How To Deliver A Killer Thank You Speech

Writing a terrific thank-you speech is great, but the magic behind a really great speech is the speaker's ability to deliver it in a manner that matches the eloquence of the words themselves. Here are eight keys to delivering a fantastic acceptance speech that anyone can use.

1. Speak to individuals
Instead of addressing your audience as a large group of people, create "mini conversations" by speaking to individual members of your audience. Pick a specific person or a spot in the crowd, deliver a complete thought, then look at a different person, deliver a complete thought and so on. People will feel an instant connection with you because you're looking them in the eye as you speak.

Know where people are sitting so that when you're thanking the committee or specific members of the organization, you can look in their general direction to show them you care and to honor them.

2. Pause
As much as your audience will enjoy listening to your 3-5 minute speech, they will equally welcome appropriate pauses during your presentation. If you want to emphasize something, say it and then pause to allow your listeners a chance to reflect. Remember, time and space get all jumbled up in the mind of the speaker.

When you pause during your speech for 2-3 seconds to let a point or comment sink in, it will feel like you haven't said anything since the cretaceous period. But to your audience the silence will be refreshing and well received.

3. Slow down
Slow down. Slow down. Slow down. Even when they're trying to be mindful of their pace, many public speakers rush through their speech like an overly eager shopper at 5 a.m. at a door-buster sale on Black Friday.

Take your time, this isn't the Oscars. The orchestra won't begin playing to force you off the stage. You have all the time in the world, enjoy your moment in the sun.

4. Speak up
Speakers often overestimate how loud they're talking even when using a microphone. Speak forcefully and clearly into the microphone so that your voice sounds slightly louder than normal conversational volume to your listeners. If you're unsure how you sound, ask the audience it they can hear you.

5. Smile
Your speech is commemorating a joyous, uplifting moment not a funeral. Make sure your smile reflects it. Even if you feel incredibly nervous on the inside, a smile tells your audience that you're happy to be there and you're thrilled by the honor of being recognized.

6. Show and tell
Today's audiences are accustomed to unbelievable amounts of visual stimulation from Hollywood to the Internet to video games. Your challenge is to engage your listeners using just your voice, your face and your arms. No easy task. But you can answer your audience's cry for eye candy by using your entire physical presence to bring your speech to life.

Let your arms and gestures be an extension of the words you're saying and think about how you can communicate size, time, numbers, geography, etc. with you hands. Gestures are a great way to add punch to your speech, get rid of nervous energy and generate a temporary boost in your volume and vocal inflection.

7. Don't talk over applause or laughter
If you should be fortunate enough to get some laughter or applause during your speech, be sure to let your audience fully express themselves in the moment. Remain quiet until the laughter or applause dwindles to almost nothing and then pick up right where you left off.

8. Do the two-step (pivot)
The two-step pivot is a unique move you can use when you're giving a speech from behind a podium and it serves two purposes. It allows you to release some nervous energy and it gives the appearance of movement even though you're basically standing in one place. Here's how it works.

Think of the area you're standing as a clock face, and if you're standing directly behind the podium facing the audience, that is considered 12 o'clock. To do a two-step pivot, move your feet to left (one at a time) so that they are pointing in the direction of 10 o'clock. Deliver a sentence or two and then pivot both feet back to 12 o'clock.

A few moments later point both feet to the right in the 2 o'clock position, and so on. The two-step pivot is great because it enables you to address different parts of the room and it confers the appearance of movement while keeping your mouth close to the microphone.

Follow these time-tested suggestions and you'll be well on your way to giving the thank you speech of a lifetime.

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