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5 tips for giving an amazing retirement speech

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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How to Write a Memorable Retirement Speech + Examples

Updated 9/5/2023

Belinda McLeod, BA in Secondary Education

Contributing writer.

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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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Farewell Speech on Retirement

Table of Contents

Retirement Farewell Speech: Retirement is considered a new stage in life. The person has relinquished all professional commitments and is relishing time for self. Retirement is a welcome respite for many, who find themselves relieved of the stress of working life. This occasion could also be a time of mixed feelings for the person who is retiring. Both happy and sad moments flash in front of the person.

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The retirement farewell ceremony is organized to recognize the retiree’s work or contribution. A retirement speech should perfectly blend your experience in the current company and your future expectations in life. It includes thanking the retiree’s colleagues, friends, and family for their support over the years. Students are also asked to write farewell speeches on the occasion of retirement. Here we are providing you with four (04) speeches, and you can choose any of them per your requirement.

Retirement Farewell Speech

Here are some more ideas to add to your retirement speech: Begin by sharing your journey within the organization, from your early days to your growth over the years. Discuss your experiences collaborating with colleagues and mention the opportunities, challenges, and lessons you’ve gained along the way.

Retirement Farewell Speech 400 words – Sample 1

Good Afternoon Board of Directors, Colleagues, and Friends. It’s a pleasure to deliver the speech on my retirement from the company ABC Multinational Co. as the Chief Executive Officer. I welcome you all to this difficult but special occasion.

I have spent ten years with many of you as an executive officer at this company. It is delightful to acknowledge that you have given me the best working conditions and environment to deliver my duties and responsibilities. The company is highly profitable and is managed well by all of you. Thus, I now feel it’s the best time to retire from my position and allow other young and charismatic leaders to take over the position.

During my tenure at this company, I got opportunities to learn several things that have helped me both in my professional and personal life. I met and made many friends who supported me throughout. I learned key skills such as management ability, secret to time management skills , honesty, and teamwork. This is evident that we have achieved success by working together as a company and have earned several awards due to our dedication and motivation towards reaching our goal as a multinational company. Thus, I can certainly claim that my success in this company is due to your support.

It gives me immense pleasure to claim that our company is a leading one at the present moment. This is all because we work as a team, and the company values and respects every individual of the organization irrespective of position and role. At this moment, I express my honest gratitude to all my colleagues for your commitment to ensuring that the company grows beyond expectations. Nothing would have been possible without the support, hard work, and dedication of my team and other co-employees. I am sad because I will miss you all and this environment.

I remember when the company incurred a huge loss, and the shareholders became impatient with the company; the board of directors and my colleagues stood by me and motivated me. That was a massive challenge for us, and through your dedication and unconditional support, we overcame the situation and are making huge profits now.

This company has been my dream; my only desire was to see this company grow every day. We have achieved success, but we must maintain this success for years to come and multiply it with several more accolades and recognition. ABC Multinational Co. is proud to be associated with all the dedicated clients and employees.

I express my special thanks to all of you and wish that you continue to be successful in your life. There is a lot of learning ahead of you, so be focused and persistent, and you will be successful in your future endeavors.

Thank you very much.

Retirement Farewell Speech 400 words – Sample 2

Warm greetings of the day to all! Respected teachers and my dear students! I hope you all know that we have assembled here to bid me final goodbye as it is the day of my retirement from the position of Principal of our ABC School.

It’s been more than 15 years since my association with this prestigious school, and needless to say that I have developed an invincible bond with this institution. So, calling off my duties and responsibilities seems to be a little tough for me at this juncture. However, I would still like to take this opportunity to share things about my journey as the Principal of ABC School before retiring from the position. Though the journey was indeed very exciting and enriching for me, it was challenging at the same time. Since it was not possible to shoulder the responsibilities of the entire school on my own, I would like to personally thank the Vice Principal of our school, Dr. Shanti Devi, as well as my faculty members for standing resolutely in the process of career-building and shaping the future of our nation.

Of course, I cannot fail to mention my students who have performed brilliantly in their academics and in other co-curricular activities. Also, without the support of the teachers of our school, I would have been like a ship with no anchor. You all have made me what I am today and have endowed me with the ability to work towards the development of our school and take it to new heights. It swells my chest with pride to say that today our school has achieved the soaring height of success and gained state-wide acclamation and rewards because of the hard work of everyone associated with our school.

