Accepting Awards

Whether you’re accepting an Oscar or community recognition, Toastmasters International offers these proven tips for delivering a powerful acceptance speech for any type of award:

• Show your personality. Your acceptance speech should come from the heart.
• Be gracious. Acknowledge the good work done by your competitors and thank the organization that selected you for the award.
• Show excitement. You don’t have to climb over chairs or even cry, but the audience should recognize that you’re happy to have won the award.
• Be modest. Your acceptance speech should be heartfelt but not self-congratulatory.
• Practice, practice, practice.  Rehearse with a timer, memorize key people to thank and allow time for the unexpected.

Learn more about acceptance speeches by exploring the Toastmasters International Special Occasion Speeches handbook.