Farewell speech guidelines

Farewell speeches are best when they are sincere and positive.
Keep the speech as short as the message will allow, depending on the situation.
The following describes formal goodbye speeches for the workplace, but not all of the points described here need to be included in your speech.

To the leaver

“time to say goodbye to….”

• express appreciation for the leaver’s contribution,
• include affectionate/positive descriptions of the person,
• include one or two anecdotes that show why they are so appreciated,
• express how their leaving will impact on the organisation,
• wish them well with a presentation of some kind of keepsake or gift.

To those left behind

“how do I say goodbye to you all...”

This is your last chance to make your impact, and address the whole group, so represent yourself well.
This is ‘easy’ when it is sad to say goodbye to a great place to work.
What if you are leaving a job you hate? How do you leave on a good note?
The detailed speech notes also include points for those who are escaping to a better place.

But no matter how you feel, you should:

• describe what you got out of the workplace,
• say what you will take away from your experiences there
• mention why you are leaving and how you feel,
• say what you wish for the company and the people left behind
• wish everyone the best for the future and thank them for the farewell and for your experiences there.

Now that everyone’s finished talking, start eating!

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