So, what better time than now when I can happily retire from this position after seeing the best of times? However, I would surely expect everyone here to achieve new milestones of success and bring our worldwide school acclamation. After spending memorable times here, forging everlasting union, and seeing incredible successes, I am retiring with a lot of contentment in my heart. There have been some special moments that will always remain close to my heart.

Although I am not sure whether I have been able to win your heart, one thing I can bet on is that you all have shown team spirit whatever challenges we have faced in the years gone by. I could bank upon my teachers and students every time. Whether it’s about hosting any event in our school, organizing a workshop, making arrangements for a guest visit, etc., you all have exceeded my expectations.

I wish for a bright future for all my dear students and a prospering career for my staff and faculty members. Keep going the same way; maintain the passion and zeal to achieve something bigger and better.

Thank you very much!

Retirement Farewell Speech 450 words – Sample 3

Hello Friends! Good evening.

Finally, we all have gathered to be a part of this special, bitter-sweet occasion. Thank you for arranging such a grand farewell party for me. You people have put in all your efforts to make my last day in this office as memorable as you have made it during these past years of mine.

It has been my pleasure to be connected with all the beautiful people I have worked with during my tenure in this company. Deep down in my heart, I have great memories of the shared times, friendships forged, and the incredible successes we have enjoyed; all these have been an extraordinary part of my life.

I am delighted to say that each of you, the board of directors, my colleagues, and friends have given me the best working environment and greatest of freedom along with trust to exercise my duties. You all have strengthened my ideas by keeping faith and having confidence in me. I am proud to claim that my career at this company has been outstanding due to the support, appreciation, encouragement, and cooperation I have received from each of you. I cannot thank you enough for this.

But now, it is time for me to look forward to having to spend time and the freedom to pursue my hobbies and interests, including writing, travel, and hanging out with my family and friends.

My dear team, I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together, and they have been the times I can never forget. We have achieved a lot by working in harmony as a company. My career has been both challenging and rewarding. I have done my best, and the management has rewarded me well. I have been privileged to be a part of such a team that has achieved the success we all have been proud of.

I am short of words to thank you, especially the board of directors, for encouraging me so much, even when things appeared to be quite challenging. With the help of your support, hard work, kindness, friendship, and appreciation, I have achieved whatever I wanted to and have been able to give this company my best. It is hard to bid you all goodbye, but the time says it has to be done. I will miss this amazing environment and colleagues who always stood by me and helped me execute my plans.

I have full faith that this great company will continue to grow and prosper, and I trust that each of you will scale great heights here. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for sharing this amazing celebration dinner with me and for the incredible love, support, and friendship. You all will be missed. Thank you, everyone; thanks for all your wishes. I am overwhelmed with this love of yours.

Stay connected! Good Bye!

Retirement Farewell Speech 400 words – Sample 4

Good Morning dear friends; thanks for joining me here on my retirement day. It is time for me to summarize my tenure at this stage and bid you all goodbye.

I am humbled and in awe today that so many of you considered my retirement ceremony worthy of your time.

I am here to share my sincere gratitude for my time in this company and your people. It has been a long journey together; during this tenure, I have been able to build myself. It has been a phase during which I have become more courageous, kinder, and enthusiastic. Thank you all for making me what I am today. Your love, affection, care, and knowledge have made me stand high today.

I am thankful to the management for noticing and encouraging my talent and work ethic. You have noticed my skills and appreciated them from the very beginning. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for believing in me for this entire tenure and making me enrich my life. You have been just like my second family, and you have supported me in my career and personal life.

I must say that I have been allotted the best team in the company, I may sound boastful, but it is true. My teammates have been the best part of my journey; they have made my dreams live and have put in all the efforts so that we diverse people are acknowledged and known as one entity throughout the company. Last week, I remember one of them saying sir, we wished that each one of our retirement came the same day. Just imagine these young blood saying such great words. What more could I have asked for? You all complete me.

You have always supported me and stood by my side. You made me see sense when things got a little blurry. And for this, I thank you. I want to thank all my bosses and colleagues for allowing me to achieve my full potential and giving me a chance to make a name for myself.

