Need Help Crafting a Heartfelt Farewell Speech for Our Beloved Department Head

I am a little stressed, with just a few hours left—not even a day—and I have to prepare a speech. It's a farewell party that my colleagues and I are organizing for the head of our department, who is leaving. At the same time, we are welcoming the new head of the department. We respect and love our departing head of the department and believe that the new one is equally good.

My colleagues have asked me to prepare a farewell speech that truly speaks from our hearts, but I am falling short of the right words to express our true feelings. I know there are smart people here, and someone would be kind enough to provide me with such a beautiful speech.

Regards,
Sultana

Hi Sultana, I hope this reaches you before your deadline. In any case, you and those reading this post can use this for future reference.

Crafting a Farewell Speech

In any farewell speech, the focus must be on the employee who is leaving. Ideally, you must begin with a short introduction as to why the function is organized and then give a brief update of the person, e.g., begin with when the person joined, their job profile, their contribution, and possibly also touch upon their education and family background.

Next, move on to express your appreciation of their contribution as an employee and a colleague and refer to some personal qualities of the person that were much appreciated by all. Highlight a few facets of the person that were unknown to others, e.g., if the person is a good painter/has a passion for social work, etc.

Conclude with warm appreciation for the contribution the person has made, the influence on the functional area in particular and the company in general, and why the company and the colleagues will miss the person. Wish the person all success and invite the senior-most person or a very close associate to offer a token of appreciation and love from all.

At the same time, welcome the new boss warmly and refer to a couple of their very well-accepted qualities which make them the ideal person to take over from the retiring senior. Assure the new person of wholehearted support on behalf of all and wish them all the best in the new role.

You can tweak the above to meet your specific requirements.

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Regards

Thank you so much. I appreciate it, and it's people like you that surely make this world a better place. I tried on my own, and I shall add a few more points like pointing out the positive side of the person and how, as being the team leader, has motivated us at times when we were really low.

With kind regards,
Akhtar Sultana

I am delighted that you have taken the time to thank me and for your kind words of appreciation for my reply. It really heartens me when a person attempts to take up a challenge as you have done, and I am sure the experience would have both encouraged you and made you feel confident in your abilities. I am also certain that you did a wonderful job with the farewell and welcome speeches.

Warm regards

Jacob, I just wanted to let you know that I wrote a speech and then tried to put all that I wanted to say on behalf of the entire team in a poem form. It was a hit. I read the poem in front of 50 or more people and then presented it to the General Manager before he left us. He was really touched, and everyone got a little emotional. It was short, and the feelings could not be put down any better.

Thanks,
Sultana