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How to Write a Christmas Lunch Speech: A Manager’s Guide
The office Christmas lunch is more than just a festive meal, it’s a rare moment when the whole team can pause, relax, and feel appreciated. As a manager, your Christmas lunch speech sets the tone. It’s a chance to acknowledge the year’s work, celebrate achievements, and end things on a warm, positive note.
If crafting that perfect message feels daunting, don’t worry. Here’s a practical guide to writing a Christmas lunch speech your team will appreciate and remember.
1. Keep It Brief but Meaningful
Your team is hungry, the food smells incredible, and nobody wants a long speech before dessert. Aim for two to three minutes—enough to be thoughtful without dragging on.
A good manager’s speech = welcome + appreciation + highlights + toast.
2. Start You Lunch Speech with a Warm Welcome
Set an inclusive tone from the start. Acknowledge the team, thank them for taking time out during a busy period, and recognise the significance of everyone being together in one place.
Example:
“Thanks everyone for joining today—it’s great to step away from the emails and celebrate together.”3. Show Appreciation
Christmas is a perfect moment for recognition. Go beyond generic praise and highlight real contributions—team resilience, major project wins, or improvements you’ve observed.
Consider thanking:
- the whole team for their hard work
- individuals or sub-teams (without creating awkward comparisons)
- those who went above and beyond during crunch periods
- anyone who helped organise the lunch
Authentic appreciation boosts morale more than any fancy gift ever could.
4. Add a Light Touch of Humour
Workplace humour should be inclusive, safe, and team-friendly. A little joke helps break the formality and reminds everyone that today is about fun.
Some easy options:
- A light joke about the team’s inside running gag
- A comment about how everyone survived a hectic quarter
- A playful remark about snow, ice, or fog
A small laugh helps everyone relax, but make sure to keep it professional.
5. Reflect on the Year
This doesn’t need to be a full performance review. Just pick one or two moments that genuinely meant something to the team.
Good options:
- A project that showed teamwork at its best
- A challenge the team overcame
- A milestone that made you proud as a manager
Aim for uplifting, not heavy. Christmas lunch is not the place for budget updates or upcoming targets.
6. Look Forward With Optimism
A quick nod to the year ahead shows leadership without turning the speech into a planning meeting.
Example:
“I’m excited about what we’ll achieve next year, especially with this brilliant team.”Keep it light, hopeful, and future-focused.
7. Close Your Lunch Speech With a Warm, Inclusive Toast
End on a positive note. Raise your glass (or whatever’s on hand) and invite everyone to join you.
Great options:
- “Here’s to a successful year and a well-deserved break.”
- “To this amazing team—thank you for everything you do.”
- “Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and let’s enjoy this lunch!”
Short, confident, and heartfelt.
Sample Lunch Speech for a Manager
Here’s a simple example you can tailor to your team:
“Thanks everyone for being here today—it’s great to come together and celebrate as a team. I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your hard work this year. We’ve tackled some big challenges and achieved some great things, and I’m genuinely proud of what we’ve done together.
A special “thank you” to everyone who helped organise today. It’s a fantastic way to finish the year.
I’m really looking forward to what we’ll achieve next year, but for now, let’s enjoy good food and good company.
Here’s to all of you—Merry Christmas and happy holidays!”
Final Thoughts
A great manager’s Christmas lunch speech doesn’t need to be complicated. Keep it short, sincere, and team-focused. Celebrate wins, appreciate people, sprinkle in a bit of humor, and finish with a warm toast. That’s all it takes to make your team feel valued and start the festivities on the right note.
Kimberly VanLandingham is the CEO of European Market Link Sàrl and owner of Presentation Training Switzerland.com. She has 12 years of training experience and 20 years of experience with DuPont, including as a product spokesperson on TV and radio and business leader. She specialises in public speaking and media training for those in international business, B2B sales, and technical/scientific fields. She has a Masters in communication and a BS in engineering.
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