How to End Your Speech with a Bang

How to End Your Speech with a Bang

Your conclusion should reflect your mentality, not a platitude. Consider shooting fireworks of final, impassioned comments from the podium rather than simply saying “thank you.”

You will elicit spontaneous applause for a well-rehearsed, well-timed, and well-executed performance with the panache of a fireworks finale—a performance that embodies all the anticipation of a logger’s cry: Timbeerrrrrrr! This article demonstrates how to end your speech strongly.

Draw Attention to Your Speech's Closing

The most effective speakers do not conclude their presentations with a terse and boring “Thank you,” as is the custom of too many politicians, businesspeople, and community leaders. That is too simple. Too lazy, too.

To conclude your speech with a powerful conclusion that renders the obligatory “thank you” obsolete, it demands original ideas and engaging execution. The colonists were debating the war as the American Revolution was about to begin.

Pro Tip

Plan Your Closing Remarks Word For Word.

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry gave a moving speech. He ended it with the following:

William Jennings Bryan concluded his enthusiastic speech opposing the use of the gold standard as national currency at the Democratic National Convention in 1896 with these famous words:

In response to the German threat of an invasion of England during World War II, Winston Churchill issued a warning on June 18, 1940, urging all Britons to prepare. The words he used to end his speech have since been adopted as its title:

Finish your speech with a flourish.

The best speakers finish their talks on a high note both vocally and intellectually, just like the opera singer. The speaker should leave them thinking, just as the comic should make them laugh. Final remarks linger. Your final remarks should be clear and inspiring to energize your audience and galvanize your message.

To end your speech with a bang, review the ten templates below and make appropriate changes to your speech:

“The speaker should leave them thinking, just as the comic should leave them laughing.”
Peter Jeff

Initially, Bookend Close

Referring to your opening anecdote or quotation, conclude your bookend speech by saying, “We have come full circle.” Then state it one more so that your audience will remember it. This will create symmetry in the traditional three-part speech structure: tell the audience what you are going to say, say it, then tell the audience what you just said.

#2 - Close the challenge

Encourage the audience to put what you have spoken in the speech into practice.

If you had to summarize a speech about the significance of acting, you might say:

Action Item

Make sure to End A Speech With A Summary.

Third: Echo Close

Choose one word from a quotation to emphasis to reinforce your main point.

Consider, for instance, the five instances of the verb “do” in the following conclusion to a speech on the significance of participating in the educational process:

#4 - Repeated Closing

To end a motivational speech with a crescendo, choose a phrase and repeat it in a manner like the tempo of a drummer:

“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
Alfred Hitchcock

5 - Title Finale

Give your speech a thought-provoking title that sums up your point in a memorable way. Then, reinforce the title of your speech that you mentioned before by using it as your concluding remarks to compel your audience to reflect more deeply on what they just heard. To improve the title, try composing your speech’s conclusion first.

#6: Sing a song to end.

One of the phrases you used multiple times throughout your speech should be repeated to the audience. Let us say you keep saying, “Together, we can win,” and you do it repeatedly. 

Then, when you are about to conclude, you say: “I know that all of you are talented and motivated. I am aware that none of us can accomplish this on our own, but with each other’s help (pause until the audience responds.)

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
Winston Churchill

#7: Callback End

Think back to a story you once shared about a task that was left unfinished. Then, pick up the narrative and end it with your topic in mind.

For instance:

#8 - Film Closing

Make mention to a popular film or book. For instance, an executive ended a speech with a reference to growing pangs after discussing the maturity of a product line and the necessity to move past the past to produce new and different items. The speaker made a reference to the closing sequence of the film Summer of ’42. Hermie is the primary character. 

He is thinking back on his lost adolescence as an adult.

#9 - Close the quotation

To focus the audience’s attention like a spotlight, use a well-known quotation.

As an illustration, at the end of a speech about the value of retaining self-assurance in the face of difficulty, you might say:

Number 10: Third Party Close

The Third-Party Close will elevate the utilization of a quotation. Utilize a quotation to help convey your point of view. By framing your conclusion around the thesis of that quotation, you can use it as a springboard to raise your message to the audience’s level of understanding.

