SPEECHES – Thanking a Speaker –

When you are asked to thank a guest speaker there are a few simple rules to  follow.

        Keep it; Short, Sweet, Simple and Sincere.            

        When a guest speaker has finished addressing a meeting, the chairperson usually asks a member of the audience to propose a vote of thanks.

        A speech to thank a speaker is a special type of motion and should be delivered in a formal  manner but is rarely formal these days. (If put as a motion a seconded is not required.)

A handful of tips when you are  proposing a vote of thanks to a guest speaker

* The proposer should be warned early

        Well before the speaker starts a presentation the proposer should be given plenty of time to prepare a vote of thanks.

        Enough time to have a chat to the speaker to see if they can pick up any interesting new facts that can be used in the concluding ‘thank you speech’. This allows plenty of time for the speaker to collect their thoughts and to prepare any comments based on the content of the presentation.   

* Address your remarks through the chairperson

        If you are proposing a vote of thanks, treat it as a formal motion. “Madam Chair, I have much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr X …………..”  if not formal it is still best to address the chair. Madam Chair, on behave of the club I would like to thank  Dr X for his interesting address……..

  * Speak for the audience

         Express an appreciation of what was said. Comment on a few worthy points of interest in the speech and the manner of the presentation. Mention any valuable advice the speaker has given.

        Thank the speaker sincerely and modestly.

 * Do not criticise the speaker or the contents of the speech

        Even if you strongly disagree with it – it’s  bad form to criticise a guest. 

 * Speak to the audience

         Take a  deep breath before you stand up and don’t be in a hurry to start. If necessary use a microphone to make sure all can hear you. 

        Be grateful your guest has prepared, come and presented the presentation – it’s not an easy task!

Geoffrey Moss (mossassociates.co.nz)

“It’s not how long you talk that matters but what you say – be grateful and sincere.” 

Source: “Persuasive Ways. ‘Tricks of the trade’ to get your ideas across”. First published by  Moss Associates Ltd., New Zealand and in Chinese by the Shanghai People’s Publishing House, the Singapore Institute of Management, Kogan Page Ltd, U.K and in Hungarian by Bagolyvar Konyvkiado.  Also published as the “Secrets of Persuasion” by Thomson and Cengage Learning Asia and as an e-book and sold by Amazon.com.