give this speech. John, we have worked together for the last ten years and I know you very well. We spend plenty of time together, but do you remember this picture? (Show old picture to the audience.)

John has spent more than two decades leading and inspiring us. Some of you have known John for years like me but others just for months. Whatever the time you have known him, you know his capacity to solve problems and to deal with any kind of issues.

This goes to show that John was always dedicated to life at the office and he helped raise the company to the level it is now.

On behalf of all the team, I will thank you again John. I would also like to thank all the people who made this event possible.”

Sarah De Winne

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Rice Speechwriting

Retirement speech ideas: 7 brainstorming prompts, 7 retirement speech ideas: brainstorming prompts.

When it’s time to bid adieu to a hard-earned career as a retiree, the words to go along with it can feel daunting to articulate. You may ask yourself, “How do I encapsulate years of dedication, ups-and-downs, achievements, and camaraderie into one farewell speech ?” Retirement speeches are not simply about signing off; they are a heartwarming opportunity to reflect on your journey, share your wisdom, and thank those who’ve been part of your professional life. This task can appear overwhelming, but it’s nothing you can’t handle, although a bit of guidance wouldn’t hurt!

“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” – James Humes

Embracing Humes’ words, delivering a compelling retirement speech is indeed about demonstrating your leadership one last time. It’s about sharing heartfelt stories, lessons learned over the years, and importantly, showing your gratitude with grace. So, how do you ensure your retirement speech leaves a memorable, lasting impression? Let’s provide you with some practical, easy-to-follow brainstorming prompts!

Reflect on your accomplishments
Highlight the shared journey and transformations
Don’t forget to inject humor
Share your wisdom and future aspirations

Are you ready to dive into these themes, and prepare an unforgettable retirement speech? Let’s help you articulate your goodbye in a way that is sure to tug at the heartstrings.

A retirement party is a perfect opportunity to reflect on a long and successful career, and thank all those who have contributed to it in some way. A retirement speech should be heartfelt and genuine, showcasing the retiree’s gratitude for their colleagues, friends, and family members who have supported them throughout their career. The speech can also include future retirement plans and goals. It is essential to keep the tone light-hearted and humorous while still expressing sincere appreciation for everyone involved. Finally, the retirement party is not only a farewell but also a celebration of the achievements made during one’s career.

Crafting a memorable retirement speech can seem like a daunting task, but with some creativity and preparation, it can be achieved. A memorable retirement speech should be respectful and honor the retiree’s achievements. It should include personal stories that illustrate their career journey, as well as their hobbies, interests, and future plans. Humor can also be included to lighten the mood, but it’s important to keep it tasteful. Quotes or sayings that inspire the retiree can add an extra touch of sentimentality to the speech. With these tips in mind, crafting a memorable retirement speech can be a heartfelt tribute to the retiree’s contributions.

Retirement celebration speeches are a great way to reflect on your career and thank those who have supported you along the way. It’s an opportunity to share your memories, accomplishments, and lessons learned with your colleagues, friends, and family. Some retirement celebration speech ideas include sharing funny anecdotes from your time at work, thanking specific individuals who have made an impact on your career, and offering advice for those continuing in their careers. Remember to keep it light-hearted and positive as you bid farewell to this chapter of your life.

Retirement Speech Idea 1: What lessons have you learned in your life? What stories of your life illustrate those lessons? How can you show gratitude?

Imagine now, you’re standing there, ready to address your audience. You can use this moment as an opportunity to reflect upon the life lessons that have shaped you. Consider those priceless teachings that you absorbed not in a classroom, but from life’s school. Maybe it was through trial and error, or perhaps you learned from observing others. Consider not only your personal life but also your extensive career — a mine of experiences. What were the pivotal situations that taught you something profound? Try to relate these teachings to impactful stories from your journey. Narrate tales of how perhaps a difficult customer ended up teaching you patience or a failed project led you to understand the importance of contingency planning. Your audience will not only enjoy these stories but also derive valuable life insights from them. Additionally, while rehearsing, time your talk to gauge if it is too long or short and make edits accordingly.

For example, “As I stand here today, reflecting on my journey towards retirement, I realize that the best part of it has been the people that I have had the pleasure of working with. My colleagues and mentors have been my support system throughout my career, and I owe my success to them. They have been my sounding board and my confidantes, always encouraging me to push my limits and achieve my goals. To all of you who have been a part of my journey, I want to say thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement. You have made my journey truly special.”

Retirement Speech Idea 2: Who along the way was instrumental in your character development? A teacher? A parent? A friend? A mentor? A coworker? A son or daughter?

While crafting your retirement speech, one aspect that could prove engaging is to recount the figures who played pivotal roles in your personal and professional growth. These individuals, be they a teacher, parent, friend, mentor, colleague, trusted person or even your children, added layers to your personality, motivated you, and imparted wisdom, thereby shaping the person you are today.

You may find yourself reflecting on an inspiring teacher who first ignited your passion for learning. Maybe it was a parent who lent unwavering support, instilling in you the courage to pursue your goals even in the face of adversity. You may echo the words of a mentor whose advice still rings clear in your mind, and consider how their guidance fortified your career. Sometimes, it could even be a friend or a colleague, those shoulder-to-shoulder comrades, who imparted lessons in resilience and collaboration.

Your children, too, or a son or daughter, might have taught you invaluable lessons about responsibility, patience, and unconditional love, which made you not only a great parent but a better person overall.

In your speech, think about sharing specific anecdotes or life-altering moments involving these vital individuals. Allow your gratitude for them to shine through your words. Not only does this introduce an element of storytelling (making your speech more engaging), but it also makes for a personal, heartfelt address that resonates deeply with the listener and serves as a helpful checklist for acknowledging all those who have played a role in your character development. And who knows—your reflections might inspire others just as these influential figures inspired you.

For example, “As I take this step towards retirement, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who have made my journey in this company so wonderful. Your support, encouragement, and camaraderie have been the driving forces behind my successes and accomplishments. It has been an honor to work alongside such talented and dedicated individuals, and I will always cherish the memories we have created together. Thank you for being a part of my life and making it worthwhile.”

Retirement Speech Idea 3: What advice would you have wanted at key moments in your life that you can now give to others as a retiree? For example, when you graduated high school, took your first job, married your first spouse, had your first child, or dealt with your first crisis, what do you wish you had known at those key moments?

Let’s reflect on life’s pivotal points. Those cardinal moments that shape us, like graduating high school, taking that daunting leap into our first job, uttering the words “I do” to our first spouse, observing the miracle of our firstborn, or bearing the weight of our first crisis. Picture yourself back in those moments with the wisdom you hold now. What advice would you have imparted to your younger self?

“We all make mistakes, learn to grow from them instead of dwelling on them.”

You could begin this part of your speech by listing down a few of these critical junctures in your life, then exploring each one individually, reflecting on the wisdom you gained, the lessons you learned, and the transformations that followed.

