The Office Party Speech Survival Guide

LONDON, December 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Plastic Secret Santa gifts have been exchanged and the quiet new lady in accounts has become worryingly garrulous. The formal work chat is metamorphosing into some pretty energetic office gossip.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131211/658588 )

But one person in the room is beginning to feel edgy: the boss is about to give the Christmas Party speech.

It's a hell of a challenge. There's the need to be suitably jolly and humorous. The desire to be motivational and inspiring. The hope that this will be the start of a great new period for the business. And yet there's the distinct feeling that the team are already way beyond caring.

It's the boss' chance to sound human, accessible and in-touch. To win over the cynics and those already booked in to see you on Monday to complain about their (lack of) bonus. But David Brent demonstrated how that can work in practice.

So it isn't the time for your first attempt at stand up. Nor should you be launching the company's latest marketing strategy or your vision for the decade ahead.

This is an opportunity for you to present - or reinvent - yourself as the perfect boss. Witty and grateful - you can motivate everybody to work even harder next year. But tread carefully. Make a fool of yourself and you'll be the brunt of office gossip long after the tinsel has come down.

If you're going to impress them, you need to nail that speech. So we've come up with a speech survival guide to plot a safe route through the office party jungle.

We suggest that every boss:

1. Plans in advance

2. Keeps it short

3. Includes a warm welcome

4. Says 'thank you'

5. Keeps things constructive and positive

6. Doesn't over-motivate

7. Includes a funny story

8. Ends with a toast

To see the full Guide, please visit http://www.greatspeechwriting.co.uk/speechwriting/how-to-crack-your-office-party-speech/. Our site also includes general advice about writing and delivering speeches.

Notes for Editors

Great Speech Writing (http://www.greatspeechwriting.co.uk) is an independent business with a sole focus on helping clients improve the quality and impact of their speeches. Clients include business people, politicians and social speakers, whose information is treated with absolute discretion.