Thank you, everyone, for making me realize my fullest potential. Thank you for this grand morning start on my last day and for giving me hope that the time ahead will help me prosper. Each one of you will stay in my heart forever. I wish this company reaches great heights and we all stay connected throughout.

Though our paths are changing now, I will request you all to be connected with me. I am considering this post-retirement phase as my vacation time now, and I hope that you people won’t forget me during this phase of my life.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. I will miss you all. It feels honored to hear such great words for myself. Thank you! Thank you so much for everything.

Good luck, everyone! Bye!

Retirement Farewell Speech FAQs

What should i say in a farewell speech.

In a farewell speech, express gratitude, share memories, and bid a heartfelt goodbye to your audience.

What do you say in a farewell speech for a retiring colleague?

For a retiring colleague, acknowledge their contributions, wish them well, and convey your best wishes for their future.

How do you start a farewell introduction?

To start a farewell introduction, warmly welcome the audience, introduce the purpose, and set a positive tone for the occasion.

How do you say goodbye to a retiring colleague?

Say goodbye to a retiring colleague with warmth, appreciation, and best wishes for their new journey.

What do you say at a retirement farewell?

At a retirement farewell, speak about the retiree's achievements, offer thanks, and wish them a happy retirement.

How do you write a farewell speech to a coworker?

When writing a farewell speech for a coworker, mention their impact, share anecdotes, and express good wishes for their next chapter.

What should I say at my retirement speech?

In your retirement speech, thank colleagues, reflect on your career, and express excitement for the future.

What does the retiree say at a retirement party?

What should i say in my retirement speech.

The retiree can say thanks, share retirement plans, and express gratitude during a retirement party speech.

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Retirement Wisdom

Retire Smarter

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.

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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. 

You May Also Be Interested In:

How to Give a Retirement Gift That’s Meaningful

Find the Volunteer Opportunity That’s Right for You

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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 .

• 30 Friendly Farewell Messages for When a Colleague Is Leaving
• Tips for a Winning Student Council Speech for Treasurer

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.

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• Retirement Farewell Speech

Speech on Retirement Farewell

Farewell speeches are important for both who is giving it and also for the one whom it is made for. A farewell speech on the retirement of a teacher from an institute helps in thanking him/her for their service at the institution. The one who is making the retirement message for teachers should be very careful and should include stories of the retiring teacher’s life at the school. 

Below are two retirement speeches in English given i.e. a long retirement speech in English and a short retirement speech in English. Students can refer to these speeches and can also note down all the points that should be included in a retirement farewell speech. These speeches will help the students to give a good retirement farewell speech for their teachers.

Long Retirement Farewell Speech

Good morning everyone! Today we all have gathered here to celebrate the career of our beloved teacher and mentor, Mr. Shah. Today he will be bidding farewell to us after 25 years of service to this institution. Mr. Shah is the best when it comes to teaching. Years have passed and he has taught physics to many batches. I feel privileged to know that I am one of his students. He is not only a great teacher but has always guided us whenever we needed guidance. He has always made us realize the importance of life and has helped in defining what success really means. 

Today all of us have gathered here to celebrate his life at our institution and extend our thanks to him for his mentorship. I just realized that it’s been four years since I joined our institution and I did not attend Mr. Shah’s class until I was in my 8th grade. But I had heard a lot of talks about a teacher who teaches Physics very well. It was said that when he teaches physics the students don’t forget the concept for many years to come. 

I did not believe these rumours until I attended Mt Shah’s physics class. I was literally blown away by the methods of teaching physics by Mr. Shah. His innovative ways of teaching the concepts and making them simple for the students to understand is amazing. On behalf of every student, thank you, Mr. Shah, for all your efforts to teach us and I can guarantee that we all will apply your method of teaching in the future.

This year marks Mr. Shah’s 25 years as a teacher at our institute. For 25 years, he has spent his time among all the students, sharing his knowledge and important life lessons. He has supported every student and taught us many valuable life lessons. I do agree that he was strict sometimes as a teacher but he was also very friendly like a friend. 

Although Mr. Shah was a strict teacher, he occasionally had fun moments with all of us. He is very enthusiastic when it comes to sports and is always ready to play a game of badminton. I have no shame in admitting that he has defeated me twice and I am assuring you, Sir, I am going to win the third game so be prepared.

