>> How to close a speech effectively
with a Tie-In to the opening:
How did you open your speech,
how to close a speach? With a
story, a joke, a quotation, a
question, a statistic? However
you opened your speech, see if
you can plot a way to close the
speech similarly. Create a
complete and tidy package out of
your speech by tying in your
ending with your beginning.
Refer back to your original story,
joke, quote, question, or statistic.
Or, alternatively, present a
second story, joke, quote,
question, or statistic that is a
direct follow-up or in some
obvious way related to the one
you started with.
with a Summary of your key
points: Some time in the writing
of your speech you came up
with the key point or points you
intended to convey. Whether or
not you explicitly state those
objectives in the introduction or
body of your speech, you most
certainly can benefit from
summarizing those main ideas in
a clear and concise manner
(such as bullet point or outline
form) at the speech's closing. Put
another way - tell them what
you just told them, only now in
a bite-sized manner.
by Personalizing it: To really
bring your speech home, bring it
home. Make it personal. If you
haven't already done so, put
yourself into your speech. Show
your audience through your
own personal experience how
the message of your speech
applies to you in your life. That'll
better enable them to see how
your message applies to them.
It's never too late to open up to
your audience when giving a
speech, even if that opening up
comes at the closing.
with a Call to Action: Some of the
most effective speeches of all
time compel the listener to take
some sort of desired action.
Particularly suitable for
promotional, political,
fundraising, and other
persuasive speeches, a call to
action is a way to direct the
energy you've built up in the
audience into a relevant and
decisive action. Call your senator.
Sign up for the next workshop.
Make a donation. Have that all-
important discussion with your
child, spouse, boss. Whatever
the call to action, it's a powerful
way to turn any speech into a
powerful instrument of change.
No matter how to close a
speech, make sure that it is clear
that you are finished, most
commonly and acceptably
accomplished by a humble,
"Thank you". The audience
wants the same respect and
appreciation that you do, and
giving it to them is incredibly
easy. Just remember to thank
them for their time and attention,
and they'll be happy to take fond
memories of your speech and
your prevailing message with
them when they return to their
regular lives.