By Rosemary Ravinal
As the year winds down and the holiday season ramps up, you may get caught off-guard by unexpected speaking moments: an unplanned toast at the company gathering, remarks at a client appreciation dinner, or kicking off your team’s Q1 strategy meeting in January.
These moments matter. They shape how you’re perceived when people are paying the most attention. The good news? With a little preparation, you can step into every one of these opportunities with clarity, confidence, and warmth.
Here’s how to prepare, starting now:
1. Practice micro presentations.
Set a timer for 60–90 seconds and explain a project update, a client win, or a lesson from this year. This builds your concision muscles and helps you get to the point faster. Brevity is essential during informal holiday settings.
2. Craft two go-to openings and closings.
Attention-grabbing openings capture the room. Strong closings leave people thinking about you long after you’ve stopped talking. Prepare one relational opener that includes specifics about key accomplishments and the people who made them happen (“As we wrap up the year, I’m grateful for…”)
Craft one forward-looking opener (“Heading into 2026, one thing I’m excited about is…”) filled with promise and positive energy. For the closings, create one with emotion (“Thank you for showing up with such dedication this year.”) And one with a call-to-action closing (“As we head into the new year, let’s commit to communicating with more clarity, purpose, and generosity.”)
3. Rehearse aloud, record yourself, not in front of a mirror.
Even five minutes of out-loud practice will reveal clunky phrases, long-winded sentences, and ideas that need tightening. Better still, record yourself on video. Play back three ways: with sound and video, without sound, and with sound only. Listen for articulation, intonation, rate of speech, and cadence. Watch your body language for congruence with your message, poise, and ease.
A mirror gives you instant feedback, but only in one dimension — your appearance in the moment. It cannot show you how you communicate. Practicing on video is far more powerful because you can observe yourself the way your audience does.
4. Prepare a “Holiday Leadership Message.”
This is a short 30–60 second statement that highlights gratitude, acknowledges your team’s efforts, and reinforces your vision for a strong start to the year. Practice it so you can deliver it anytime you’re handed a microphone or given an impromptu opportunity to speak.
Whether you’re giving a toast, running a town hall, or opening the first meeting of 2026, preparation is your superpower. Start this week, and you’ll enter every room with holiday spirit and the confidence of a leader who knows exactly what to say.
