Memorable conclusion to a speech should
Just as the introduction is one of the most important aspects of a successful speech, so too is the conclusion. The primary recency effect is the idea that people are more likely to recall and formulate opinions based on the first and last pieces of information they listen to. While a well-crafted introduction and conclusion will not outweigh a poorly composed speech, the primary recency effect does place critical importance on a presentation’s introduction and conclusion. Show
Don’t end with a mic drop. It was funny when President Obama did it at the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, but it’s become a cliché since then. Plus, microphones are expensive, and they tend to break when dropped. The purpose of a conclusion is to briefly summarize your speech, to leave the audience with a clear takeaway, and to signal the end of your speech. Ending a speech with “So…that’s it” or “OK, I’m done” is unacceptable. It is also unacceptable to introduce a new idea in your conclusion. A conclusion must be clear, memorable, and brief. How brief? No more than 5–10% of the total speech. In that time, you must achieve three goals. Goal 1: Review main pointsA conclusion should include a clear review of the main points of the speech. The purpose is to remind the audience of the main ideas that were covered in the speech. To bolster recall, follow these two rules:
Goal 2: Restate the topicRepetition is a good thing in a speech. Just as you prepared them to listen to your speech in support of your thesis in your introduction, it is important to bring them back to the singular purpose and idea of your speech now that you have presented your key points and supporting ideas. Goal 3: Provide a lasting thoughtYour conclusion should clearly indicate the end of your speech. The last thing a speaker says should set the tone, motivation, or intrigue that the audience should take away from having listened to the presentation. To help you do so, the next page will outline useful attention-getting strategies for your conclusion. The introduction and conclusion are essential to a speech. The audience will remember the main ideas even If the middle of the speech is a mess or nerves overtake the speaker. So if nothing else, get these parts down! The speech is almost over and the audience needs closure. The conclusion needs to be a clincher (definitive end to the speech) – “That’s it” is not a conclusion. Signal the endingJust as the audience has been led through the speech, there must also be a signal to the end of the speech.
Logical conclusionThe main points and topic are brought together in a logical conclusion.
Psychological conclusionPsychologically the audience should walk away emotionally touched.
Clincher
As you decide which of these conclusion styles will work best with your speech, keep in mind your conclusion needs to restate your claim. You've grabbed attention in the opening, sustained it through the transitions, and now all you have to do is close. It may seem like a time to wind down, to simply sum up and breathe a sigh of relief. And, of course, it's not. For no matter how vivid the words that came before, your conclusion is your prime time; it's what your whole speech should build toward. Don't throw it away. Instead, build up to it, and make sure it is stimulating and memorable. What do people remember most? What they hear last. Yet so few speakers devote any thought or preparation to their ending. They just fade away and they and their messages are soon forgotten. To be truly memorable you must end as strongly as you began. I've seen people so relieved their stint on the podium is over that they start to pack up before they finish speaking. Powerful speakers save a lot of energy and concern for the audience until the end, and make the conclusion their dessert: something delicious, with a memorable aftertaste. Fitting Conclusions Don't Just HappenThe best time to prepare your conclusion is when you begin thinking about your speech. Memorize and practice your conclusion just as you do for your opening. Your conclusion must tie in with your opening and your overall purpose; it's an ending that must connect naturally with your beginning, and that's where organization continues to be important. Conclusions are your destination: You begin a speech where your audience is, but you end where you want them to be. The body of the speech is a bridge, and the speaker must always know what that bridge links. Always conclude with your own ideas, especially after a question-and-answer session. Alert the audience in the beginning of your speech that you will reserve the last few minutes to tie things up. Ask for the OrderA good sales pitch will not only ask people to order, but also tell them how. When you buy a car, the dealer explains the auto's features, points out why it is better than the one you already own, and then tells you how you can pay for it. Speakers, as you now know, are also in the selling business, and the conclusion is the time to ask for the order. Nothing will happen if you don't ask. And you ask by telling your audience what you want it to do with the information you've presented and how it can take that action. An effective speaker presenting a central idea ends by pointing out to those in his audience exactly what is needed from them to put that idea to work. For example, if you have been talking about on-the-job safety, end with an emotional and specific appeal showing why safety is important to the people in front of you, and how they can ensure safe operations by applying the information you've presented. If you've been persuading them to give blood, tell them where. And make it sound easy to get there. Getting a visible demonstration of support is an effective technique. If you shared 10 reasons why your staff must operate their vehicles in a specific manner, end by telling them how lives could be saved, including theirs. End by asking, then and there, for a show of hands from those committed to the new procedures. This is not the time to be shy, but to be rousing. Action doesn't always have to be literal. If you simply want the people in your audience to mull over your ideas, tell them this is what you want them to do. Summarize your important thoughts in sequence; in doing so, you give them a verbal pocket digest they can carry away with them. If you fail to ask for a specific action, you may end up giving a wonderful speech that builds up to nothing. One way to zero in on a dynamic closing is to ask yourself, "What do I want the members of my audience to think about as they leave?" Remember that the conclusion is not a second chance: If you've failed to get your ideas across in the body of your talk, it's too late now. You've presented your message; now is the time to fix that message in your listeners' minds. A Quartet of Quintessential Elements for a Strong ConclusionThere are four essential elements that go into constructing an effective conclusion:
6 Aids to Memorable EndingsYour closing statement should be brief yet powerful. There are six major devices for concluding your talk. You can use each alone, or combine them with the others. In addition, the devices for openings, transitions, and closings are very similar, and the same device can be used in numerous places.
You may not choose to use a song or dance to end your program, but you might try another creative venue. One speaker I know makes his final points while doing a demonstration of Tai Kwan Do! It's exciting, engaging, and helps the audience leave in an upbeat mood. Combine Closing TechniquesMany conclusions will borrow from a combination of the above techniques. A fund-raising presentation I attended had a three-part conclusion: It started with a summary of reasons why the cause was especially worthy and led into this quotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "No man can truly help another man without helping himself." The speaker then launched into a direct appeal: "So please reach into your hearts and checkbooks so that tomorrow really will be a better day for the needy." These techniques also apply in general communication. For example, after a meeting with a client you might need to sum up your discussion or ask for the order. Never let important conversations or discussions just drift away. Whatever technique you use, strive for a conclusion that will stay with your listeners long after they leave their seats and return to their private lives. Professional Projects: Concentrate on Conclusions
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