A strong conclusion can seal the deal
Question: I've always had trouble coming to a meaningful close in presentations. Most times my audience doesn't know when I finish; there is that awkward pause and then everyone claps. What can I do to make sure that my presentations have a well-defined ending and finish on a high note?
Answer: When opening any presentation you always want to add to a positive first impression. Conclusions are very similar in that the conclusion should add to a positive lasting impression. There are many ways to reach this lasting impression. Each of these ideas will give you different options to better define your conclusions and effectively close your presentation.
1. Summarize. Provide a brief summary of what you covered. "In summary, the key points to remember are ..." This will give your audience a cue that the end is coming and that they should be aware of certain key points.
2. Dramatize your ideas. Give the audience a window into the future, whether it's a slide showing the end result or a graph that shows the results to date and projected results. It gives the audience something to expect or goals to achieve.
3. Use a quote. By using a quote to make your conclusion it can give added credibility to your presentation. Make sure that the quote is relevant and that you are familiar with the person that you are quoting.
4. Speak on a personal level. Talk specifically about a member or members of the audience. "If our department can follow Tina and Jim's example, we will be able to surpass our goals." Speaking on a personal level can help the audience better connect to your presentation.
5. Repeat your most important point. By using repetition it allows you to accentuate your points and drive home the strongest points with your audience but also wrap up the presentation in a logical way.
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