Did the exhilaration of high school graduation mask the challenge of adapting to college, an entirely new environment? What counsel would you now give?
When you took your first job, what misconceptions did you have about the work environment and how did they shape your early career?
As for marriage, what realities of this commitment did you come to understand only later, which you wish you knew before?
Bringing your first child into the world is undeniably one of life’s most profound experiences. Looking back, what insights about parenting did you gather which would have been priceless then?
When it comes to crisis management, what coping strategies and resilience builders did you eventually develop that you now know would have been beneficial during your first crisis?

Remember, the idea is not to dwell on the past, but to take from it, crafting a narrative of growth and resilience, and sharing advice which could inspire those listening your speech. So, what’s the advice you wish you would have heard at these key moments?

For example, “As I stand here today, on my last day at this organisation, I am filled with mixed emotions. It has been an honour and privilege to work alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues for the last 30 years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support, guidance, and friendship over the years. This organisation has been my second home and leaving it feels bittersweet. However, I am also excited about the new chapter in my life that awaits me. Once again, thank you all for making my time here a truly unforgettable experience.”

Retirement Speech Idea 4: What and who are you grateful for? Why? Which moments or people in your life have changed you for the better?

Focusing on gratitude and positive transformation, pause for a moment and ponder over the big question: What and who are you grateful for? Is it a person, a specific moment in time, or perhaps a challenge that allowed you to grow? This question provides a canvas for you to paint your journey thus far, highlighting the crucial brushstrokes that have shaped your personality and worldview.

“Gratitude is a must.” – DJ Khaled

Remember, being thankful isn’t only about acknowledging the big life-changing moments or people. Consider the smaller moments of everyday magic – a word of encouragement from a coworker on a tough day, the simple taste of your morning coffee, or that calm walk in nature that allowed you a moment of peace. Why are these elements important? How have they impacted your life in different ways? Dig into that sentiment and build a deeper narrative.

It could also be a relationship that changed you. A family member who stood like a rock in turbulent times, or a mentor who guided you through the labyrinth of professional challenges. Perhaps it was a friend’s kind words that instilled confidence in you at times when self-doubt overshadowed your vision. Or possibly, it was your children who helped you see life through an entirely new, vibrant lens. Why do these persons mean so much, and how have these transformations positively influenced your journey?

Bringing these integral elements into your retirement speech will not only provide a vivid picture of your gratitude and the positive changes in your life but also connect you deeply with your audience, compelling them to engage in their own personal reflections.

Retirement is a milestone that marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It’s a time to reflect on your accomplishments, growth, and positive experiences throughout your career. Whether you choose to deliver a humorous or serious speech, it’s important to focus on the positive aspects of this milestone. Highlight your successes and share your excitement for the new opportunities that lie ahead. Most importantly, express your gratitude towards your colleagues, friends, and family who have supported you throughout your journey.

Retirement Speech Idea 5: What do you plan to do with your free time now that you are not working or not as much? What do you hope to accomplish?

Look at it this way – retirement isn’t about winding down; it’s about beginning another exciting chapter in the story we call life. Now that you’re no longer tied to that demanding 9-to-5 schedule, what are you planning to do? You’ve now got a wealth of free time that you may not have experienced since your school days, thanks to your years of hard work. How will you mold this precious commodity into meaningful experiences and memorable moments?

“Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway.” – Unknown

Ever wanted to run a marathon but couldn’t find the time to train? Perhaps there is a skill or hobby you’ve been yearning to acquire but never quite had the time. The glistening prospect of learning a new language or mastering an instrument may have made your heart skip a beat. The endless hours spent laboring away are now free, ready to be dedicated to the pursuit of these heart-warming activities. To echo an old cliche, the world is your oyster. Why not seize the day?

For some people, retirement might be an opportunity to give back to society. Volunteering and mentoring are potential channels for your spare time and accumulated wisdom. Get involved in local charities or community organizations that are close to your heart and watch as your actions make a difference in the lives of others.

A good retirement speech should also express what you hope to achieve now that you’ve crossed over into this realm of freedom. Is there a dream you’ve held on to but delayed for another day? Well, that ‘another day’ has arrived. You may even find yourself setting goals and challenges, aiming to climb mountains both literal and figurative, not because you have obligations, but because you finally have the chance to fulfill your vision for retirement. Share your goals and aspirations in your retirement farewell speech to inspire others to do the same.

The end of your career is often marked with a retirement speech. It’s your chance to reflect on your journey and express your gratitude to those who have helped you along the way. To deliver a great speech, it’s important to hone your public speaking skills and be confident in your delivery. You can also share anecdotes of your career, lessons learned, and hopes for the future. Remember to thank your colleagues, mentors, and anyone else who has made an impact on your career. Your retirement speech should be a celebration of your accomplishments and a heartfelt goodbye to your professional life.

So, when you take to the stage for that speech, delve into this topic – your hopes, dreams, plans, and the adventures you’re excited to embark on. It’s time you shared the dawn of your new beginning with the audience, making it not a farewell, but a grand new hello to the world of possibilities and opportunities.

Retirement Speech Idea 6: Are there quotes from books, movies, songs, or famous people, that sum up the lessons you want to teach? Can you go beyond the overused cliché quotes and find the ones that resonate with you and your life?

Have you ever thought about how much wisdom is encapsulated in our cultural heritage? How many proverbs and aphorisms, quotes from books, movies, songs or simply words of wisdom from famous people, can elegantly sum up the lessons you’ve acquired over your years of toil and perseverance in your profession?

When crafting your retirement speech, it might be an enjoyable journey to delve into various forms of media, meticulously combing through the cherished nuggets of wisdom they have to offer. Maybe it’s a book that changed your whole perspective or a movie dialogue that sparked a new line of thought, or possibly a song lyric that touched your soul at a particular juncture in your life. The perfect quote could even be from a renowned figure, whose ideology or stance deeply resonates with you and echoes your life’s lessons.

“A quote at the right moment is like bread in a famine.” – Talmud

While seeking the ideal quote, strive to go beyond the overused and cliché ones that we hear so often. Choose ones that truly reverberate with your personal and professional journey, revealing a chapter of your life or a spark of your personality. In choosing such quotes, you not only share a slice of wisdom but also provide a glimpse into your personal journey, showcasing how these words of wisdom have impacted your life or shaped your worldview.

What’s a quote from a book that sparked a profound realization for you?
Is there a movie dialogue that perfectly encapsulates lessons you’ve learned from your profession?
Can a line from a song lyric convey a pivotal moment in your life?
Did a famous person ever say something that perfectly aligns with your professional journey or philosophy?

Consider these questions, and I bet you’ll have an inspiring quote (or several) that will provide a memorable edge to your retirement speech!

Retirement Speech Idea 7 : If you knew this was the last moment to say farewell to the most important people in your life, what would you say?

When mulling over our seventh retirement speech idea , you’re invited to consider a significant and somewhat profound question: If this were the last chance you had to address the most important people in your life, what vital message would you want to impart? It’s a thought that encourages heartfelt transparency, introspection, and a genuine desire to share something truly meaningful.