Besides being an excellent, creative, and hardworking teacher, he is very good at managing events. He was the one who took the entire responsibility of the Science fest and Annual sports day at our school last year. Throughout his stay in our school, he had humbly participated and contributed to all the events.

To conclude, I want to say that Mr. Shah has always been more than just a teacher. He inspires me to be a better person. Through his actions, he teaches me how to manage life. I owe a lot of my success because of his guidance and the trust he showed in me. At this moment, I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Shah for being a great teacher and a role model. I hope he has a very peaceful and happy life ahead. Thank you for your service sir! 

Short Retirement Speech in English

Good morning everyone! Today is a special day as we all have gathered here to celebrate the life and career of Mr Shah at this institute. Mr. Shah has given 25 years of his life to this institute.

For 25 years he has spent his time among all the students, sharing his knowledge and important life lessons. He has supported every student and taught us many valuable life lessons.

Apart from being a great teacher, he has guided us all whenever we were lost in our journey. Mr. Shah has helped us to understand what success is and has always made us realize the importance of life. He has made sure to be there whenever we need help and for that, we all thank you, sir.

Mr. Shah is very good at making all the students understand the difficult concepts of physics. His innovative ways of teaching the concepts and making them simple for the students to understand is amazing. On behalf of every student, thank you, Mr. Shah, for all your efforts to teach us.

Besides being an excellent, creative, and hardworking teacher he is very good at managing events. He was the one who took the entire responsibility of the science fest and Annual sports day at our school last year. Throughout his stay in our school, he had humbly participated and contributed to all the events.

On behalf of everyone, I wanna say that Mr. Shah, you will be missed. When we come tomorrow and learn Physics, it won’t be as exciting as it was when you teach it. Your presence at the fest next year will be missed. I would like to extend my gratitude towards Mr. Shah for being a great teacher and a role model for generations to come. I hope you have a very peaceful and happy life ahead. Thank you so much for your service sir!

10 Lines on Retirement Message For Teacher

Retirement speech is all about celebrating the accomplishment of the person who is about to retire. 

A retirement speech is very important if there is a farewell ceremony. 

A retirement speech is always made by a student or a dear friend of the person who is retiring. 

A farewell speech on retirement should show gratitude towards the retiring person. 

The speech should not be too long and too short. 

The speech should make a retiring person feel good. 

The farewell speech should include the retiring person’s life at the institute. 

The farewell speech on retirement should celebrate the achievements of the retiring person at the institute. 

The farewell speech on retirement should include a story of the retiring person at the school. 

Retirement wishes for teachers should celebrate the retiring individual’s life at the institute. 

Tips for Writing a Speech 

Writing an impressive speech is an art. There are very few Politicians who are very impressive in delivering but need writers to write for them. Now the question arises what all goes into writing a speech which leaves the audience spellbound and all praise for the speaker.

An impactful speech should always make an effect on the audience, it should be remembered by them long after the speech is over. Your words should leave an effect on them. For example you are giving a speech for some product, the product sale depends on the way you speak, the way you present your ideas to the audience and also the way you present yourself. 

The speaker can be a politician, a union leader, a school Principal, an administrator or anyone holding a conspicuous position. You shall work on your communication skills before you go for a speech, make sure you speak clearly and also have a very important effect. So certain points need to be taken care of while delivering your speech as what you speak matters. Let's understand a few of them. 

Being Personable

The speaker must appear to be an amiable and pleasing personality. The words chosen for him must be such that they do not show him to be an arrogant, haughty person. There needs to be a certain dignity wrapped up in humility. The audience will be ready to listen to him if they sort of start liking him and that depends on the choice of words.

Educate Your Audience

Whatever the speaker is going to speak should focus on bringing the main theme of the speech home. The audience should be able to understand the import of his speech clearly. They should not be put into confusion or doubt. For this, the writer needs to read the speaker's mind clearly and must be thoroughly informed about the purpose of the speech. If the speaker is able to create a clear and impressive picture in the minds of the people he is addressing, he will definitely be able to convey what he has said to many more people through word of mouth of his audience. So it is important that the writer writes the speech to educate the audience.

