Nervous About My First HR Manager Speech – Any Tips to Make It Memorable?

Dear Friends,

I have recently joined an organization as an HR Manager and I have to give my first address to the employees. I am not very good at speeches. Can you please help me with it? I understand that it may vary from one organization to another, but if you can provide me with some generic tips, I would greatly appreciate it. I need to deliver my speech on Monday (29th December 2008).

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Arpita

Hi Arpita,

You may put forth these points below:
- Say about your previous company and role.
- What excited you to join the organization?
- About your family (few details).
- Any interesting moments in your recruitment cycle (to link company 'best practice').
- Be plain (mention blatantly that we expect challenges/opportunities and you don't see any chance of improvement unless support is extended from all).

In short, I suggest you should be true to yourself in communicating with your team and accept the way things are. You are not there to make any 'changes' but to facilitate.

Hi Arpita,

My greetings and good wishes on your new assignment. I spell out some of the points you may have to deal with as under:

1) I am very happy to join this great organization where I have an opportunity to work with all of you.
2) My objective in joining this organization is to help all of you flourish and reach full potential in your careers.
3) Human resources are the most important asset of any organization. The management here also recognizes that.
4) I have come with many good ideas. More importantly, I would like to first meet with each one of you and listen to understand your ideas, goals, and aspirations.
5) In the next few weeks, I will meet with each one of you.
6) Also, my doors are always open to each one of you to meet with me anytime.
7) I am quite confident that together we can build this company as well as enhance your careers.

Along these lines, you can further develop as necessary.

R. Sundararajan

Dear Arpita,

Greetings for the day and congratulations on joining a new organization! Best of luck for the new assignment. You may focus on:

1. Your background - PG/graduate, etc.
2. Past assignments - company names, area, region.
3. Your exposure to various HR processes and other expertise.
4. Background of past industries - Auto, Chemical, Pharma, etc.
5. Your areas of interest/hobbies.

Keep it short and simple. Be as friendly as possible so people feel that you care.

I recently joined an organization as an HR Manager and I just gave my first address to the employees. I struggle with speeches and would appreciate your help. I understand speeches vary from one organization to another, but if you could provide some generic inputs, that would be great. I need to deliver my speech on Monday (29th December 2008).

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Regards,
Arpita

Hi Everyone,

Thank you all for your wonderful replies. Just wanted to share with you... I tried to shed my inhibitions and started preparing for my speech. It surprised me that I am actually not as bad as I thought I am. It's just that I lack self-confidence. But while preparing my speech, I felt there was a gap somewhere, and you guys just filled that gap on time. Thanks a ton for your precious inputs. I'll surely incorporate them in my speech and will get back to you on how it went.

Hi,

This is Rajesh. G pursuing my Final Year MBA (H.R) at Anna University, Coimbatore. Well, I am not an HR yet I would like to share something about how you could mold your speech.

To start with, as an audience, i.e., an employee of the organization, will expect a lot when you are about to speak for the first time.

1. It would be better if you start with some of the excellent quotes of Swami Vivekananda.

2. Get down to their level while you deliver your speech. Humor would obviously add credit to your speech.

3. Give your speech more practicality; quote some real-time examples so that they would perceive that you provide an open culture to everyone and are practical in actions.

4. Regarding the lack of confidence as you have mentioned, it would be beneficial if you talk in front of the mirror. You could correct the mistakes you commit.

Altogether, it's all about how you create a good impression, not just in terms of speech but also through non-verbal communication and being more practical in it. All the best.

Regards,

Rajesh. G

[I AM NOT AFRAID OF NEITHER LOSING NOR WINNING. BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ONE WHO HAS WON 100 TIMES BUT THE ONE WHO HAS LOST 1000 TIMES.
- NEVER GIVE UP]

Arpita,

Apart from your background, employees would like to know how important you are to them. How are you going to change their lives? They will come in with expectations. Ensure some time for a Q&A session at the end so that if there are any questions for you to answer. This will help to build better relationships with them.

Regards

Hi Arpita,

People are always excited and willing to know what type of person you are and what you will be doing for them. What you have done in the past is all a story for them. So, just tell them your qualifications and experience (include names of companies you have worked for, your profile, and two lines about your achievements), and then you can explain why you chose to join your current organization. Provide some facts and figures.

As an HR professional, be very open and show that you have a cheerful nature, but also ensure that people do not take you for granted. Remember, it's essential to meet people's expectations which can vary from company to company.

All the best!

Regards,
Manoj
9021370808

dear Aprita,
I agree with all our friends thoughts; moreover I will give more ideas also for u

1. be cool, don't talk more about pervious assignment
2. Give hope to them, for better change.
3. Use simply and clear language.
4. Go through company profile, business goals.


All the very best god bless

One final point, keep it SHORT. If you are nervous, you will not want to speak for too long anyway. You will win points with your co-workers by keeping your speech short, to the point, and staying on message. Advise that you are happy to discuss any points in more detail on a one-to-one basis, which also helps you get to know your new colleagues on a more personal basis. Good luck tomorrow with your speech.

John in Oz

Dear Arpita,

Best of luck to you for joining a company as a Manager HR. I have gone through all the good suggestions from our professional friends. I would like to share a spiritual insight with you: when you deliver your speech, envision yourself as a Guru and others as your students. As an HR professional, avoid negative thoughts about yourself. Whatever you say, they will have to listen. Make notes on what you need to convey, and during the speech, focus on recalling the sequence of points. Regarding the content, I suggest that you refrain from discussing the drawbacks of the procedure or the current system associated with your previous company. Start with best wishes for the new year, then introduce yourself, your education, past experience, a bit about your family, and conclude your speech by offering full support to help develop organizational health.

Regards,
Ajay

Talk on agenda. No faltu funda. Just create a rosy picture with positive thinking and eliminate people's frustration.