How to End a Presentation: 5 Ways to End a Presentation

In the context of business, a presentation is an informative slideshow or speech that a presenter delivers to an audience. Most are spoken presentations wherein a person addresses a group, either in person or in a digital meeting room. Some business presenters use visual aids to enhance their message, while others offer space for audience interaction or a post-talk Q&A session.

Well-executed closing statements can linger with audience members in a powerful way. Try these strategies for making the end of a presentation engaging.

1. 1. End with a compelling story. The story can be from a case study, or it can be something that is personal to you as the presenter. In either case, lean on an emotionally engaging narrative instead of statistics or broad generalizations to draw in your audience.
2. 2. Return to your opening message. Use the end of your presentation to clearly convey what you consider to be the most important idea of your talk. Use your final moments to recap the main points of your overall talk, then conclude with the same message you offered at the very beginning of your presentation to bring your argument full circle.
3. 3. Ask a question. You can summon your audience's attention by actively involving them in the last thing you say. Instead of concluding with a statement, rephrase that statement as an open-ended or rhetorical question for audience members to ponder after you have left the stage or ended the meeting.
4. 4. Wrap up with exactly three key points. In the same way that the rule of three works well for establishing a comic rhythm, it can also help you craft a strong ending. Pick three main points to go out on, and drive them home at the very end. If you’re using a slideshow as part of your presentation, summarize these key points on your last slide.
5. 5. Provide next steps and contact information. If you’re presenting a project kick-off or pitching a new process at your workplace, end with a specific call to action (CTA). Clearly let your coworkers know what you’re asking of them. Use the final slide to list key stakeholders’ contact information and the objectives for follow-up discussions to end your meeting on a high note.

Keep your audience's attention throughout your public presentation by using these public speaking tips.

1. 1. Find moments for eye contact. When a public speaker's eyes are buried in their notes, audience members tune out. Know your material well enough that you can pull away from your notes and make intentional eye contact with the people listening to you. This is particularly crucial when you are making important points.
2. 2. Be mindful of body language. Effective presentations go beyond speaking skills. Your body language tells the audience how they should receive your words. Slouching, slumped shoulders, and gazing downward convey low energy and a lack of urgency. By contrast, great posture and active engagement with all corners of a room convey confidence and enthusiasm for your topic. Practice your public speaking on video if possible. As you review the footage, you may be surprised by your own body language.
3. 3. Inspiring quotes can help set the right mood. These quotes don't have to be lofty. Find something germane to the topic of your talk, and work it into your presentation as a key sound bite.
4. 4. Tell the audience something they didn't know. Always assume that your audience is there to learn from you. Teach them new things, whether that's an interesting statistic or a surprising fact that relates to your presentation.
5. 5. Amplify your message with visuals. Photos, graphs, video clips, and GIFs can all help underscore your key message and leave a lasting impression.
6. 6. Be cautious with paper handouts. Sometimes paper handouts can augment an oral presentation; other times they can distract an audience. If you do opt for handouts, make them simple by using bullet points instead of long paragraphs and large, bold fonts. Consider saving your handouts for the presentation conclusion to give your audience material to ponder later on.

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