Show Your Passion

Successful speakers make tall promises, citing examples of their zeal of putting their heart and soul into certain kinds of work. His words should be packed with craving to do anything  and  everything for the people he will be dealing with. He should seem waiting for opportunities to serve those whom he is trying to impress. Hence the writer needs to put in real labour to show the restlessness of the speaker ready to make any sacrifice. 

Play to Emotions

People of high profile are fairly well-versed with all the nitty gritties of their jobs but most of them find it hard to think of words which may impress their subordinates or other people working for them. Similarly, politicians who have to speak to win, hire writers for them and pay them hefty amounts because their victory or defeat depends on how they have been able to  present themselves before the masses. 

These writers play with the emotions of the audience, touching such issues which keep the general public always troubling. They will cite examples from the day to day inconveniences of the people and will blame the present system or set up people governing at present and will paint a rosy picture of their own plans if they are given a chance to serve. So to make the speech impactful, the writer needs to know the art of playing with the emotions of his audience.

Stay on Task and be Brief  

As said earlier, an expert speech writer will not make use of such words or techniques to confuse the audience. He will not beat about the bush instead will stick to the main theme, the main subject. He has to keep the audience spellbound and glued and that will be possible only when he moves on the track. It's always better to be brief and to the point because the more you speak the more you bore the audience and garner dislike. So the wise writer will prepare the speech keeping these two points in mind.

Know Your Audience

Knowing the audience is the most important thing. Before the writer embarks upon the task of writing an impressive speech, he should know who is going to be addressed. If he writes a high flown language for the factory workers or labour class, rural public or people of such category, his labour will go waste and he is likely to lose his future assignments. He, at the same time must be acquainted with the emotions and religious beliefs and fervor of the public of the area and should write accordingly. It will be better if he does research about the problems and roadblocks of the area. Hence to write an impressive and impactful speech needs a lot of spadework on the part of the writer.

Focus on the prime topic of the speech and understand what underlying message you want to deliver to the audience. Remember every speech has to be to the point and interesting to grab the attention of all the listeners. Hence, focus on the points mentioned for this speech here and compile on your own.

FAQs on Retirement Farewell Speech

1. Why is a speech given on a special occasion?

A speech is delivered on a special occasion either to commemorate the event, deliver specific information to the audience, or to respect a special guest or a member of any group. It can also be focused on a celebrity or an eminent personality. 

2. Is voice modulation necessary while delivering a speech?

Voice modulation is absolutely necessary to express your emotions and to grab the attention of the audience perfectly. It also helps to ask questions, answer some questions that are already lurking in the mind of an audience, and to show the right emotion behind the words.  

What should you say in your retirement speech that will blow everyone’s mind?

Let's discuss what to say in a retirement speech to make your retirement celebration truly memorable..

Retirement is an important milestone in any person’s life, marking the end of a long and fulfilling career. It is a time to reflect on the years of hard work, accomplishments, and growth, as well as a time to look forward to the future and the new opportunities that lie ahead.

For many, retirement is also a time to celebrate with friends, family, and colleagues, often at a retirement party or a smaller gathering at the office. In any case, retiring is an event to remember so a retiree-to-be is often expected to give a retirement speech. In this article, we will discuss what to say in a retirement speech and offer some retirement party speech ideas to make your retirement celebration truly memorable.

1. Express gratitude

The first thing to include in a retirement speech is a heartfelt expression of gratitude to those who have supported you throughout your career. This might include your colleagues, friends, family, mentors, and even your employers. Take the time to acknowledge the ways in which these people have helped you grow and succeed, and thank them for their contributions to your journey. If your family is present you may want to thank them too (your wife and kids might have also supported you in many different ways).

2. Reflect on your accomplishments

Next, take some time to reflect on your accomplishments throughout your entire career. Consider the challenges you faced, the goals you achieved, and the impact you made in your field when giving the speech at the retirement party. Share some of your proudest moments and talk about the lessons you learned along the way. A retirement speech is a great opportunity to inspire yourself and others and celebrate achievements. 

3. Share your vision for retirement

As you move into retirement, you likely have some ideas about what you want to do with your newfound free time. Take some time to share your vision for retirement with your audience in your retirement farewell speech. Whether you plan to travel, volunteer, take up a new hobby, or spend time with family and friends, let your audience know what you’re looking forward to in this new chapter of your life.

