[RKDinOKC]

Our supervisors have to recognize their employees on their anniversary in front of the 700 employees at the monthly employee meeting. Most really sucked despite memorizing their recognition. Some drone on about unrelated stuff about their employees.

Know your stuff, but...Outline what you are going to say. Memorize the outline. Seems more personable versus memorizing the talk word for word.

Try to avoid repeating something like, "And uh"

Listen to the audience and pause when they laugh, don't pause if they don't.

Be expressive, ie add some emotion to engage people. Can be positive, negative, funny, shocked, etc.

Don't bring in unrelated humor for humor's sake.

Find and go to a Toastmasters meeting if you are unsure about anything. It's what they do for fun.