The art of
Accepting an Award

WITH DIGNITY, GRACE AND SINCERITY


A four step outline incorporating these three ingredients could be followed in this manner:

  • 1) Thank the person presenting the award.
  • 2) Thank the organization.
  • 3) Thank one or two specific people who helped make it possible.
  • 4) Thank everyone again.

Every week the winners of our Better Speaker, Better Table Topics, Better Evaluator, and Warm Fuzzy Awards have an opportunity to learn the "Art of Accepting an Award"

It is an occassion to practice for a special event which just might be held for you. It could even be practiced as a five-to-seven minute speech by following the objectives of outlined in "Accepting An Award" in the Special Occasion Speeches advanced manual.

Accepting an award graciously---requires some thought and preparation.

Here are three ingredients outlined in the manual that every acceptance speech should include.

  • Gratitude.
    Always thank the one or two people who played a major role in your achievement.
  • Recognition.
    Recognize the organization giving the award. Tell about its work and its importance to others and to you.
  • Sincerity.
    The best thanks an audience or organization can receive is an honest and unexaggerated expression of gratitude.

Learning how to gracefully accept an award will enable you to be the winner in the eyes of the audience and confirm to the presenting organization that you were, indeed, the very most appropriate honoree.

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by GlennPike, DTM
Valley Toastmasters, Club #5056-3
Copyright 1996, 1997. All rights reserved.