4. Offer advice and wisdom

As someone who has spent a long time in your profession, you likely have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to share with others. Take some time to offer advice to your colleagues and other professionals who may be starting out in their careers. Share some of the lessons you learned and the strategies that helped you succeed .

5. Finish on a high note

Finally, end your farewell speech on a positive note. Thank your audience once again for their support, express your excitement for the future, and perhaps share a quote or a piece of wisdom that has inspired you throughout your career. This is a time to celebrate all that you’ve accomplished and all that you have yet to achieve.

Ideas on what to say in a retirement speech

Here are some ideas to help you deliver a meaningful and memorable retirement speech:

•         Talk about your hobbies, interests, and future plans
•         Share a personal story that illustrates your career journey
•         Include humor, but keep it tasteful
•         Use quotes or sayings that inspire you
•         Use visual aids, such as photos or videos
•         Keep your speech concise and to the point
•         Speak from the heart and be sincere
•         Practice your speech beforehand to feel confident and comfortable

Samples of Retirement Speech

These are some retirement thank you speech examples that you can check out. Perhaps they will help you to write your own:

Retirement speech example 1

Greetings to all. As I stand here today to say goodbye to my coworkers and the company, I find myself experiencing a wide range of emotions. To begin, I would like to express my gratitude to my employer and coworkers for the privilege of working with such a fantastic bunch of individuals.

I started out as an intern here 30 years ago and am now the Chief Operating Officer. It’s been an amazing ride, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the company’s success. I have gained a great deal of knowledge from my coworkers and boss, and I will always value the time spent with them.

During my stay here, I oversaw the launch of a new software system that drastically improved our data management. Additionally, I participated in a number of community outreach projects that ultimately aided in fostering better ties between the company and the local populace. These accomplishments were made possible thanks to the assistance of my team and Jill, the best and most professional CEO I ever had the pleasure to work with.

My future goals include seeing the world and spending more time with my loved ones. I’ll never forget my experience here, and I’m going to miss the company and my coworkers. I have no doubt the company will go on to greater and greater heights, and I eagerly anticipate hearing about its future achievements.

To wrap up, I’d like to thank everyone I worked with and everyone who helped me along the way at this company. We appreciate the chances, the help, and the time spent together. I want to leave you all with a piece of advice that’s served me well throughout my career: always strive for excellence, never give up on your dreams, and cherish every moment of your life. In closing, I want to say that it has been a pleasure to collaborate with you and that I wish you the best of luck in your future undertakings. It’s much appreciated.

Retirement speech example 2 – a heartfelt one

Good afternoon, everyone. I would like to thank you all for being here today to celebrate my retirement. It has been an incredible journey, and I have had the pleasure of working with so many amazing people over the years.

When I first started my career, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to work with such a talented and dedicated team. From the early days of my career to my current role, I have learned so much from my colleagues and mentors.

I would like to take a moment to thank a few people who have had a significant impact on my career. First, I would like to thank my mentor, John. John took me under his wing when I was just starting out. From the sleepless nights to the long hours of working, I will never forget the lessons he taught me.

I would also like to thank my colleagues, who have become like family to me over the years. We have shared so many memories and experiences, and I will miss working with each and every one of you.

As I move on to the next phase of my life, I am excited to explore new opportunities and spend more time with my family. I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing the continued success of the organization.

Thank you all again for your support and friendship over the years. It has been an honor to work alongside you.

Retirement speech example 3 – a short one

Good afternoon, everyone. It is hard to believe that my time at this amazing organization has come to an end. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated and talented individuals, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished together.

As I move on to the next chapter of my life, I am excited about the new opportunities that await me. Retirement is not the end but a new beginning, and I plan to make the most of it.

I want to take a moment to thank my colleagues and mentors for their unwavering support and encouragement. Thank you all for being a part of my journey. Your friendship and support have been a constant source of inspiration, and I will cherish the memories we have made together.

In closing, I want to leave you all with this quote by John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” I hope that, in some small way, I have been able to inspire and lead throughout my career. Thank you all again for everything.