“In the end, people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Take a moment to ponder over this quote. Reflect on the impression and legacy you want to leave behind. This could range from messages of appreciation to advice you wish to give, or even the playful sharing of valuable life secrets. To ease this process, we’ve compiled a list of suggestions to inspire your thought process:

Express your gratitude: Share how specific individuals have impacted your life positively.
Leave behind proverbial life wisdom: What significant life lessons have you learned that you believe are worth passing on?
Talk about love and friendships: Reflect on the significance of close relationships and their value in your life.
Discuss life’s fleeting nature: Use your experience to emphasize the importance of seizing every moment.
Impart hope and encouragement: This is your chance to inspire the next generation with optimism for the future and faith in their abilities.

Remember, this isn’t necessarily a goodbye, but a unique chance to share a piece of your heart, wisdom, and experience gained during your journey. Make this opportunity count and say the words that might just leave an indelible imprint on the lives of the individuals who mean the most to you.

As you sit to pen down your retirement speech, take these prompts as the path to heartwarming anecdotes and profound wisdom. Remember, it’s not just about bidding farewell, it’s about leaving a legacy that transcends time. Reflect on this unique life you’ve led, the people, events, and ideas that shaped you, and let the words flow. Go above and beyond the clichés as you dive into the depth of your experiences. Your journey is unique, so let your speech reflect that uniqueness. Break down your boundaries as you craft a narrative as inspiring and remarkable as your life. And in doing so, you’ll create a retirement speech that will echo with timeless transferable lessons, profound gratitude, and genuine appreciation for the most important people in your life, touching the hearts of everyone present. So, enjoy this reflective journey and send off, you’ve earned every bit of it.

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How to write a retirement speech

Content ideas for a great retirement speech.

By: Susan Dugdale

The prospect of writing a retirement speech either for yourself or for someone else might seem daunting.

The reality is, fortunately, that it's not as hard as it first appears to be. ☺

Follow the steps outlined below and you'll finish with a speech you'll be happy to give, and listeners will be happy to hear.

What you'll find on this page:

how to collect up material for the speech - content prompts to use to brainstorm *
an example of a completed brainstorm
notes on tone, theme and speech length
how to write and test the speech
links to an example retirement speech and a collection of suitable quotations you may like to use

* brainstorm - the name given to an invaluable prewriting technique used to generate lots of potential ideas about a topic

Beginning the process of writing

Before you even attempt to write you need to collect your ideas together.

The most efficient way I know to do this is to do a brainstorm. (Scroll down to see an example.)

First grab yourself a large sheet of paper or open a new document.

Give yourself a time limit

Before you begin set yourself a time limit - say 30 minutes.

Then use the retirement speech starter headlines and the content suggestions * next to each one to kick start your creative juices.

Put down as much as you can under each heading. Do NOT self edit. Nothing is too trivial! You don't have to spell properly, or write complete sentences. All you have to do is allow your ideas to flow.

You will rearrange, expand, trim or delete them later but for now it's important you put whatever thought occurs down, to capture it before it disappears.

* You can see these headlines and content suggestions in action in my sample brainstorm.

Retirement speech starter headlines

I remember ... Suggestions: starting out 'x' years ago, what was most important to the company, what I looked like back then, what the pinnacle of technological sophistication was ...

Colleagues ... Suggestions: those who've been influential, friends, major campaigns/accounts worked on together ... What special qualities will you miss about these people?

Tributes ... Suggestions: Who have you admired and why? Who has inspired you? Name and thank them. Especially those who contributed majorly in either little or large ways, making your work life easier or more pleasant; from the cook in the canteen who regularly kept back a sandwich just for you, or the lift operator who always held the door for you up.

Milestones ... Suggestions: significant personal achievements, the firm's major achievements ...

Anecdotes ... Suggestions: amusing daft stories about either yourself or perhaps the people you worked with. (But mostly featuring you, because people appreciate a person who is self-aware and secure enough to make fun of themselves, one who doesn't need to call out blips in behavior, or lapses in logic in others in order to make themselves look good.)

The future ... Suggestions: Personal future: what I'm looking forward to, where I'll be, what I'll be doing ... The firm's future: where do you see it going? What challenges does it face?

Philosophy ... Suggestions: the values that have been important over the years, still are and why

Image: retirement speech brainstorm - notes for writing a retirement speech

Getting it together

Now that you have the raw material you're ready to shape it. But before you begin to write the speech you have three more important elements to consider. What you decide will have an impact on the final outcome.

1. What tone do you want your speech to have?

Because many retirement speeches are delivered over a dinner or at a party, most people strive for a balance of light-hearted self-deprecating humor, sincerity and respect. Put yourself in your colleagues' shoes and ask yourself what you would appreciate and enjoy listening to.

Do you want to hear a diatribe about the opportunities the company missed through bureaucratic bungling over the last humpteen years?
Is a detailed personal brag sheet charting your meteoric rise appropriate?
What about a breakdown of the company's culture?
Or talk of in-group events, or people, that nobody, aside from a small section of the audience, either understands or knows?
Or worst of all, an embittered harangue citing the numerous instances (large and small) when your contributions were maligned, and your leadership potential was overlooked by varying nincompoops, but principally the halfwits who comprise the senior management team?

By all means keep the speech real. However make it more about the positive aspects of the business and the people who work there rather than yourself.

2. Consider using a theme

A theme is useful to tie all the segments of your speech together. It's a core idea uniting them, and giving them cohesion.

Here are some ideas you could make work well: team effort (through uniting one achieves more), friendship, loyalty, the value of ongoing education, that youth is wasted on the young, humor, the importance of believing in one's dreams ...

3. How long are you going to speak for?

How long you are expected to speak for governs how many words you write.

A relatively informal retirement speech to be given at a social gathering is usually 3 - 5 minutes long. That's between 625 - 750 words depending how fast you speak. * Much more and you run the risk of losing people's attention.

In a formal setting you may be expected to speak for 10 minutes, and then some.

If you are unsure of what's being asked of you, find out. Whatever the time limit, its good practice to finish within it. In the words of Franklin D Roosevelt, USA's 32nd President - March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945: " Be sincere; be brief; be seated."

* (Most people speak at a rate of between 120 - 150 words per minute. See my page on speech rate if you want more information.)

Read an example of a retirement speech

Image: definition of the word leave, with a list of its synonyms

Sometimes it's incredibly helpful to read a sample leaving speech before starting to prepare one of your own. This example is an example retirement speech for a teacher . It was written using the guidelines on this page.

And now write

Go back through your notes, select what you want, put it in order and write exactly as if you were talking out loud to a respected friend.

You'll need an opening, middle and conclusion.

Remember the time allowance. You are better to make a few points well rather than try to cram your speech full to fit everything in, and then rush gabbling through in order to meet the time constraints.

If it worries you that you've had to leave out either people or events, say so. Your audience will understand.

