How to end a presentation [Examples & Techniques]
Are you tired of delivering presentations that end with a whimper instead of a bang? Do you want to leave your audience with a lasting impression that makes them want to take action?
Ending a presentation is just as important as starting one, and it can make all the difference in how your message is received. In this article, we’ll explore some expert closing techniques that will help you end your presentation on a high note and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
“Closing a presentation is like finishing a race. You want to finish strong and leave everything on the track.” — Garr Reynolds
So, what exactly does the presentation closing/end entail?
Basically, it’s your chance to summarize the key points of your presentation and leave your audience feeling inspired and motivated.
Let’s say you’re giving a presentation about your new product. You’ve spent the first half of the presentation explaining its benefits, and the second half showing how it’s helped, other clients. During the closing, you could summarize the key benefits and features of your product, and emphasize why it’s the perfect solution for your audience’s needs. Maybe you’ll even throw in a special promotion or discount to sweeten the deal!
Why is it important to end your presentation with an impact?
Closing your presentation with an impact is super important, and here’s why:
To leave a lasting impression: The closing is your last chance to make a lasting impression on your audience. By delivering a powerful ending, you can make sure your audience remembers your message long after your presentation is over.
To motivate action: A strong closing can motivate your audience to take action based on what they’ve learned. Whether it’s signing up for a service, making a purchase, or just changing their mindset, the right closing can inspire your audience to act.
To summarize key points: The closing is a great opportunity to summarize the key points of your presentation. By recapping your message, you can ensure that your audience understands and remembers what you’ve said.
To show your expertise: A powerful closing can demonstrate your expertise on the topic. By leaving your audience with a strong final thought, you can show that you know your stuff and leave them feeling confident in your abilities.
Powerful techniques to end your presentation in style…
1. End with a memorable quote related to your topic or message.
We all love a good quote, don’t we? There’s something about the power of words that can capture an audience’s attention and stick with them long after your presentation is over. If you’re looking for a surefire way to end your presentation with impact, consider using a memorable quote related to your topic or message.
For example, as the famous motivational speaker Tony Robbins once said, “Success is doing what you want to do, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.” This quote perfectly captures the essence of his message and leaves a lasting impression on his audience.
Just remember to keep it relevant and choose a quote that supports your message. And don’t be afraid to get creative — a well-chosen quote can be the perfect way to end your presentation with style!
2. Share a personal story or anecdote to create an emotional connection with your audience.
Let’s face it — presentations can be dry and boring. That’s why it’s important to inject some personality and emotion into your presentation ending, and one way to do that is by sharing a personal story or anecdote.
Think about a time when you faced a challenge or overcame an obstacle that’s relevant to your presentation. By sharing your personal experience, you’ll create a powerful emotional connection with your audience and demonstrate your authenticity and credibility.
As the renowned author and speaker Brene Brown once said, “Stories are just data with a soul.” In her TED Talk on vulnerability, she shared a personal story about her struggle to connect with others, which resonated deeply with her audience and helped her to convey her message in a powerful way.
So, don’t be afraid to get personal and share your own story. It can be the perfect way to end your presentation on a high note. Just remember to keep it relevant and concise, and practice your delivery to ensure that your story flows smoothly.
3. Ask a thought-provoking question that inspires further discussion or reflection.
Sometimes, the best way to end a presentation is not with a statement, but with a question. Asking a thought-provoking question can inspire your audience to think deeper about your topic and leave a lasting impression.
Think about a question that will leave your audience pondering and reflecting on what they’ve just heard. It can be a hypothetical scenario, a philosophical inquiry, or a practical challenge related to your presentation.
For example, “So, as we come to the end of this presentation, let me leave you with a question to ponder: What would happen if we all took one small step towards making a positive impact in our community, our workplace, or our world? Could it lead to a ripple effect of change and progress? I encourage you to think about this and take action, no matter how small, towards creating a better future for all of us.”
4. Offer a call to action, encouraging your audience to take specific steps related to your topic.
At the end of your presentation, you want to leave your audience with a clear sense of what to do next.
For example, your call to action could be as simple as encouraging your audience to visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, or follow your social media accounts. Or, it could be a more specific action related to your presentation topic, such as volunteering, donating, or attending an event.
