11 End with a Bang!
Perhaps the most neglected part of most speeches is the conclusion. This is unfortunate because the end is the last impression a speaker leaves on an audience. I believe that the conclusion is an essential part of a speech. How many otherwise excellent speeches have ended simply with, “Any questions?” or “Well, that’s about it.” It is like driving in a stock car race and running out of gas just before the finish line. The conclusion is a vital part of your speech and should accomplish the following objectives:
- Clearly signal that the speech is coming to an end. Your audience should not be surprised when your speech ends; deliver a natural and anticipated closing. Think of the metaphor of a classical music concert, where some in the audience are unfamiliar with the composition and hesitant to applaud, unsure whether it has ended or is just the end of a movement. You can forecast the ending with a simple phrase such as “to summarize” or “in conclusion.” This prepares the audience for the speech’s end. Then, close quickly. Nothing is more frustrating to an audience than for a speaker to signal that the presentation is drawing to a close and then continue rhapsodizing.
- Do not rely on your audience’s memory. Review your main points. Summarize your speech in a few sentences. There is a good chance that your audience has already forgotten much of what you just said. Don’t take it personally. What is it that you most want your audience to come away with? Be sure to reiterate it in the conclusion.
- Make your last sentence powerful. Your last sentence or couple of sentences should be what applause would naturally follow. It may be a call to action, such as, “We all have a part to play in saving our environment—start conserving and recycling now!” Or it may be inspirational, such as, “Recycling is our obligation to the generations that follow us. There is nothing more important than leaving our children a world where they can thrive and reach their full potential!”