Borrow the words of others - use a quotation

Look through this large selection of retirement quotations . You'll find sharply witty, warmly funny, inspiring, as well as some sad thoughts about retiring. Take any that appeal to weave through your own words. Maybe you'll find just the opening or ending you want!

If you're writing about a colleague retiring

If you are writing a farewell or retirement speech about a colleague remember: "Do unto others as you would have done to you".

Your job is make the person feel valued and appreciated for who they are and what they've brought to the workplace. If you're the only speaker remember you're talking on behalf of your workmates too.

Pull one or two of them in on the brainstorming process. If you don't know, find out what they're intending to do once they've left work. Dig around to give yourself a great collection of information to pick and mix the best from.

Test your speech on colleagues

To gauge whether or not what you've written will be well received or has covered all the most important points, firstly put yourself in their shoes and secondly, read the speech through to several colleagues whose judgement you respect.

Be very aware of revealing personal or sensitive information. The person retiring because of ill-health or for special family considerations may not want it made public. Ask before speaking. If you don't feel you can ask, then you probably shouldn't be saying anything about it.

Other useful reference pages:

h ow to write speeches : step-by-step detailed instructions with examples
how to rehearse your speech : absolutely necessary if you want to give a polished presentation
tips on using humor effectively : avoid the traps that trip the unwary

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Retirement Wisdom

Retire Smarter

Retirement speeches require tact, sincerity and preparation

How to Give a Great Retirement Speech

Retirement Wisdom · Aug 20, 2019 ·

by Joe Casey

A great retirement speech takes a little preparation. At some point in your life, you may be asked to give retirement speeches for a friend, colleague – or even your boss. Well, you’ll want to be prepared and navigate some of the unique nuances presented by this type of speech. And you’ll want to deliver a sincere retirement speech that strikes the right chord. But, a lot can go wrong if you’re not mindful.

* Listen to The Retirement Wisdom Podcast * * See Our Best Books on Retirement *

Focus on The Purpose of Your Retirement Speech

Start with Rule #1:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

– Maya Angelou

If you keep that top of mind, you’ll do well.

Avoid These 7 Retirement Speech Pitfalls

If you’re not careful in planning your retirement speech, you could end up doing more harm than good. Don’t be that co-worker or that Boss. Here are some real-life examples I’ve seen that you’ll want to avoid:

The Joker – Retirement speeches are tricky situations for humor. You will be likely to be speaking to an audience with different levels of familiarity with the retiree being honored. It may be tempting to revel in the legendary stories from that conference in Chicago or that Girls Night Out in Miami, but not everyone will appreciate that. It’s ok to use humor, but it’s wise to stop and consider your audience. It’s awkward for everyone when humor lands wrong. Especially for you.

The Out of Touch Well-Wisher – Retirement has changed dramatically in recent years. It is a much longer period of time than it used to be. Today, retirement often spans twenty to thirty years – or more. But, our beliefs and quotes about retirement haven’t caught up yet. It’s easy to use sentiments that simply don’t fit retirement today. Anecdotes about retiring to the rocking chair, the front porch, and the gold watch have all themselves been retired. For example, according to several surveys, the majority of people today (as high as 70%) expect to continue to work in some way during retirement. The odds are high that the person you’re speaking about may not be completely done with work. If they are, they’re probably planning an active retirement that’s very different than those of retirees a generation ago. Using well-worn retirement clichés risk making you look tone-deaf.

The Ageist – Ageism is prevalent in our society today. Many people aren’t aware that some of their statements are considered ageist. Some comments you may have heard in earlier retirement speeches are now considered insensitive. Be careful not to offend your honoree or others in the audience.

The Overlooker – You don’t want your retiree to leave feeling underappreciated. If you’re not well-prepared, you may forget to express a genuine appreciation for the person and what they’ve contributed to the organization.

The Truth Stretcher – On the other hand, it’s a mistake to puff up a person’s accomplishments in a retirement speech. A tell-tale sign is that co-workers start exchanging knowing glances ( “Bob certainly didn’t do that!” ). Worse yet, the honoree will know if you’re stretching it too.

The Rambling Wreck – You’ve probably been in an audience when speakers didn’t fully prepare. Their anxiety was palpable. They didn’t seem to have a sense of where they are going. What did most of them do? They kept talking … and talking. They meandered down paths that they conjured up on the fly and went go on and on. Winging it showed that they didn’t think this was important enough to prepare for in advance. That’s definitely not the right message.

The Robot – On the other hand, you’ve also probably heard speakers who are so well-prepared, so well organized and efficient that everything ran like clockwork. They hit all their marks – except for one thing. They forget to express any emotion. They left the guest of honor and the audience feeling flat, and let down.

7 Steps to a Great Retirement Speech

Think about how you want the person to feel – always remember rule #1 (above)., use a simple framework.

It can be as simple as:

A. Thank Your Audience

B. Express Why You’re All Here

C. Talk About How This Person Made a Difference

D. Extend Best Wishes on Their Next Chapter

Review Your Remarks with Someone You Trust

Balance the past and the future.

Be Sincere – Keep it real. Offer your genuine sentiments and well wishes on the future. Make your new retiree feel honored, respected, and valued.

A retirement speech is one of the last experiences someone will go through in a career. By taking the time to prepare, you can make yours a sincere retirement speech and a memorable gift.

Joe Casey is a former senior HR executive at Merrill Lynch, who’s created a second career as a retirement coach. He holds a Masters in Gerontology from the University of Southern California and, as a retirement coach and Designing Your Life coach, he helps people discover What’s Next after their primary career.

5 tips for giving an amazing retirement speech

RTOERO CEO Jim Grieve standing in front of a whiteboard with five tips for giving a retirement speech written on it

RTOERO CEO and award-winning communicator Jim Grieve has delivered hundreds of speeches through the years and has attended many retirement events. In this short video, he shares his best tips for giving an amazing retirement speech.

Tips for making your retirement speech meaningful and memorable

1. keep it short.

Keep the speech to 10 minutes or less. You don’t have to share your entire work history or give kudos to all your past colleagues individually. Not sure how long your speech is? Practice it in front of the mirror a few times and time yourself!

2. Think about your audience

Remember your audience is at different ages and stages – some are younger, some at the end of their career like you. Try to offer something for everyone!

3. Acknowledge the helpers and learning

Consider sharing little mistakes you made and learned from and the names of coworkers who helped or inspired you. Be careful here to avoid jokes or stories that may be at the expense of another person.

4. Talk about accomplishments

Share the accomplishments you’re most proud of and the accomplishments of your team, organization, and leaders you worked with. The goal is to leave the people who are continuing with the great work feeling empowered.

5. Share what you’ll miss most and what you’re anticipating

To close out the speech, you can reflect on what you’ll miss most about working, but also what you’re most anticipating as you start retirement. And of course, thank everyone for coming to celebrate with you.

We hope these tips are helpful!

Preparing your retirement speech may be on your retirement planning checklist . If you’re getting started preparing for retirement, check out our free retirement planning workshop . You can attend as many times as you’d like!