If you wanted to sum up your speech about the value of accepting change, you could say:

The pursuit of a better existence has made change a way of life. We must remember the wisdom of President Abraham Lincoln, who stood on the verge of the American Civil War and fought against the nation’s 100-year heritage of slavery extending back to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom owned slaves. Lincoln stated while staring change square in the eye:

“A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. Don't wait for an inspired ending to come to mind. Work your way to the ending and see what comes up.”
Andy Weir

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How to Connect with Your Audience by Moving Closer

How to Connect with Your Audience by Moving Closer

Most presenters start out by gratefully clinging to the lectern’s sides, content to hide behind it for a little additional security in a tense scenario. But you already know that you should not remain in front of the podium. Yet why?

How should you move in relation to the audience as you become more proficient at public speaking and at ease on stage? Is it advisable to saunter deeply into the crowd or not? What about circumstances in which it seems difficult to communicate with the audience at all, whether because of the design of the room or the placement of your listeners?

Zones for Human Interaction

Several important findings from research on non-verbal communications will be helpful in formulating a few principles for the efficient choreography of a speech. The first quotation is taken from Edward T. Hall’s seminal book The Silent Language. He outlined four areas of distance between individuals:

“Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it; then tell them what you’ve said.”
Dale Carnegie

Sharing public space is low-key for us since the individuals there are simply too far away to be significant for us to be particularly interested in them. The social environment is a little cozier, but we do not really start to pay attention until someone enters our personal space. Of course, when someone is in our personal space, we are completely focused on them.

"Unless you can invade their personal space, you can't really have an impact on people."

The bottom line is that only in private and intimate spaces can important things between individuals occur. Personal space is left when public speakers are not allowed in intimate spaces because doing so violates a very deep principle. Here is how you approach it: Unless you can into someone’s personal space, you cannot really have an impact on them.

You might be thinking by this point that this zone research causes a problem for public speakers. You certainly cannot invade everyone in the audience’s personal space because if you did, you would be running around like a crazy person. Most of the audience might feel excluded.

Emotions are Shared by Your Audience

I will get to the mechanics in a moment, but first, here is some interesting new brain study that clarifies the situation. Researchers from Italy have investigated mirror neurons (See: Mirrors in the Brain: How Our Minds Share Actions, Emotions, and Experience). According to research, a unique type of neuron called a mirror neuron fire in our heads, causing us to feel whatever emotion the person next to us is feeling. It is the reason we can care for others, experience their joy and grief, and be empathic as a species.

Pro Tip

Look at people a bit longer.

In this instance, it means that everyone seated close to the lucky audience member will feel the same rush of attention if the speaker pays particular attention to them. Although the effect weakens with distance, it is still potent and eliminates the need to circle the room to pay attention to most of the audience.

As distance decreases, trust (and connection) rises

The third phenomenon is that we trust people more when they are close to us and less when they are farther away. This third phenomenon can be added to these research findings.

The only efficient approach to get beyond bland and leave an impression on people is to move into the crowd and into the personal space of chosen audience members.

By this point, you should have a clearer idea of why it is so crucial to approach an audience to connect with them and why you should not hold to the erroneous belief that doing so will make other audience members feel excluded. The only way to get beyond bland and leave an impression on people is to move into the crowd and into the personal space of chosen audience members. And changing the world is the only purpose to give a speech, right?

Action Item

Tell listeners what the topic has to do with them.

Okay, but how can you approach the audience more closely?

Okay, but there is still the coordination, you object.

"To make your speaking more impactful and clearer, use your body as a punctuation mark."

I have worked as a speaker and a coach of speakers for more than 20 years, and I have seen about every imaginable room arrangement. Many of these make it incredibly challenging for presenters to enter the crowd. You simply must function as best you can in those circumstances. 

