Then start with an opening that really comes in!
Imagine: you will soon be in front of your team with a New Year's (or end-of-year) speech. Not as a “mandatory talk” but as a moment when you really touch people. No glazed looks. But energy, recognition and focus for the year ahead.
In the webinar ‘Speaking is a profession’ share Mandy Shield and Niek van den Adel Co-founders of the Speakers Club practical techniques to make your speech next level. Here are the key insights in advance and do you want the full flow, examples and formats?
Grab attention in the first 30 seconds...
The first seconds determine everything. If your opening doesn't land, you have to work really hard afterwards to win people back. The good news: a strong opening is not magic, it is a choice.
Use the 4 i's As a fast starter motor for your opening speech:
- Intrigue (put down a question, tension or contrast)
- Inform (make it immediately clear what this is about)
- Interest (make it personal and relevant to them)
- Inspire (give a desire/image of what is possible)
Examples:
- “May I ask you one question before we look ahead to the new year?”
- “If we stand here again in 12 months” time - what must be different?"
- “Today I am not going to shower you with figures. I want to do something else: take a moment to reflect on what we have built together.”
Tip: choose one direction. An opening that wants to do everything at once quickly feels messy.
Make your end-of-year or New Year's speech stronger with content, design & delivery
A good speech is more than a good story, It is the combination of:
- Content: what you say (message, structure, examples)
- Design: what people see (slides/images/words on screen)
- Delivery: how you bring it (voice, tempo, presence, pauses)
Think of it as a dish: top ingredients can still taste flat if the presentation (design + delivery) is not right (check the recipe cards at the bottom)
What you are going to change now...
- Put on slides only what you want people to remember (key words, images, 1 sentence).
- Use tools such as Canva, Prezi (and cleverly chosen AI) to support your story visually, not to “replace” your speech”
Stories always win over bullet points
Your team does not remember lists. They remember moments. That's why storytelling works so well in a New Year's speech: you make it human.
Use this simple mini-structure in your speech:
- Moment: “Do you remember... (that week/customer case/pressure peak)?”
- Meaning: “That showed who we are / what we stand for.”
- Future: “And that is exactly why I believe that this year...”
Feel free to add humour or a little dialogue (“Then you said... and then I thought...”). That's where attention sticks
how to make an impact
A good New Year's speech in 6 blocks:
- Opening speech (question/image/statement)
- Brief review (3 highlights, not 30)
- Rating (concretely: who/what/why)
- The theme for next year (1 sentence that sticks)
- 3 focal points (maximum of three, with example per point)
- Closing with invitation (What are we going to do together from tomorrow?)
6 opening phrases you can use right away
- “I want to start with one word that sums up our year: ______.”
- “We all did a lot. But this is what it really meant: ______.”
- “I am proud. Not because it was easy, but because we did it together.”
- “Okay. Hand up: who has thought ‘how then?!’ at least once this year.”
Recipe cards
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Would you like support, coaching or to follow a programme. Take contact with us. You can also take another look at the download page for your own further development!
FAQ
How long should a New Year's speech be?
Ideally, 5-10 minutes. Short enough to stay sharp, long enough to hit.
What do you put on slides at a New Year's speech?
Key words, images and 1 sentence per point. Slides are support, not a cheat sheet.
What is a good opening speech for your team?
An opening with a question, a recognisable moment or a clear picture of the future almost always works. as long as it is directly relevant to your audience.
New year speech or year-end speech: what's the difference?
End of year = wrap up and appreciate. New Year = giving direction and activating. In practice, you can cleverly combine them.
Ideally, 5-10 minutes. Short enough to stay sharp, long enough to hit.
Key words, images and 1 sentence per point. Slides are support, not a cheat sheet.
An opening with a question, a recognisable moment or a clear picture of the future almost always works. as long as it is directly relevant to your audience.
End of year = wrap up and appreciate. New Year = giving direction and activating. In practice, you can cleverly combine them.
Watch the full replay of the webinar
The replay will give you more examples, formats and practical do's & don'ts to make your new year's speech (and especially your opening speech) convincing and memorable.
Watch the replay and give a speech that people not only hear but also remember.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es-eocobfQA
WEBINAR
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