Retirement can be really fulfilling or a huge disappointment
. Harry Emerson Fosdick gave an excellent piece of advice when he said Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to. Bosses or colleagues who give retirement speeches should keep this in mind when they are writing their speeches. Obviously they must refer to the past and the work that has been done by the retiree. It is good too to remember incidents that marked out the kind of person he or she was. Naturally too it is good to speak in a light-hearted yet sincere tone. Nonetheless a really good retirement speech should be motivational in tone. It should demonstrate the opportunities that are available to someone who now has the freedom to avail of them.
Some people, of course, are prepared for retirement and have organised a trip around the world or a house move. Most people though fall into a way of filling their days. It would be much, much better if they had the satisfaction of doing something really worthwhile or fulfilling with all that free time.
So the boss might suggest that the retiree wrote a novel or a play about their lifetime experiences. He might suggest that they learned dead language or helped out a charitable organisation. He could suggest that the retiree might research his or her family tree. The better he knows the retiree the more suited to the retiree his suggestions might be. They should be relevant to the person in question. They ought to be stimulating and, if that boss has done his homework they will be unusual suggestions. The sports lover might be encouraged to see a hurling match in Ireland or a shinty match in Scotland for instance. The handyman might be encouraged to patent one of his gadgets. A woman who is artistic might be persuaded to teach delinquents to put their talents to better use. The office accountant might put his skills into running a lottery for his local sports club. The options are endless
So if you are giving a retirement speech do your homework about the retiree. Mention his family members and his talents and skills. Speak about what he or she has contributed to the company but in personal rather than general terms. Above all leave the retiree with a good luck wish that suggests that the best is still to come. Retirement speeches are a bridge between the past and the future. Your retirement speech should make that future enticing and exciting.