The objective of the closing

To be memorable and avoid an abrupt ending

The conclusion of a speech is not simply the cessation of speaking, but the strategic moment where the impact of the message is consolidated.

Experts in communication and psychology agree that the audience tends to remember more clearly the last moments of an experience, a phenomenon known as the recency effect.

If a speaker delivers a brilliant presentation for forty minutes but closes weakly, haltingly or abruptly, the overall perception of his or her performance will be compromised.

A poorly executed closing can leave the audience with the feeling that something was missing, like a movie with the last five minutes cut off.

The goal of the closing is to raise the energy of the room, not to let it drop. It is the time to package all the value delivered and present it with a final bow.

An abrupt ending, where the speaker simply stops talking because he or she has run out of time or ideas, denotes a lack of planning and professionalism.

On the contrary, a closing designed with "height" and purpose ensures that the core message lingers in the long-term memory of the attendees, transforming a simple talk into a memorable experience.

Avoid ending with "thank you" only

It is standard practice, almost a conditioned reflex, to end any presentation with the word "thank you" and walk away.

While gratitude is an essential component of etiquette and should be present to acknowledge the attention paid by the audience, it cannot constitute the entirety of the closing.

To merely say thank you is to waste a golden opportunity to hammer home the final concept. The thank you should be the icing on the cake, not the whole cake.

Reducing the ending to a polite formula misses the opportunity to inspire or mobilize.

The right strategy involves delivering a powerful conclusion, a lapidary phrase or a call to action and, only after that message has landed and resonated in the silence of the room, offer the final thank you.<