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Joe Biden Passes the Torch to Harris, Eyes Retirement in DNC Speech: ‘I Gave My Best to You for 50 Years’

Joe Biden was treated to a hero’s welcome Monday night at the 2024 Democratic National Convention when he delivered the first of the week’s keynote speeches — and one that also served as effectively as a farewell to his political career.

Introduced by his daughter, Ashley Biden, Biden paused to hug her while visibly crying, before walking onstage to a nearly 4-minute standing ovation from a crowd chanting “thank you Joe” and “we love Joe.”

Biden spoke for nearly an hour, delivering remarks that frequently felt like repurposed material from his more recent stump speeches. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow even noted after it ended that only the frequent mentions of his successor, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, distinguished Biden’s remarks from what could have been the acceptance speech he originally intended to deliver on Thursday.

“‘Let me know in my heart, when my days are through, America, America, I gave my best to you.’” — Joe Biden, quoting "American Anthem" by Norah Jones, sends a message to the American people about his presidency pic.twitter.com/WkvSvWijHW — The Recount (@therecount) August 20, 2024

But Biden did of course use his speech to promote Harris, vowing near the end, “I promise I’ll be the best volunteer Harris and Waltz campaign has ever seen.”

“We’ve not only gotten to know each other, we become close friends. She’s tough and experienced, and she has enormous integrity, enormous integrity. Her story represents the best American story. Like many of our best presidents, she was also vice president,” Biden said at one point.

“But she’ll be a president our children can look up to. She’ll be a president respected by world leaders because she already is. She’ll be a president we can all be proud of, and she will be a historic president,” he added.

Biden’s speech came less than two months after the disastrous June 27 debate against Donald Trump that led to calls from Democratic power brokers to drop out of the race. And just under a month after he did so while also endorsing Harris as his successor. And unsurprisingly he used his time to also throw cold water on speculation among pundits — and outright fantasizing by Donald Trump — that he’s bitter or angry about it.

Calling it “the honor of my lifetime to serve as your President,” Biden added, “I love the job, but I love my country more.”

“[People] always talk about how I’m angry at all the people who said I should step down. That’s not true,” Biden continued, as chants of “thank you Joe” interrupted him. “I love my country more, and we need to preserve our democracy in 2024 we need you to vote.”

Watch the whole speech below:

Biden used his time to talk at length about his personal political history, as well as his accomplishments as president. But the speech also — of course — included multiple instances of the verbal flubs he was known for even before they became fuel for concerns about his age. For example, while talking about the political power of women, Biden said, “women are not without electrical without not allowed to, not without electrical, electoral or political power.”

Biden ended with a message meant to reiterate that he has no regrets about how things have shaken out this summer.

“I made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you for 50 years. Like many of you, I give my heart and soul to our nation, and I’ve been blessed a million times return the support of the American people. I’ve really been too young to be in the Senate because I won 29, and too old to stay as president. And hope you know how grateful I am to all of you. I can honestly say, and I mean this in the bottom, give me my word as a Biden, I can honestly say I’m more optimistic about the future than I was when I was elected as a 29 year old United States Senator.

Natalie Korach contributed to this report.

The post Joe Biden Passes the Torch to Harris, Eyes Retirement in DNC Speech: ‘I Gave My Best to You for 50 Years’ appeared first on TheWrap .

The New AOC

The progressive congresswoman is no longer speaking solely to the left wing, but to the party as a whole.

The evolution of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a political force in American politics is fully apparent from just two speeches. The first was delivered at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, two years after the insurgent progressive from New York was elected to Congress. In it, Ocasio-Cortez declared her “fidelity and gratitude to a mass people’s movement working to establish 21st-century social, economic, and human rights” and pledged to “recognize and repair the wounds of racial injustice, colonization, misogyny, and homophobia, and to propose and build reimagined systems of immigration and foreign policy that turn away from the violence and xenophobia of our past.” The brief speech was essentially a laundry list of leftist principles that would appeal largely to her own supporters rather than to everyday voters—narrowcasting rather than broadcasting.

Ocasio-Cortez’s performance last night at this year’s DNC could not have been more different. Connecting her personal biography to populist policies, the 34-year-old congresswoman electrified the crowd of Democratic Party faithful and left them thunderously chanting her name. Gone was the jargon of elite progressive circles, replaced by accessible and memorable one-liners about herself and Kamala Harris. “I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life,” she said. “Ever since I got elected, Republicans have attacked me by saying that I should go back to bartending. But let me tell you, I’m happy to—any day of the week—because there is nothing wrong with working for a living.”

Read: The exception to the rulers

There are some prosaic reasons for the stark contrast between these two speeches. The first was given without a live audience during the coronavirus pandemic, at a convention where Ocasio-Cortez had been tapped by the Joe Biden campaign to unite the left behind him, not to unite the Democratic Party itself. But there is also a more significant reason the AOC of 2024 has diverged from the AOC of 2020: She now has her sights set on shaping the future of the Democratic Party for years to come.

The paradox of Ocasio-Cortez is that she contains two personas that sometimes seem at odds with each other. There is the bartender from the Bronx—an everywoman who took on the political machine and won—and there is the Boston University–educated activist who speaks in the language of a graduate-student seminar. The conflict between these characters exists more in style than in substance. But in politics, the way you speak reflects whom you aspire to reach. And in recent years, Ocasio-Cortez has elevated her aspirations, seeking to speak not just for a leftist movement but also for an entire party.

Once an outsider staging sit-ins in Nancy Pelosi’s office, she is now an insider invited onstage during prime time at the DNC. Ocasio-Cortez accomplished this not by abandoning her progressive principles, but by playing politics to advance them—accepting a seat at the table and making her case there. Formerly a factional leader against the Democratic establishment, she has positioned herself as a bridge between the party’s mainstream and progressive wings. And unlike less successful members of “the Squad,” she has transformed herself into a power broker rather than marginalized herself as a perpetual protester. Her political choices, like her rhetorical choices last night, are those of someone who seeks not to fight the Democratic Party, but to lead it.

Ocasio-Cortez’s turn has not gone unnoticed—or unopposed. Last month, the Democratic Socialists of America rescinded their endorsement of their former standard-bearer over her insufficiently anti-Israel politics. In reality, Ocasio-Cortez has been a consistent critic of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the Biden administration’s approach to the conflict. But she has also acknowledged and condemned anti-Semitism within the anti-Zionist movement and spoken with Jewish leaders about the issue—an unforgivable offense to some of her erstwhile allies and a reversal of her past reluctance to critique progressive activists.

By choosing to engage with those who disagree with her on Palestine and attempting to navigate the complexities of the issue with mainstream Jewish voices, Ocasio-Cortez failed the DSA’s purity test. But it was not her or her views that were marginalized as a result. On the DNC stage, Ocasio-Cortez was the first speaker to reference Gaza, calling for both a cease-fire and “bringing hostages home.”

