Leaving Speech
Got to say something aside from goodbye? Sometimes, a company may require a short leaving speech for employees who decide to bid farewell and work somewhere else. And this favor most of the time brings tension on the part of the speaker as he or she becomes overwhelmed with the many possible things to say, not to mention the many different emotions or tones that he or she can set the speech in. Here are some guidelines to help you in composing your leaving speech:
- Take the time to reflect on what made you decide to leave. Go back to the farewell letter and resignation letter that you sent your boss. Is it the opportunity to explore new grounds? Is it for your personal and professional growth? Clearly lay out the reasons why you chose to leave, may it be pragmatic or personal. However, be very careful in saying this out, because it may appear that you are only leaving because of the better benefits that the new work has to offer. Acknowledge what your company provides, and then balance it with the assets of the other firm.
- Your farewell speech is your opportunity to say thank you to your colleagues, bosses, personnel and the company in general. Mention names of significant people who helped you become who you are, especially those who work with you the most. Sometimes it is impossible to mention everyone, so just thank everyone else who is not mentioned.
- You may also recall unforgettable moments at work – those late hours, maybe an incident that happened, and what makes you laugh even when in stress. You may also reflect on the things that you learned during your stay, and thank those people responsible for these.
- Tell the people around what happens next – are you decided to take the same job in another firm, or a different work? You may include personal things here if the audience is intimate enough, say, if you are moving out of your home to stay with your new family, or will be living with your other relatives whose house is near your new work. Do not forget to tell your workmates that even though you are in another work, that they can always reach you from your contact number, email or social network account. In your farewell speech, it is very important to show your colleagues that you are still connected to them in one way or another.
