You have just presented your groundbreaking research to a room of your peers. They’re on the edge of their seats as they wait to hear what’s next. As you wrap up your message, fear rushes in, and you panic as you have no idea how you’re going to close your presentation. Suddenly you realize you spent the majority of your preparation on your opening line and main ideas, neglecting the oh-so-important finale of your presentation. Your riveting presentation is about to fall flat in the final moments.
The scenario above is, unfortunately, not an uncommon one. The amount of work that goes into crafting a powerful presentation is daunting, and it often takes all of our energy to nail the opener and our main idea. Let’s face it: with all the statistics about first impressions and the fact that people decide whether or not to listen to you in the first few minutes, it makes perfect sense for us to place all of our energy into the beginning.
But what if I told you the close of your presentation is just as important as the opener? The close is your chance to leave your audience with a lasting impression; it is the summation of everything you have just shared, and, if done correctly, it will result in tangible change or interaction from your audience.
Here are 3 keys to a strong close.
Keep it clear and concise.
When it comes to the close of your presentation, it is easy to get stuck in a never-ending ramble trying to fit in everything that you have either skipped or forgotten causing your presentation to drag to the finish line. Instead of overloading your audience with last-minute info, use this time to give a clear and concise summation of your presentation. Take time to write out your close, which should be no longer than 3-5 minutes, and hammer home one final, powerful thought. If you feel yourself rambling, come back to this thought and wrap it up. Otherwise, you risk losing your audience and negating your hard-fought credibility.
Have a clear call to action.
Your audience has just invested their valuable time into listening to you. You have done the hard work of communicating your content in an engaging and insightful manner. Don’t miss the mark by not calling your audience to do something actionable. If you don’t give them a clear next step, how can you expect any return on investment? If you’re pitching a sales presentation, tell them how they can buy in; if it’s a humanitarian presentation, show them where they can get involved; if you are simply sharing thoughts about yourself and what you believe, give them a way to continue the conversation with you. Whatever your topic, make sure you provide your audience with clear, actionable next steps before you wrap up.
Thank your audience for their time.
Don’t forget that your audience is trusting you to teach them, inspire them, or find a solution for them. Always be grateful for that trust and respect, and thank them for taking their time to hear what you have to say. Simply acknowledging their sacrifice and letting them know you appreciate their time can go a long way in helping your audience like you, which is a vital part of making a lasting impression. There is a quote by the Maya Angelou that beautifully sums up the importance of likability: “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” Being thankful leaves your audience feeling good which only increases the effectiveness of everything you have just shared with them.
The close of your presentation can be easily overlooked. It is the least glamorous section and, if you are like me, can easily be summed up as “I’ll just wing it.” Don’t! Take the extra time to prepare for your close the same way you prepare for your opener. It will be worth it in the end.
The team at Ethos3 would love to help you craft your narrative. Contact us today, and find out how our content team can help hone your message.