Read: The left’s self-defeating Israel obsession

Afterward, even some of her most inveterate critics in the political center were compelled to compliment the caliber of her performance. Jay Jacobs, the chairman of the New York State Democratic Party, has previously said that Ocasio-Cortez’s “far left” brand of politics can’t win across the state. For her part, she’s repeatedly called for his resignation. But speaking today with New York Democrats at a delegation breakfast, Jacobs reportedly quipped , “I thought [Ocasio-Cortez] was outstanding last night. Don’t tell her I said that, will you?”

If Ocasio-Cortez manages to maintain her trajectory and escape the pull of factional infighting, the day may soon come when political players like these discover that she doesn’t need them—they need her.

About the Author

'Lock him up' chants after Hillary Clinton's remarks on Trump crimes

DNC Night 2

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

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A figure holds a megaphone and projects a large speech bubble, which is met by an outstretched open hand.

Americans love free speech, survey finds − until they realize everyone else has it, too

Senior Advisor to the Chancellor, Head of Vanderbilt's Project on Unity and American Democracy, and Co-Director of Vanderbilt Poll, Vanderbilt University

Research Professor of Political Science and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech, Vanderbilt University

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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Vanderbilt University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation US.

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Americans’ views on free speech change directions every so often. One of those times was during the protests at U.S. universities about the Israel-Hamas war. As scholars of free speech and public opinion , we set out to find out what happened and why.

The Supreme Court itself, as recently as 1989, has declared that the “bedrock principle” of the First Amendment is that “ the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

For years, conservative politicians and commentators have warned that college campuses are not strong enough protectors of free speech. But as demonstrations erupted, these same people complained that the protests were filled with antisemitic hate speech . Leading conservatives declared the demonstrations should be banned and halted, by force if necessary.

Liberals executed a similar reversal. Many of them have supported increased regulation of hate speech against minority groups. But during the campus protests, liberals cautioned that crackdowns by university administrators, state officials and the police violated protestors’ free speech rights.

As researchers at Vanderbilt University’s Project on Unity and American Democracy and The Future of Free Speech , respectively, we sought to determine where Americans stand. We drew inspiration from a poll done in November 1939 in which 3,500 Americans answered questions about free speech. In June 2024, we asked 1,000 Americans the identical questions.

When an abstract concept gets more concrete

We found that the vast majority of Americans – both then and now – agree that democracy requires freedom of speech. That’s in the abstract.

When the questions get more concrete, though, their support wanes.

Only about half of the respondents in both the 1939 and 2024 polls agreed that anybody in America should be allowed to speak on any subject at any time. The rest believed some speech – or certain subjects or speakers – should be prohibited.

This pattern is not unique to Americans. A 2021 survey in 33 countries by The Future of Free Speech , a nonpartisan think tank based at Vanderbilt, similarly found high levels of support for free speech in the abstract across all countries but lower support across the board for specific speech that was offensive to minority groups or religious beliefs.

We dug deeper in surveys in March and June 2024, asking which subjects or speakers should be banned. We thought the public’s appetite for free speech might have weakened amid the campus turmoil. We found the opposite.

When asked whether seven people with widely varied viewpoints should be allowed to speak, the share of people who said “Yes” rose for each one between March and June. Some of the differences were within the surveys’ margins of error, but it’s nevertheless noteworthy that all of them shifted in the same direction.

While showing a slightly increased appetite for free speech, these polls still fit with the overall contradiction: Large majorities of Americans passionately uphold free speech as a cornerstone of democracy. But fewer of them are supportive of free speech when faced with specific controversial speakers or topics.

The First Amendment is not an a la carte menu

Our surveys found that the public has a nuanced view of free speech. For instance, in our June 2024 survey we added some additional categories of potential speakers to the list we had asked about in March. More respondents were comfortable with a pro-Palestinian speaker than a leader of Hamas and with a scientist who believes that IQ varies by race rather than an outright white supremacist.

This pattern suggests that the public distinguishes between extreme and more moderate positions and is less tolerant of the rights of those with more extreme views.

This shift runs against the purpose of the First Amendment, which was intended to protect unpopular speech . The amendment very specifically was not intended to apply only to certain speakers or viewpoints.

Ours is not the only survey to find that many people don’t fully appreciate the logic and principles behind free speech.

In 2020, a Knight Foundation poll found that members of both political parties oppose speech that goes against their values or beliefs .

Later polls, including those conducted by other organizations, found more specifics: For instance, Democrats were more likely to support censorship of racist hate speech or vaccine misinformation.

And Republicans opposed drag shows and kneeling during the playing of the national anthem .

A February 2022 national poll commissioned by The New York Times and Siena College found that 30% of Americans believed that “ sometimes you have to shut down speech that is anti-democratic, bigoted, or simply untrue.”

A group of people surround a U.S. flag that has been lit on fire.

A return to fundamentals

With the 2024 election looming and polarization increasing among Americans, some people may want only those who agree with them to be allowed to speak.

But a true commitment to the fundamental principles of free speech requires people to allow space for controversial and even offensive viewpoints to be aired.

History reveals that censorship of hateful ideas is often a cure that is worse than the disease , deepening social divides. James Madison, a key drafter of both the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment, wrote in 1800:

“ Some degree of abuse is inseparable from the proper use of every thing … it is better to leave a few of its noxious branches, to their luxuriant growth, than by pruning them away, to injure the vigor of those yielding the proper fruits.”

As the founders knew, a respect for diverse viewpoints and the ability to express those views – good, bad and harmful alike – in the public sphere are essential to a healthy democracy.

Freedom of speech
Antisemitism
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First Amendment
US Constitution
US Founding Fathers
Free expression
The politics of freedom of speech
freedom of speech on campus
James Madison
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Pro-Palestine protest
Controversial ideas
anti-Israeli sentiment
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Biden heads to the Democratic convention with a large task and heaps of admiration from a party ready to move on

CHICAGO — It will not be the convention President Joe Biden planned.

A month ago, Biden was poised to conclude the Democrats’ party by accepting the nomination with bold pronouncements about how his second term would build on the successes of his first. Instead, he will open the convention Monday to make the case that Vice President Kamala Harris is the one to carry the torch.

It is a turnabout that Democrats are greeting with jubilation, melancholy, lingering hard feelings and, for some, outright anger.

The complicated dynamic has left convention planners and party leaders delicately navigating a display of respect to an outgoing president while building on newfound exuberance within the party over Harris’ ascent.

Follow live updates on the 2024 DNC

Democrats are expected to honor him in their remarks throughout the week, using what they see as an act of selflessness as an inspiration for the party to rally behind Harris and push to defeat former President Donald Trump.

With his remarks set for Monday, Biden is positioned to be the one who bridges the divisions.

It will be “a great opportunity to seize this moment of unity for the party,” said Bill Russo, who worked in Biden’s vice presidential office, on his 2020 campaign and in the State Department. For longtime “Biden people,” a message of unity coming straight from Biden “will help cement it,” he said. A Monday slot, Russo said, also “gives him a place of prominence and respect, kicking off the programming for the week.”

