Welcome home. That’s what many families will be saying to their servicemen in the not too distant future. Their homecoming will be a cause for celebrations and parties. Will anyone give speeches or toasts at such parties and if so, what should they say? Certainly there should be a mention of their bravery. Certainly too you should mention their dedication and loyalty to their country. Obviously you should mention how much they were missed. They may be mention of family incidents that happened while they were abroad such as the birth of a baby. You will speak of what their homecoming actually means to you and to the family. Perhaps you will say how much they were missed on certain occasions such as their being the family cook at a barbeque. Whatever you say your speech should verbalise that warm hug you gave at the airport when they touched down.

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Marching is part of a soldier’s life. What happens, though when that soldier marches out of the army? There will, of course, be a farewell function of some kind and, naturally, a speech will be given. What to say in that speech is sometimes a problem for the designated speaker. If it is an officer he or may not know the soldier well. If so it pays to do a little research. Speak to a colleague or friend and find out something about that soldier’s background and plans. Words like duty well done should feature in the speech. So too will talk of camaraderie in the ranks. If possible it is good to refer to some incident or indeed incidents during the service of the soldier in question. He or she may, for instance, have served in a danger zone. It will make the speech really personal if you speak of that soldier’s plans for the future. If you don’t actually know them at least speak positively about all the options that are available to someone who does not have to answer to reveille any more.

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It’s 9/11 now but the ceremonies will go on all weekend. If you want to speak you want your speech to be slightly different. You will, like everyone else, have to speak of the horrors of that dreadful day. You will speak of ongoing grief and bravery of the uniformed forces. You will mention the courage of those who suffer daily and the way people have managed to get on with their lives. Your speech, though, should also question values and a way of life that made other people from another culture do such a terrible thing. You will ask what could have been done to prevent the terror or what should be done to prevent it happening ever again. You will have to ask the hard question “Are we ourselves at fault?” It’s a question nobody seems to want to answer but it has to be asked and answered.

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Leaders do more than just lead. They also have to speak a lot. So motivational speeches are their stock in trade. They may be coaches speaking to their teams. It could be that they are spiritual leaders addressing a congregation. They might be officers in the army giving deployment speeches. In fact it is possible that they are C.E.O’s inspiring their sales staff or teachers speaking at a graduation. Whatever the occasion and whatever type of leader is in question their job is to motivate their particular audience to do something or be someone. So there speeches have to capture attention and challenge behaviour. They have to communicate their message clearly. They have to convince those listening that it IS possible, whatever it happens to be.

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It’s in all the papers. It’s being mentioned on the news. 9/11 is big news just now because it is ten years since the atrocity happened. It’s been ten years since we experienced tragedy such as we had never experienced before. It’s ten years since the sky rained its death and destruction. It was a time that showed the worst and the best of humankind. Words like courage, bravery and commitment were a part of it as were sorrow, grief and heartbreak. Soon we will commemorate that awful time and we will speak lovingly of lost ones and emotively of those who gave their lives for others. All the word won’t bring them back but they will give comfort and they will make us think. We need to think of the reason why it happened and what we can do to prevent it happening again. We need to believe in a better world.

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Will you be speaking on September the 11th? Will you be paying tribute to the fire-fighters and emergency crews? Will you be mentioning those who lost their lives on those planes? There will, of course be many ceremonies to mark the anniversary of 7/11. It’s ten years since it happened and for some the grief is as raw now as it was then. Others have moved on with their lives but there is still an ache in their hearts, an empty place that cannot be filled. For political and military leaders there is the question of what should be done to prevent a reoccurrence. For religious leaders a question still remains. How do we integrate diverse beliefs? 7/11 then is much more than a date. It’s still a case of unanswered questions.

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We don’t appreciate our armed services enough. After all without the army, the navy and the air force we might not sleep safely in our beds at night. Sometimes, though, we forget that the forced are made up of individuals who have to give speeches. It may be because an enlisted soldier is retiring. It could be because there is a graduation ceremony. It might be a change of command speech or, sadly, a eulogy. Then there are those more light-hearted occasions such as an after dinner speech or you may be the best man at a military wedding. Whatever the occasion the speech should speak of life in the forces as being special and different. The speech should have an undertone of pride in it. . A light-hearted comment will certainly add to the speech and make it popular with your audience. Like the flag you serve the speech should reflect on the traditions you cherish.

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Many military officers are coming and going. They are leaving their command or joining another. When they do they usually want to say a few words about their feelings on the occasion. They may, for instance, have served in battle and want to express their admiration for their troops who were so brave under fire. They may simply be taking up another command in another country. If so they might want to speak of the challenges that lie ahead. It could be that they want to explain that those troops are going as representatives of their country which will be judged by them. Being a commanding officer is a privilege but without their troops they cannot amount to anything. Usually they will recognise this and speak of the contribution made by such troops. They will praise them of course and perhaps speak of a shared mission or incident. Their speeches will be motivational in tone and of course, refer graciously either to the previous officer or the one who will be taking over the command. Such speeches should be short and sincere and leave those listening feeling proud and patriotic.

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Adiós Amigos, farewell friends. Whatever language we use there are many occasions when a farewell speech is appropriate. It may be that a member of the clergy is leaving a parish. It could be that neighbour is leaving the neighbourhood. Army deployment speeches are another instance or, more light-heartedly a farewell may be given to an officer leaving a post. The M.C. at a conference will obviously close the conference with a few words of farewell and club officers who are leaving their positions will also speak. The fact that the occasions are so different does not really mean that the speeches have to be widely different too. They should, for instance, all be gracious in tone. They should all refer to the past and what the person who is leaving has achieved. Officers leaving posts will express their thanks to those who have helped them. If you are speaking to someone leaving you will of course say how much they will be missed… Where you are addressing a group such as at a conference you will speak of how wonderful it was to have such an audience. Overall farewell speeches should be positive and include a farewell wish for a better future.

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Are leaders born or made? Is leadership something innate or can be developed? The army believes it can and it runs Warrior Leadership Courses. You can also develop your leadership skills in the office of course and we all know that in every football team there is bound to be a leader. Strangely they are not always the most vocal on the pitch.  They might just lead by example. Every community has them too and they can inspire great improvements in their locality. Developing confidence is the best way to develop the skill. After all if you know you can do something you are bound to feel more assured. We all know the great leaders of our times such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Churchill and Robert E. Lee but there are thousands of others who lead in youth clubs, at church events and who are the back bone of professional or charitable organisations. They inspire others simply by motivating and encouraging them to share their vision. They kick- start new ventures. They demonstrate authority.  They command, control and influence others. The world needs such people and there is absolutely nothing to say but that with the right attitude and determination that too can lead.

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