[tab name=’Guidelines’]

Guidelines : Thank You For Opportunity to Speak

Thank You for the Opportunity to Speak at Meeting

Guidelines and Alternate Phrases

• Thank the reader for the opportunity to speak.
• Your soapbox was solid and lofty–thank you so much for letting me climb on it last week to share a few “words of wisdom.”
• I appreciate so much the opportunity you gave me to address your group last Monday.
• Thank you for letting me share my ideas with the Forum group last week.
• Thank you for the opportunity to conduct the sales seminar for your group.
• Thank you for your confidence in having me address your group of engineers last week.
• What confidence you showed in asking me to be a part of last week’s panel before your managers! I thank you for the opportunity.
• Thank you for letting me do what I do best–talk. Your group made marvelous listeners!
• Give your assessment of how the meeting went, showing modesty about your contribution.
• The group seemed genuinely interested in hearing how ….
• The audience members were so good about responding to all my shenanigans.
• The audience asked some tough questions–I like that because it allows me to ….
• They were so willing to participate in all the activities I’d planned for them.
• The synergy of the group was fantastic; their potential to work together to achieve … will be unlimited.
• Although I’m sure there were some who disagreed with my theories, the majority expressed a great deal of support.
• Although some of the group already seemed well-versed in the subject, I hope they, too, picked up a few ideas about specific uses for ….
• The group certainly kept me on my toes with their questions.
• From reading the faces of the audience members, I think they were most receptive to the changes I suggested.
• Remind the meeting planner of any promises about referrals or other follow-up publicity efforts.
• The mailing list you offered to send will be quite helpful to me in making follow-up materials available to your group.
• I’ll be looking forward to getting some calls from the audience members about presenting this information at your local branches.
• Thank you for your offer to phone Jack Dunaway about the possibility of facilitating such a meeting with his group. That certainly will give the ideas wider exposure.
• I’ve enclosed a photo and print materials for the follow-up story you mentioned writing for your in-house newsletter.
• Ask for a testimonial letter if you want to seek other speaking opportunities.
• Would you mind dropping me a note about the presentation? As you may know, speakers live by word of mouth.
• I’ll appreciate it if you can write a letter mentioning your own and the group’s reaction to the briefing. I’d like to have some record to pass along to my supervisor, who is in the process of determining whether such briefings are really worthwhile.
• May I ask a favor? Would you drop me a short note giving your reflections on the meeting? Do you think the group will find the ideas helpful? How specifically will they profit from the information? These comments would be helpful for other managers trying to decide whether their teams would benefit from such a seminar.
• Would you please write me a letter about the audience’s reception to my ideas? No, I’m not planning to sit around and pat myself on the back. Rather, I want to have something in the file for other managers who might be considering a workshop similar to the one I presented for you.

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[tab name=’Example 1′]

Example 1: Thank you letter for opportunity to speak

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State Zip

Dear Kenny:

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your group this week about relationship selling. I always look at such meetings as a learning experience for myself when I leave with so many true stories that underscore the validity of the concepts presented.

The group members seemed very receptive to the ideas. They asked some particularly thought-provoking questions that make me think they plan to use the information right away to their benefit. After you have had time to talk with others in the group, I’d also appreciate a note summing up their reactions to the ideas and the meeting. This feedback gives me invaluable direction for any follow-up sessions at other branches.

For those in the group who left their business cards with me, I’ll be mailing further information. If you have later inquiries, please direct them to my office.

All in all, I was thrilled about the potential of your group to change the way our industry does business.

Sincerely,
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[tab name=’Example 2′]

Example 2: Letter for opportunity

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State, Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Mr. Kruger:

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my ideas on making the most of committee work. Knowing how to operate effectively in a group, I feel, is the key to a successful business. Obviously your employees felt that way—they asked specific questions which indicated they were seriously evaluating my ideas and methods.

I especially enjoyed the role-playing portion of the presentation. I often feel as if I learn more than the participants do. They always come up with a novel approach to a problem I had not considered. I guess that further validates the idea of working together! If at all possible, I would be interested in hearing your employees’ feedback concerning the presentation. Their comments are important to me, because if they disagreed or failed to understand a part of the presentation, then I need to adjust accordingly.

Thank you for your kind offer to pass my card along to other colleagues with a letter of recommendation for my presentation. I realize that you are extremely busy and appreciate the time you are taking to do so.

You have a group of bright, motivated employees. It was a pleasure to work with them.

Sincerely,
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[tab name=’Example 3′]

Example 3: Address in conference

Company Name or Letterhead
Address
City, State, Zip

Date

Addressee
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Joan,

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak to your marketing class last week. I have often wondered how college professors manage to stand up at the front of the room and lead a group discussion—I initially found it more intimidating than giving a presentation to the Board of Directors!

Fortunately, your students soon set me at ease. I enjoyed hearing their perceptions of the world of marketing almost as much as they seemed to enjoy hearing about it from someone who is “in the trenches.” They asked excellent questions—ones that made me stop and consider certain marketing practices that are taken purely as a matter of course. Having to explain these practices gave me new awareness of my own field.

I have enclosed the bio and picture that you requested for your department newsletter. Thank you for the honor of including me in it!

I would also like to ask if your department may be interested in arranging some marketing internships with my company. If all your students are as perceptive and motivated as the ones I met in your advanced class, I’m sure it would be a worthwhile project.

Regards,
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