Apologies Accepting an award is not the time to revisit any past mistakes. Focus on the present and the future. ✗ “I’m sorry for slacking off when I first started this work.” ✓ “This is such fulfilling work and I’m honored to share it with all of you.” Long, personal anecdotes Tailor your speech to your audience and avoid talking about yourself ad nauseum as doing so will come off as conceited. ✗ “When I first moved to this city, I was unsure of myself and felt like I wouldn’t ever be able to find a way to give back. As a kid, I was always volunteering but stopped because it cut down on my social life and I just didn’t have time. College was a time when I….” ✓ “I was that kid that always raised my hand in class to help the teacher. Now, I’m still that kid!” Data dumping You should note the organization holding the event, but reading off a list of facts about its history or people involved will almost always cause the audience to disengage. ✗ “‘Teach Here Now’ is an organization started by the late Harold Beecher in 1972 with the mission of bringing equality to classrooms regardless of one’s race or economic group. For years, he traveled to several different countries all over the world and noted how the poorest communities were denied access to the same education as those in wealthier communities….” ✓ “This organization has helped equal the playing field for over 40 years, and I am honored to be a part of it.” Inappropriate jokes Avoid jokes that poke fun at people (unless they’ve agreed to it beforehand), discredit the award or organization, or are inappropriate. Keep jokes light and brief. ✗ “Well, I’m proud of Michael for deciding to wear actual pants today….” ✓ “I’d like to thank my wife, first and foremost, for allowing me to guzzle coffee at 4 in the morning and sleep through lunch.” Ranting about issues You can mention social issues that you care about (that are related to the award or organization), but keep it brief and hopeful. Avoid long-winded rants as doing so will come off as pessimistic and might seem disrespectful to the organization or the audience. ✗ “Let me tell you, more and more schools catered to minorities are defunded because of greedy, selfish men, allocating the budget to suit their own interests and cheating the system. Cheating good, hard-working families out of the life and education that they have a right to!” ✓ “It’s clear to me that the current education system is fractured, more and more teachers are living below the poverty line. However, the growth of this organization is proof that teachers’ quality of life is on the rise!” Pessimism or sarcasm An awards ceremony is a time of celebration, so avoid being pessimistic or overly sarcastic. A slight hint of sarcasm could be a powerful icebreaker (in the form of a joke), but unless you’re sure your words cannot be misinterpreted as offensive or dark, it’s best to avoid sarcasm altogether. Distracting mannerisms Many people shift their weight, fidget, or pull on their clothes when they’re nervous. It’s okay to be nervous, but be aware of your body language. Plant your feet, keep your arms relaxed (at your sides or on the podium), and maintain good posture. Rushing through Nerves can cause speakers to speed up when faced with a crowd. Practice your speech ahead of time with pauses and slow, clear diction. You’ll come off as more poised and people will be able to hear and understand what you’re saying. Low energy Maintain high energy to keep the audience engaged. ✗ Speaking with: a monotone voice, dull facial expressions, poor posture, a frown ✓ Speaking with: a varied and expressive tone, natural movements, a genuine smile, eye contact Reading from slides or notes Memorize your speech if you can, by remembering larger bullet points and naturally improvising the rest. If you must have written notes, only glance at them when necessary. Ending on a dud Avoid ending your speech on an abrupt, dull, or negative point. ✗ “Well, that’s it.” ✓ “Thank you, again, and I look forward to serving you and the advancing the values of this great community.”