Retirement speech example 4 – a funny one

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and cherished friends, today I stand before you today with a heart filled with mixed emotions — sadness, joy, excitement, a bit of fear and the sudden urge to break into the Macarena. Yes, my friends, after countless years of battles with the office microwave that seems to have a vendetta against popcorn, the moment has finally arrived—my retirement day!

As I look back on my time in this incredible workspace, I can’t help but chuckle at the memories we’ve created together. From the infamous stapler thief incident (seriously, who steals a stapler?) to the epic battle of wills between the printer and our IT department, we’ve experienced a myriad of unforgettable moments that could easily fuel a sitcom.

Let’s not forget the legendary office parties where we showcased our secret talents, like Terry from accounting who revealed his hidden breakdancing skills, and Linda from HR who surprised us all with her impressive opera singing (we still have the shattered windows to prove it).

But amidst the laughter and hilarity, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you. You’ve been more than just coworkers; you’ve been a second family—a dysfunctional, wonderfully quirky, and occasionally noisy family that I’m proud to be a part of.

As I bid farewell to this place, I leave you with a few pearls of wisdom. Remember, never trust a microwave’s estimation of cooking time, because it will always deceive you. And when it comes to office politics, well, just pretend to be Switzerland—neutral, diplomatic, and occasionally armed with chocolate.

Thank you all for the memories, the laughter, and the friendships that have made this journey worthwhile. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a recliner, a piña colada, and a never-ending playlist of ’80s classics. Cheers to retirement, where the only deadlines we face are deciding which tropical destination to visit next!

In conclusion, delivering a heartfelt retirement speech can be an emotional and challenging experience. However, by following these retirement speech tips, you can create a memorable and meaningful speech that will leave a lasting impression on your colleagues and employees. Remember to keep it personal and sincere, and don’t forget to thank the people who have been part of your career journey.

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How to write a great retirement speech

If you’re preparing a speech for an upcoming retirement bash, you are either retiring, or speaking about someone who is. These clearly require different approaches. So firstly, let’s focus on the retiree:

You are retiring

You’ve been working in the same role for quite some time.  Life is about to change dramatically. You’re either moving to work elsewhere (or start your own thing) or retiring for good. And to celebrate the occasion, you have to stand up in front of your colleagues and say something pithy.

Don’t panic.

This is actually quite an easy speech to make. And you can make it without running through the cut-and-paste retirement speech jokes about gold clocks and too much time with your spouse.

As with every speech, the best place to start is in your audience. Imagine you are a colleague who has worked with you. Will they want a tear-jerking epic, tracing your professional and emotional development in minute detail? Will they want drawn-out reminiscences of colleagues long since departed, or stories of complicated deals done long ago?

In most cases the answer is a resounding ‘no’ (although there are a couple of accountancy firms that  encourage this sort of thing!).

The key is to be crisp, self-deprecating and relatively brief (10 minutes max as a general rule).

Which means that should NOT:

• Remind colleagues of your greatest deals
• Talk through your many promotions
• Pontificate on how you achieved such incredible success

Nor should you belittle the business. If this really is your ‘great escape’, don’t forget that the others have to return to work the following morning. So by all means have a joke or two about common grievances, but don’t make them feel that they are stuck in a horrible rut.

Retirement speeches that work best tend to:

• Contrast the business today to how it was when you arrived
• Tell an anecdote or two about when you did something really silly
• Focus on the lovely things you will miss – what makes the atmosphere at work so special
• Give thanks those who have done the most to make your time there so special (but don’t start listing everyone)

The beauty of that approach is that it balances humorous / lighter material with more sincere stuff, and makes the speech about the business rather than you. A nostalgic memory or two might add some colour, and a brief look forward would be great (but more about the business’ future than your own).

You might want to finish with a toast to the company – or, even better, to your colleagues. You will come across as modest, amusing and thoughtful.  And you can leave the job of bigging you up to …

The person speaking about the person who is retiring!

If this was a wedding you’d be the best man. Your role is to send the retiree off in the best possible way, which doesn’t mean telling a series of stories about debauched nights out, disastrous decisions or their smelly breath.

Your job is to make them feel like they have been valued, without going into too much detail as to why. It should focus on the personal benefits of having worked with them (lessons learned, problems shared, steam let off) rather than a list of their ten greatest deals / sales / audits. A fun story or two would be great, but not if it is all about you.