The best might merely be advancing to the stage’s edge. But even that will strengthen the audience’s sense of closeness and trust in you because people are quite perceptive about whether others are moving near or far from them, even in tiny movements.

“Never treat your audience as customers, always as partners.”
James Stewart

Knowing how mirror neuron’s function enables you to see why engaging the audience is beneficial even if you only interact with a small number of people. However, you do not want to spend too much time ensconced in an audience and turn your back on a sizable portion of your audience. The act of turning away from someone delivers a keen sense of disinterest or disengagement.

"Closing the distance and moving closer the audience indicates, 'This is significant.'"

This is particularly true in an area with lots of those round tables where it feels like everyone is turning their back on you. With that set up, you should spend most of your time moving toward the tables you can easily access from the front of the room. Try to visit every corner of the space. 

The audience will be grateful that you tried to connect with them and that you did not spend a lot of time getting lost in the maze of tables. Additionally, you do not want to focus too much attention on a single audience member. The precise timing will depend on the content of your speech and the nature of your interactions, but as a rule, aim for no longer than a minute. 

“To have great poets, there must be great audiences.”
Walt Whitman

If you focus on one person for too long, the rest of the audience will feel excluded. It requires (1) tact and (2) fast decision-making on the spot. Consider the size of the space, how you will move around it, and how hard you can work the audience.

When you want to accentuate a point in your speech or when you want to engage with audience members, the objective should always be to walk toward them—even if it is just a few feet. This is vital, he or she says as they close the distance and go approach the audience. Moving away implies the contrary. 

Use your body as a punctuation mark to enhance the impact and clarity of your speech. The dance should support the message being conveyed. Always.

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Bookending Your Speech: A Master Technique 9

Bookending Your Speech: A Master Technique 9

We’ll explain what it means to bookend your speech in this post, along with some advice on how to use this effective tactic.

Your Speech's Bookend: A Definition

Imagine a set of bookends, which are matched items used to bind a collection of books on a shelf. Practically speaking, bookends hold the books in place and provide support. But they perform a lot more in terms of aesthetics. 

For the books on display, bookends neatly (and frequently aesthetically) create visual symmetry. By doing this, they highlight the row of books and convey the idea that they are unique and deserving of admiration.

Similar support is given to the body of your speech when you “bookend your speech.” You can efficiently (and frequently creatively) create cognitive symmetry for the speech you just gave by beginning and ending with a shared element. You make your words stand out more and convey the idea that your message deserves to be heard.

The exquisite approach of bookending your speech gives the impression that it was written with great care and attention to detail. This increases your credibility since your audience is more likely to think that your entire speech was carefully produced and can be trusted as a result.

“Like bookends, we have learned to support each other when the stuff in the middle pushes us apart.”
Liane Holliday Willey

There are numerous methods you can use to bookend your speech. Pick the one that best complements your speech. Whatever method you choose, be sure that your bookending element is directly tied to your theme. It would be like putting a pair of baseballs at the ends of a collection of classic literature novels to close your speech; it would be practical but not particularly meaningful.

Pro Tip

Bookending With the Use of Visual Presentations.

1. Tell a tale in two parts.

2. Pose a query and provide a response.

3. Employ the same or comparable quotations.

4. Make use of quotes that contrast.

Action Item

Make use of Props to Bookend Your Speech.

5. Make use of opposing ideas.

“The bookends of success are starting and finishing. Decisions help us start; discipline helps us finish.”
John C. Maxwell

6. Make jokes.

7. Employ a prop.

8. Employ a slide.

9. Use another universal component.

“It's the fine balance of caffeine and alcohol that bookends my days.”
Tim Minchin

Whether you are an experienced speaker or a newbie, bookending your speech is a master technique that is simple to use. I recently went to a Toastmasters meeting where a new member gave his debut speech. He “confessed” that he hated umbrellas in the opening of his speech, which was funny. He then declared his desire for legislation to outlaw umbrellas as he concluded his remarks. (The speech was hilarious overall, and this particular joke worked nicely.)

