How to Give the Perfect Office Holiday Party Speech

We’re heading into office holiday party season, which means someone’s about to be handed a microphone.

If that someone is likely to be you, here’s your quick guide to delivering an easy, engaging, and memorable year-end speech — the kind that connects with your team and keeps people’s attention (even with an open bar involved).

The five-minute formula for a great holiday toast

Figure about one minute per section and you’ll land right around five minutes — the ideal attention span when free drinks are flowing.

1. Open strong — and self-aware

Keep it simple, but start with self-awareness. You don’t have to be self-deprecating — just acknowledge what people are probably thinking.
Example:

“This morning I looked at my speech and thought, even I don’t want to listen to me for this long. So I trimmed it down — now it’s a tight 90 minutes.”

Need help crafting the perfect opener? Check out this video.

2. Look back

Share a few challenges your company or team faced this year, which gives you an easy lead-in to the wins — how your people overcame obstacles or adapted to change.

3. Call out the standouts

Actually name the people who made a difference. Recognizing individuals shows appreciation and makes a natural bridge between “what was hard” and “what went right.”
(Pro tip: great writing — and great speeches — are all about transitions. Think ahead about how each section connects to the next.)

4. Look ahead

Offer a short, upbeat pep talk about what’s next. Show confidence in your team’s ability to meet the challenges ahead — even if you’re not 100% sure. People need optimism; this is your chance to give it to them.

5. End with a toast

Keep it warm and genuine:

“I want to thank you all for your continued hard work and dedication to this company. You are the heart and soul of this organization. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for all of us.”

And if you want to close with a laugh, circle back to your opening joke — what comedians call a callback:

“Here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for all of us. And hey, would you look at that? Those 90 minutes just flew by!”

Why humor matters in business communication

A well-timed joke or moment of self-awareness builds connection, lowers defenses, and makes people listen. In leadership and business communication, that’s the difference between being heard and being remembered.

Ready to make your next event unforgettable?

If you’re planning a corporate holiday event, annual kickoff, or leadership conference and want a speaker who can make your team laugh and learn, I can help.

Beth Sherman is a comedian, 7x Emmy-winning comedy writer, and top business communication speaker who teaches leaders and teams how to use humor as a tool for trust, clarity, and impact.

👉 Book a discovery call or explore keynotes and group training.