5. Summarize your key points and highlight the main takeaways from your presentation.
As you wrap up your presentation, summarizing your key points can help drive home the most important aspects of your message and ensure that your audience remembers what you’ve shared.
Think of it like creating a highlight reel of your presentation. You want to showcase the best and most important moments, so your audience leaves feeling inspired and informed.
For example, in his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech, Steve Jobs summarized his key points in a memorable way: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”
6. Use a powerful image or visual aid that reinforces your message.
As you reach the end of your presentation, you can leave your audience with a lasting image that captures the essence of your message. This image could be a photograph, a graph, or a visual representation of your main idea. Choose an image that resonates with your audience and stays in their minds long after the presentation is over.
For example, if you were giving a presentation about environmental sustainability, you could end with an image of a lush forest or a pristine beach, with the words “It’s up to us to protect this for future generations” displayed on the screen. This image will inspire your audience to take action and consider the impact of their actions on the environment.
7. Inject a bit of humor to end on a positive note.
Ending a presentation with a well-placed joke is a great way to leave your audience with a smile on their face. It’s important to keep in mind that humor is subjective, so you’ll want to make sure that your joke or story is appropriate for your audience and fits the tone of your presentation.
For example, if you’re giving a presentation on time management, you could end with a joke like: “Well, I hope I didn’t take up too much of your time today. But if I did, don’t worry — I’ve got some tips on how to make up for the lost time!”
This type of self-deprecating humor can help to break the tension in the room and leave your audience feeling more relaxed and engaged. Just be sure to keep it light and avoid any jokes that could be seen as offensive or insensitive.
8. Finish with a surprise twist or unexpected revelation.
Let’s consider this example…“Throughout this presentation, I’ve shared with you some common misconceptions about our industry and how we’ve been working to address them. But what if I told you that we’re not just working to address these issues — we’re also leading the charge in developing new technologies that will revolutionize the way we do business? That’s right, our team has been quietly working on a breakthrough innovation that will change everything. And I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll be launching it next month, so stay tuned. Thank you for your attention, and get ready for the future!”
This kind of ending is effective because it leaves the audience with a sense of excitement and anticipation for what’s to come. It also creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, which can help to make the presentation ending more memorable.
9. Use a powerful metaphor or analogy to drive home your message.
Let’s look at this example…“Imagine you’re standing on the shore of a vast ocean. You’ve spent your whole life standing in the same spot, watching the waves come and go. But what if I told you that beyond the horizon lies an entire world waiting to be explored? Just like the ocean, the possibilities for growth and learning are endless. So don’t let fear or complacency keep you anchored to the shore. Take the plunge and see where the currents of life take you.”
In this example, the analogy of the ocean is used to inspire the audience to take risks and embrace new opportunities. By comparing the vastness of the ocean to the endless possibilities of life, the speaker creates a powerful and memorable image that leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
10. Close with a bold statement that challenges conventional thinking or beliefs.
Here’s an example of how to close a presentation with a bold statement that challenges conventional thinking or beliefs,
“So, folks, let me leave you with this: we’ve been taught our whole lives that failure is something to be avoided at all costs. But what if I told you that failure is not the opposite of success, but rather a necessary step on the path to success? What if I told you that failure is not something to be feared, but something to be embraced because it teaches us more than success ever could? Think about it. Some of the greatest inventions, discoveries, and achievements in history were born out of failure. So, I challenge you to embrace failure, to learn from it, and to use it as a stepping stone to greatness.”
I hope this helps inspire you to come up with your own bold statement to end your presentation!
11. End with a rhetorical question that leaves your audience thinking.
Think about what you’ve just presented and consider what common assumptions or beliefs people might have about the topic. Then, craft a statement that challenges those assumptions head-on.
For example, let’s say you’ve just given a presentation about the importance of reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change. You could close with a bold statement like: “We have the power to save the planet, but only if we’re willing to make the hard choices and take action now. Our future depends on it.”
This statement challenges the assumption that climate change is an insurmountable problem and implies that taking action is within our control. It’s a powerful way to end a presentation that will leave your audience thinking long after they’ve left the room.
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