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How to Use Quotes in Your Speech: 8 Benefits and 21 Tips

How to Use Quotes in Your Speech: 8 Benefits and 21 Tips

While not necessary in every speech, using citations in speeches requires speakers to understand why, how, and when to do so.

In this post, we will look at eight advantages of including quotes in speeches before going over twenty-one suggestions for employing quotes to their fullest potential.

The Advantages of Quotation in Speech

“Free speech means the right to shout 'theatre' in a crowded fire.”
Abbie Hoffman

Including quotations in your speech has several advantages, including:

Pro Tip

Ask yourself if the quote is the best tool for the job.

Advice on How to Use Quotations in Speech

Okay, so you now fully understand the advantages of using quotations in your speech. But how do you go about it? You should cite who. When should the quotation be given? Continue reading to get many suggestions for incorporating quotes into presentations successfully.

Conduct research

Quote People You Know in Your Audience

To begin and end, use your own words; use a quote in the center

Action Item

If you’re quoting someone in a speech, make sure the audience knows where the quote ends and your words begin.

Make sure to emphasize the quote in your delivery.

“If you don’t have a plan for your life, somebody else does.”
Michael Hyatt

Make use of reliable sources.

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8 Key Points for Perfect Presentation Practice

8 Key Points for Perfect Presentation Practice

Does practice make perfect when it comes to giving presentations? Simply put, no.

The permanence of practice.

Not just practicing, but practicing perfectly, should be your aim. Whether something is right or bad, the more you do it, the more natural it feels. Therefore, when we rehearse our presentations, we must do it correctly. 

Understanding a subject does not ensure success. What matters is your ability to clearly communicate your point and engage your audience, and excellent preparation can help you do this.

Practice Has Helped Me...

A recent sales presentation about the potential of BRODY Professional Development that I was requested to give serves as a personal illustration of how effective perfect practice is. I gave my presentation to one of my account managers after arranging it. She made a few recommendations, one of which was that I begin with a tale.

Pro Tip

Keep it Simple: Concentrate on your Core Message.

I practiced my presentation with one of our facilitators who attended the meeting after I modified it. She collaborated with me to make the presentation more dynamic and sensitive to the client’s particular demands. We also practiced how she may lead some of the conversation. 

In addition to practicing our timing, we also practiced segues between the two of us to make sure they were seamless. Even our seating arrangements in the room were discussed to maximize audience participation. We practiced it three more times in the car on the way to the customer site in New York.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
Thomas Edison

The good news is that we achieved results (we closed the transaction) when we came because we were prepared, had anticipated their queries, and the time was perfect.

Practice Will Help You, too.

Presenting on the spot rarely yields the desired outcomes. Here is the strategy that, dare I say it, always produces positive results for me.

I’m going to assume that you have prepared:

Action Item

Ensure to Practice your presentation ahead of time.

Although visualizing is helpful, speaking aloud exercises should still be done. Too often, practice is postponed until just before a presentation, by which time it is already too late. The purpose of practice sessions is to make presenters completely at ease with the material, the slides, and the timing so they can focus on engaging the audience during the actual presentation.

8 Recommendations for Effective Presentations

While visualizing is helpful, speaking aloud is still necessary.

Here are my top eight suggestions for flawless practice:

Is this something I would want to sit through? is an excellent question to ask. What must you do to alter the presentation if the response is “No”?

The executive I mentor, who works for a sizable pharmaceutical company, had a big “town hall” meeting coming up to introduce new company policies. He anticipated that the audience would be tense and possibly hostile. His presentation’s outline was heavily data-driven when we first discussed it. 

He was in no way connecting with the feelings that people were experiencing. He started to practice and “own” the material once we changed the presentation’s structure. 

He claimed that this repetition made him feel at ease during the meeting and completely in the moment, which allowed him to connect with the audience on an emotional and psychological level. He now demands that all his direct reports follow the eight practice standards I advised him to follow.

“If something is important enough, even if the odds are stacked against you, you should still do it.”
Elon Musk

I don’t think practice is enjoyable. But there isn’t a replacement for it.

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