The extraordinary personal and political sea change Biden experienced in the last month is unlike that of any other president in recent history. He has gone from being a firmly entrenched leader of the party to relinquishing power voluntarily, without voters or term limits compelling him to do so in a rare move in modern politics.

His decision has set the campaign on a new trajectory. Harris has risen in the polls, drawn crowds of 10,000 or more in battleground states, attracted hundreds of thousands of new volunteers and exploded fundraising.

But Democrats say the party’s deep gratitude for Biden’s decision is overwhelming and predict the United Center will thunder with an extended standing ovation when he takes the stage.

“He’s going to get a truly hagiographic and valedictory convention,” said Wade Randlett, a longtime Democratic fundraiser. “I expect there to be borderline deification of President Biden at the convention, with, like, 100 speakers in a row saying, ‘Oh, my God, Joe Biden is so great.’ And that will boost his stock in general.”

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said, “I and others recognize what courage and love of country that he exhibited in making this very tough decision.”

A Harris campaign aide said: “He’ll not be able to speak there will be so much applause. People in the Democratic Party value him more now than ever.”

Even at Biden’s most trying times in office, Democrats agreed he delivered accomplishments, including guiding the nation out of a pandemic and passing a massive infrastructure package. After a devastating debate against Trump in late June, however, doubts about Biden’s ability to run a vigorous campaign swelled. Calls within the party for his exit from the race steadily grew.

In early July, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., reportedly tried to assemble a group of Democrats to ask Biden to drop out of the race .

“I don’t know anyone during those challenging weeks who didn’t start with the premise that Joe Biden has been a great president and we owe him a lot,” Warner said.

In a show of gratitude for Biden’s contributions to the party, a series of tributes is planned during the convention, including from Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

Coons said that in recent conversations, Biden has already shifted to planning how he wants to close out his time in office.

“He was already looking ahead, talking about what he could accomplish in the last six months of the term and how he could have the biggest impact. He was asking what are things I thought we needed to do, and he spoke positively about the Harris campaign,” Coons said. “He’s excited to campaign. I think he’s going to campaign hard in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.”

Chris Korge, national finance chairman of the Harris Victory Fund, said demand was through the roof for entry Monday night, when party members want to show “their incredible respect for Joe Biden.”

“People realize what Joe Biden has done as president over the last four years, and that is the foundation for why and how Kamala Harris will be the 47th president of the United States,” Korge said. “People see how selfless it was for Joe Biden. I’ve heard this from so many people who feel like he decided not to run — it wasn’t because he didn’t think he could win — he thought this was the right time for him, and he made the decision to let the next generation move forward.”

Some still harbor strong feelings about how circumstances unfolded. They include first lady Jill Biden, who has privately expressed dismay over how some Democrats treated her husband.

“I’ve talked to 100 early Biden people, from House members to senators to National Finance Committee members, who think he got totally screwed,” said a source familiar with internal discussions, who requested anonymity to reveal private conversations. “It was unfair and unwise and unjust. Those people who did it will not have this moment in history reflect well on their own behavior. … I have a lot of hard feelings toward people who were pushing Joe out, but Kamala Harris is not one of them. She was not Judas at all.”

Chris Dodd, a former senator from Connecticut and longtime Biden friend who had just spoken to him by phone, said Biden was forward-looking and wasn’t focused on carrying grievances.

“I’d be shocked to hear that Joe Biden, the person I know, is walking around holding grudges against people,” said Dodd, who has a 50-year friendship with the president. Dodd said he hopes the tributes that flood in Monday touch on Biden as a person as well as commemorate his time in office. “In 50 years of public life, I can honestly say I don’t know if I’ve ever met anybody in public life who was as decent, as kind, as thoughtful a human being as President Joe Biden.”

Natasha Korecki is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Peter Nicholas is a senior White House reporter for NBC News.

