Going Out with a Bang: Conclusions

The importance of having a strong conclusion in presentations is driven home by this article by Martin Miller of the LA Times about the new trend in television shows that drive toward a conclusion.

Series finales: Going out with a bang For long-running shows such as 'ER' or 'The Sopranos,' there are expectations.  By Martin Miller, LA Times, January 25, 2009

Now that the trend has been set by shows such as ‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld’, it creates an expectation that plays into a powerful human urge: the drive for completion.

How many times have you seen a speaker take pause, look at their notes, mumble an extended “um”, and finally look up uttering, “That’s it.  Does anyone have any questions?”  This is NOT a satisfying conclusion.

After the Opening, the Conclusion has the second highest impact of your presentation. It leaves the audience with the final impression of you and your message. Human beings seek completion and resolution. Without a clear Conclusion, audiences feel left hanging. Provide your audience a powerful sense of completion by crafting a strong Conclusion.

The Bottom Line: Make sure your presentations conclude with a bang, not a whimper.

How to Structure a Presentation>>