The Worst Way to End Your Presentation (And How to Avoid It)
How do you end your presentations?
If you haven’t read my other blog article about conclusions, you might find yourself simply saying "That's it." For me, this is the worst way you can end a presentation. This lacklustre conclusion fails to leave a lasting impression and can even damage your credibility as a speaker. In this in-depth blog post, we'll explore why "That's it" is such a detrimental way to end a presentation, and provide you with proven strategies to ensure your talk finishes on a high note.
Why "That's It" is the Worst Conclusion
When you conclude your presentation by saying "That's it," you're essentially telling your audience that you didn't have a plan for your conclusion. It suggests that you ran out of material or didn't know how else to end your talk, and it makes you look like you are lacking in credibility.
Here are a few key reasons why "That's it" is the worst way to conclude a presentation:
Lack of Closure: A strong conclusion provides a sense of closure, tying together the key points of your presentation in a neat and impactful way. "That's it" leaves your audience hanging, with no clear resolution or takeaway.
Undermines Your Credibility: Ending your presentation so abruptly can make you appear unprepared, unprofessional, or even disinterested in your own content. This can undermine the credibility you've worked hard to establish throughout your talk.
Missed Opportunity: The conclusion is your final chance to reinforce your message, inspire your audience, and leave a lasting impression. Squandering this opportunity by just saying "That's it" is a missed chance to end on a high note.
Anticlimactic Finish: Your presentation should build momentum and culminate in a powerful, memorable conclusion. "That's it" is an abrupt and anticlimactic way to end, deflating the energy and enthusiasm you've worked to create.
Creating a Compelling Conclusion
Now that we've established why "That's it" is the worst way to end a presentation, let's explore some strategies for crafting a compelling conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
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Summarise Key Takeaways
One of the most effective ways to conclude your presentation is by summarising the key takeaways. It’s also the easiest way to end and will help you avoid the dreaded “that’s it”.
Briefly review the main points you covered, highlighting the most important information and insights you want your audience to remember.
This serves several important purposes:
It reinforces the core message of your presentation, ensuring your audience leaves with a clear understanding of the key ideas.
It provides a sense of closure, tying together the various threads of your talk into a cohesive whole.
It gives your audience a concise set of actionable takeaways they can apply in their own lives or work.
When summarising your key points, aim to be clear, concise, and impactful. Use powerful language to drive home the significance of your message.
Issue a Call to Action
In addition to summarising your key takeaways, you always need a clear call to action. This is your opportunity to inspire your audience to take a specific next step, whether it's implementing a new strategy, sharing your message with others, or reaching out to you for more information.
A compelling call to action should be:
Specific: Provide your audience with a clear, actionable step they can take, rather than a vague suggestion.
Relevant: Ensure your call to action aligns with the core message and objectives of your presentation.
Motivating: Use language that energises and inspires your audience to take action, highlighting the benefits and importance of doing so.
Your call to action doesn’t have to lead to action, if that’s not relevant in your case, but it can simply be an opportunity to tell your audience what they need to remember (which is of course…your key message!)
By issuing a strong call to action, you'll leave your audience feeling empowered and motivated to apply what they've learned from your presentation.
End with a Memorable Anecdote or Quote
Another effective way to conclude your presentation is by ending with a powerful anecdote, story, or quote. This can help reinforce your key message in a more emotive, impactful way.
When selecting an anecdote or quote, choose one that:
Aligns with your presentation's theme or message: The story or quote should directly support the main ideas you've been discussing.
Resonates with your audience: Look for an anecdote or quote that will strike a chord with your listeners, evoking an emotional response.
Leaves a lasting impression: The closing story or quote should be memorable, inspiring your audience to reflect on your presentation long after it's over.
Go back to the introduction
If you can find a way to circle back to what you said at the beginning fo the presentation, this is an excellent way to finish. Your audience will feel like they got the whole story from you, which creates impact and memorability.
Putting it All Together
Creating a compelling conclusion for your presentation is essential for ensuring your message has a lasting impact. By avoiding the dreaded "That's it" and instead summarising key takeaways, issuing a call to action, or ending with a memorable anecdote or quote, you can leave your audience feeling energised, informed, and eager to apply what they've learned.
Remember, your conclusion is your final opportunity to reinforce your core message and leave a lasting impression. Invest the time and effort to ensure your presentation ends on a high note, and you'll be well on your way to delivering a truly impactful talk.
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