Remember, you are not there to demonstrate what a huge role you played in the retiree’s life, but to speak for your colleagues in singing his or her praises.

It’s also important to touch on areas outside work. Remember that for the retiree, this is (hopefully) not the end of their life. It’s a new beginning, something they have (hopefully) worked long and hard for. So if they want to spend more time at home, mention the sacrifices they have made to get to where they have at work. If they want to play more golf, use a golf-related theme to link the speech together.

Keep it under ten minutes, keep it punchy and light, but ensure that at least 20% is sincere and meaningful. Ensure that when you finish speaking, the retiree feels that they are truly appreciated.

Want some help with a retirement speech?

That’s what we do! We’d be delighted to help write your speech from scratch or edit a draft you have already written. Please call us on 0207 118 1600 or email Lawrence for more information.

And what about a brilliant retirement present?

OK – this is a bit cheeky, but if you’ve read this far you may have a feel for the way we work.  If you like it, please do take a look at our memoir writing service , where we conduct a series of interviews with people keen to record their personal and family history and then write a short book for them to share with their families. If you’d like to give us a gift to the retiree, we’ll create a personalised voucher for you to hand over after your speech and will do a fabulous job.

We hope our guide on how to write a great retirement speech has been of help.

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Lawrence Bernstein

One comment.

I’m going to retire at the Navy GatewayInn and suite this coming May 19th 2017 but Im looking a funny retirement speech I don’t want a sad speech or like Farwell speech.also not to long speech I want professional words but nice.I made a 34 yrs. in service at Ngis as a front desk associate. I want to thanks all my Co workers.supervisor,leaders at the end of speech.that’s it.

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Steps to a Good Retirement Speech

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The secrets to writing a great speech are to know your subject, know your audience and to always leave them wanting more. Retirement speeches usually take place at social functions where everyone is already in good spirits and looking forward to enjoying an inspiring and entertaining talk containing amusing stories about the retiree, acknowledgement of his positive relationship with them and that doesn't keep them away from the bar for too long.

Research and Contribution

The first step is to gather as much information as possible. If the retirement speech is by the retiree, much of the material will come from memory. However, if you are writing a speech about someone else who is retiring, you will need to do some research. Ask colleagues for anecdotes and stories your audience will appreciate, says Rich Retirement Letter.

Former colleagues and even family members may also be a good source of unexpected and early career stories. Whether you are writing a speech for your own retirement or someone else’s, be sure to only use career-relevant information and never anything that could cause embarrassment.

Planning the Logistics

Check how long the speech needs to be. Formal occasions such as conferences might require longer speeches, but more informal parties require something shorter and punchier, especially if people need to get home or back to work. Consider the kind of atmosphere you want to create and who the audience is. They may not appreciate risque jokes or embarrassing anecdotes, even if you know each person well. When in doubt, keep it simple, says Retirement Wisdom .

Any clients or benefactors present may appreciate an acknowledgement or even discreet flattery. Organize your material into categories such as attention-grabbing, amusing, motivating, thought-provoking and tear-jerking, then decide how much of each you want to include. Don't discard anything yet if there's too much. You may find some backup material helpful at the last moment depending on how you judge your audience.

Drafting the Speech

Begin with an attention-grabber, which can be a joke or amusing statement to get the audience listening and receptive. Arrange your main material so it moves through a flow of emotions, ideally starting and ending with the more positive and upbeat mood. Keep the thoughts flowing smoothly, although the surprise factor can be useful for keeping the audience’s attention. Close by thanking everyone for coming, their support over the years and the gifts. If the speech is for a colleague, thank the retiree for her hard work and dedication before presenting her with a gift.

Rehearsing and Editing

Once you have drafted the retirement farewell speech, read it through aloud and start to make edits so it sounds more natural and not like a script. When you are happy with the draft, ask a trusted colleague to proofread it from the audience's perspective. He should be able to offer insights into how it comes across and ideas for improvements. Practice the finished speech aloud several times, as you would with any presentation, and note your timings. Finally, put your key points onto index cards, relax and enjoy giving your speech. If you need some inspiration, there are plenty of retirement speech examples online.

• Retirement Wisdom: How to Give a Great Retirement Speech

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