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How to Write a Memorable Retirement Speech + Examples
Retirement Speech Etiquette; Tips for Writing a Retirement Speech; Short Retirement Speech Examples; If this is your debut into the world of retirement speeches, you don't have to fret too much. Think of it as giving a wedding toast but with fewer embarrassing stories and more career highlights. Even if you've mastered the art of public ...
7 Retirement Speech Samples (from the Retiree)
Speech 4: A Financier's Farewell. Today marks not an end but a culmination of a three-decade-long adventure in the world of finance. From the bustling floors of the stock exchange to the intense boardroom negotiations, my career has been nothing short of a thrilling ride.
5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples
Tips for Writing Your Retirement Speech. 5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples. 1. Farewell Type of Retirement Speech. 2. Short Retirement Speech. 3. Funny Retirement Speech. 4.
Retirement Speech Examples and Ideas That Get It Right
If writing a retirement speech isn't really in your wheelhouse, don't worry! It's easy to write a retirement speech when you create some focus for your words. Original Sample Speeches for Retirees. If you need a little more guidance on writing your retirement speech, check out these original sample speeches. They might help inspire your own ...
How To Write A Memorable Retirement Speech: A Complete Guide
How to Write a Retirement Speech. When it comes to writing a retirement speech, it's all about capturing the essence of the retiree's journey, expressing heartfelt gratitude, and creating a memorable experience for the audience. This section explores practical tips and creative strategies to help craft a speech that has a lasting impact.
Guide On How To Write An Amazing Retirement Speech With Examples
1. Plan Ahead. Before diving into your farewell retirement speech, ensure you have ample time to plan and prepare. Create a rough outline beforehand, jotting down key points you want to cover. Some crucial points you may want to prioritize in your draft outline: The beginning: Reflect on your early days in the company.
How to Write a Retirement Speech
Retirement Speech Writing Steps. Follow these six steps to creating a retirement speech. Step 1: Gather information. The first step to creating a retirement speech is to gather information about the person's life from different people. Hopefully, you can get extraordinary stories from them and a core idea of what you will put in the speech.
Amazing Retirement Speeches Examples & Writing Tips
Just a kind reminder: at SpeechPaths, you can order a customized speech for any special occasion, including a retirement speech. A dedicated expert will work one-on-one with you to craft the text that you'll be satisfied with. Hire an expert to write a retirement speech with a 20% discount today - chat with us to claim your code!
How to Give a Retirement Speech: Making Your Farewell Count
Key Themes to Include in a Retirement Speech. Think of your retirement speech as the capstone to a grand building you've been constructing over years of hard work. Let's dig into some themes that suit such a momentous occasion. Celebrating Milestones and Achievements. The meat and potatoes of any good retirement speech are the milestones.
How to Write a Retirement Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide
Retirement speeches are an excellent way to celebrate a long career journey, express appreciation, and leave a lasting impression on colleagues, friends, and family members. To write an unforgettable retirement speech, you need to have a deep understanding of your audience, the retiree's career journey, and show balance between humor and sincerity.
28 Powerful Tips For Your Retirement Speech
Prioritize simplicity—avoid cluttering your notes with excessive details, as this can lead to dependence on reading, hindering your connection with the audience. Instead, utilize brief points as a guide throughout your speech delivery. 4. Vary Your Tone And Pace. Vary your tone and pace to keep the audience engaged.
How to Write a Retirement Speech That Wows: Essential Guide
Writing a retirement speech can be a daunting task, but it is an opportunity to celebrate years of service and honor the retiree's accomplishments. It's important to start with a heartfelt introduction that acknowledges the retiree's contributions and dedication to their work. For instance, if the retiree has served for 25 years ...
How To Craft A Memorable Retirement Speech By A Retiree And For A Retiree
Retirement Speech Writing Tips. Here are seven tips to help you write a good retirement speech: 1. Make An Outline. Follow the structures discussed above. For each section, include three subsections. For example, when introducing the retiree, add three subsections like introducing the retiree as a colleague, the retiree as a mentor, and the ...
How to Write the Best Retirement Speech
In general, the key elements of a retirement speech are an appreciation of the inspiration, guidance, support, leadership and kindness of the person. To make your speech easy to write, you need to divide it into sections. To start, write down all the headlines of the retirement speech. Essentially, you are making a plan of your speech.
How To Write A Memorable Retirement Speech: A Complete Guide
4. Organise your notes and write the speech. Arrange all your ideas in the order you want to talk about them in your speech. Identify the points to convey at the beginning, followed by the ones that make the main body and then the points that end it. Next, write the speech connecting all the details.
Retirement Speech Ideas: 7 Brainstorming Prompts
A retirement speech should be heartfelt and genuine, showcasing the retiree's gratitude for their colleagues, friends, and family members who have supported them throughout their career. The speech can also include future retirement plans and goals. It is essential to keep the tone light-hearted and humorous while still expressing sincere ...
Retirement speech sample
The retirement speech sample below was written to show you the end result of using the step-by-step guidelines I put together on 'how to write a retirement speech' and, to find out just how long it took to follow my own advice! *You can find the answer to that $64 thousand dollar question at the foot of the page. Although my farewell address is fictional, it is based on experience.
How to write a retirement speech
How long you are expected to speak for governs how many words you write. A relatively informal retirement speech to be given at a social gathering is usually 3 - 5 minutes long. That's between 625 - 750 words depending how fast you speak. * Much more and you run the risk of losing people's attention.
How to Give a Great Retirement Speech
Avoid These 7 Retirement Speech Pitfalls. If you're not careful in planning your retirement speech, you could end up doing more harm than good. Don't be that co-worker or that Boss. Here are some real-life examples I've seen that you'll want to avoid: The Joker - Retirement speeches are tricky situations for humor. You will be likely ...
5 tips for giving an amazing retirement speech
Practice it in front of the mirror a few times and time yourself! 2. Think about your audience. Remember your audience is at different ages and stages - some are younger, some at the end of their career like you. Try to offer something for everyone! 3. Acknowledge the helpers and learning.
How to Give a Retirement Speech
5 Rules for a Great Retirement Speech. If you'll soon be called on to give a retirement speech, I suggest you keep these five rules in mind: 1. Keep it short. Your co-workers and family are there ...
Joe Biden Passes the Torch to Harris, Eyes Retirement in DNC Speech: 'I
The president was frequently interrupted by chants of "thank you Joe" during keynote that often resembled a campaign speech The post Joe Biden Passes the Torch to Harris, Eyes Retirement in DNC ...
The New AOC
The evolution of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a political force in American politics is fully apparent from just two speeches. The first was delivered at the 2020 Democratic National Convention ...
'Lock him up' chants after Hillary Clinton's remarks on Trump crimes
Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president against Trump in 2016, said that the party is writing a "new chapter in America's story." Watch: Rep. James Clyburn full remarks at DNC ...
Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and ...
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about "Trump's Project 2025" agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn't claim the ...
Americans love free speech, survey finds − until they realize everyone
Americans agree that democracy requires freedom of speech. But a large minority also thinks it's acceptable to bar certain subjects or speakers from public debate. ... Write an article and join ...
Biden tells America 'I gave my best to you' as he places his ...
In a valedictory speech in Chicago that stretched past midnight on the east coast, Biden, 81, also placed that legacy — and what he sees as the fate of American democracy — in the hands of the ...
Biden's 2024 DNC speech follows a tumultuous period for the president
With his remarks set for Monday, Biden is positioned to be the one who bridges the divisions. It will be "a great opportunity to seize this moment of unity for the party," said Bill Russo, who ...
DNC live updates: Emotional Biden embraces Kamala Harris after ...
The president has just finished his speech, with wife Jill walking up on stage to join him. In one of his last lines, Biden sums up his 50-year career in politics, saying: "America, I gave my best ...

How to Write a Memorable Retirement Speech + Examples

Belinda McLeod, BA in Secondary Education

Jump ahead to these sections:

Retirement Speech Etiquette

Who Gives a Retirement Speech?

The retiree

A boss or manager

Dress appropriately

Use humor wisely

Be positive

Time the speech correctly

Be grateful

General tips

Choose a speaker who knows the person well

Focus on the honoree

Keep it short — but not too short

Carefully use humor

As the retiree

As a trusted coworker or superior

For a friend

For your retirement

For a coworker

For a subordinate

For a teacher

For a family member

Funny retirement speech

Retirement: The Next Stage in Life

Categories:

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Written Samples

Sample Retirement Speeches (from the Retiree)

Speech 1: The Public Servant’s Lasting Commitment

Speech 2: The Healthcare Hero’s New Chapter

Speech 3: The Journey of a Lifelong Educator

Speech 4: A Financier’s Farewell

Speech 5: The Architect’s Blueprint for the Future

Speech 6: The Scientist’s Last Experiment

Speech 7: The Entrepreneur’s Next Venture

About To Retire And Need To Give A Speech? 5 Retirement Speech Ideas With Examples

How to Outline Your Retirement Speech

5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples

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Retirement Speech Examples and Ideas That Get It Right

Original Sample Speeches for Retirees

A Grateful Retirement Speech

A Serious Retirement Speech

A Funny Retirement Speech

Giving a Retirement Speech for an Employee

Tailor the Speech to the Employee

Retirement Speech Etiquette

Stay Positive

Time the Speech Accordingly

Read the Room

Be Grateful

Delivery Tips

Dress and Dazzle

Practice Beforehand

Breathe Deeply to Calm Down

Have Water Handy

Choose a Go-To Focal Point

Remember: The Speech Won't Last Forever

Enjoy the Moment

How To Write A Memorable Retirement Speech: A Complete Guide

What Makes a Great Retirement Speech?

Expressing gratitude

Understanding the audience

Choosing a speaker who knows the retiree well

Keeping it short but meaningful

Organizing notes and structuring the speech effectively

How to Write a Retirement Speech

Start with expressing gratitude

Ideas and inspiration for the speech content

Crafting a funny retirement speech

Keep the audience in mind while writing

Seek a review from a trusted person

Skills Required to Deliver a Retirement Speech