I cry every time I watch "It's a Wonderful Life". I'm able to hold it together when the townsfolk gather to help George Bailey out with his money problems, but as soon as George's brother, Harry, appears in the crowd, and says, "A toast...to my big brother George, the richest man in town", I lose it. Heck, I'm choking up just typing the words. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good toast.
Offering a toast is a sincere and public way to pay tribute to someone special and it's the perfect way to top off a holiday celebration. With just a raise of a glass and the delivery of a few words, a gathering can become a meaningful, magical event.
This holiday season why not take Harry's lead and show your appreciation for your family and friends by proposing a toast. If the task is difficult for you, remember that you are contributing to a special occasion in a deeply unique and personal way. A toast is ultimately a gift of your words and your wishes. If your tongue gets tied and your palms get sweaty at the mere mention of a toast, take a few deep breaths and follow these steps:
Plan your toast: You might think that you will sound more spontaneous (particularly if you are imbibing in the bubbly) if you speak off the cuff, but your toast will be immeasurably better if you plan and practice. Get familiar with the points you want to make so that you sound more natural than rehearsed.
Stand Up Straight: Unless you are at a small, informal occasion, stand up and address your audience.
The toast is tastier if it's original: Make it simple and make it sincere. Be yourself and speak from your heart, not a script.
It's not about you: Place the emphasis on the message and the person you are saluting, not the messenger.
Adding Humor: Humor certainly has it's place, but keep it relevant and keep it clean.
Short and sweet: Nobody wants to listen to you ramble on before a meal. One to two minutes is plenty.
End on a positive note: Wave your glass to all, tip it towards the person you are toasting and end with a smile.
Preparation is the key to success in any toast. Planning well ahead is crucial and ensures that you will be more at ease when it's time to give the toast. Practice and preparation are communication tools that are available to everybody regardless of their speaking skills. No matter how resonant your voice, no matter how naturally effortless your posture, no matter what kind of smile you have or what kind of eye contact you learn to make - everybody has the ability to practice, practice, practice. And as we teach at Ty Boyd Executive Communications & Coaching, if you use that one tool, you will be 90% ahead of most people.
Take a little pressure off yourself; it's not as much about the words, as it is the joy you are expressing. So, hold your glass up, look people directly in the eye, make it feel like a conversation, have fun....and suddenly...it's a wonderful life.
Salud, Prosit, Cheers, L'Chaim!
