With the end-of-year period just around the corner, many receptions will be organised as usual. The obligatory accompanying speech/presentation is unfortunately often treated as an afterthought and started far too late. It can, however, be a moment to give a strong signal to employees. After all, the New Year's speech does not have to be merely a short toast. A good New Year presentation looks back, looks ahead and motivates.

Looking at the past year's objectives and the extent to which these have been achieved. On the one hand it shows that the targets set out were not empty words. On the other hand, it provides a recognition of what everyone has striven and worked for over the past 365 days. Some figures may well be shown and discussed here.

From the look back we look to the coming year. What do you want to achieve in the coming year? Where are we heading? Be as concrete as possible in this too and do not keep it merely to a strategic message. If growth is an important objective, then also indicate how much that growth should be. Where it has to come from, how that should happen and what efforts have to be made for it.

Having a vision for the company and communicating openly and clearly about it is in itself already a strong motivator. Involve the employees in your message. Involve them in your objectives and clearly indicate what their role / responsibility in it is. What do you expect from them and what do they get out of it? Even if you have to bring a difficult message, those are important factors.

If you wish to give an end-of-year gift, bonus or something else to your employees, you had best do that at the end. That way you end with the nicest thing. Indicate why you are giving this gift. That can be, for example, because you promised it in the previous presentation. So keep your promises and surprise them with it at the end of your presentation.

Give attention to your message. Take the time to prepare it well and also take the time when you give the presentation. A New Year presentation may last about 15-20 minutes. Long enough to captivate and short enough not to bore.

Depending on your speaking style, you can decide whether or not to use a PowerPoint. It can support your message and make it more powerful.

Good luck!