How to Begin Strong and End Stronger
Tick & Talk
The Middle East's Leaders in Communication Skills - Verbal, Non-Verbal and Written
Giving a presentation is like flying a plane - it requires a smooth takeoff and a soft landing.
Just as a skilled pilot navigates the critical moments of takeoff and landing, a good presenter must master the art of beginning and ending their talk.
These opening and closing moments are the cornerstones of your presentation and often determine how your audience will receive and remember your message.
?
Why does it matter?
It’s all about psychology.
Our memory is influenced by cognitive biases, particularly the primacy and recency effects.
These are forms of memory biases that cause us to remember information better according to whether it's presented first or last.
The primacy effect suggests that people often remember the first things they hear in a sequence, while the recency effect indicates that the last things heard are favoured and recalled more easily.
This means your opening and closing are not just formalities – they're strategic opportunities to make your message stick.
Moreover, a strong start sets the tone for your entire presentation, capturing attention and building anticipation.
A powerful ending, on the other hand, solidifies your key points and motivates your audience to act on what they've learned.
Together, these elements create a cohesive and impactful presentation experience for you and your audience.
?
?
Here's how to give your presentation an unforgettable introduction and a powerful closing:
Starting Strong: Your Presentation Takeoff
?
1. Start with something unexpected
?? Surprise your audience with an unusual statement, striking visual, or memorable act. This grabs attention and sets the tone for your talk.
?Watch how Mohammed Qahtani started his award-winning speech:
?
2. Begin with a jaw-dropping fact
?? A shocking statistic or surprising fact that relates to your message can instantly hook your audience and make them eager to learn more.
?Watch an example in Boyan Slat's introduction here.
3. Say something relatable
?? Share a personal story or relevant quote that resonates with your audience. This builds rapport and makes listeners feel connected to you and your message.
Watch Tim Urban's introduction using relatable personal story about procrastination.
4. Pose a thought-provoking question
?? Start with a question that challenges assumptions or sparks curiosity, encouraging your audience to engage from the outset.
You can turn this into a survey question and ask your audience to raise their hands to vote an answer.
Watch an example of Robert Waldinger's stirring opening question here.
And watch how Celeste Headlee led with a polling question here.
?
5. Paint a vivid scenario
?? Describe a compelling situation or future state related to your topic, helping your audience visualize the importance of your message. You can use an ‘Imagine’ or ‘What if?’ scenario.
??Watch an example of Ric Elias's captivating descriptive opening story about his plane crash here.
?
Ending Stronger: Your Presentation Landing
?
领英推荐
1. End with a rhetorical question
?? Leave your audience with a question that prompts reflection and extends the impact of your talk beyond the presentation room.
Watch how Lera Boroditsky ends her speech with stirring open-ended questions here.
2. Return to your opening message
?? Bring your presentation full circle by echoing your core message or initial hook, providing a satisfying sense of closure.
?A great example is how Amy Cuddy reiterated her own introduction as she was concluding, watch it here.
3. Present a persuasive call-to-action
?? Give your audience clear, actionable steps to take after your presentation, ensuring your message translates into real-world impact.
Watch Judson Brewer as he builds a compelling call-to-action on how to break from bad habits here.
4. Share a powerful quote
?? End with a memorable quote that encapsulates your main point or inspires action.
??Listen to Meg Jay use a quote to conclude her point about appreciating the age of the twenties here.
5. Offer a compelling vision
?? Conclude by painting an inspiring picture of what's possible if your audience embraces your message or takes action.
Watch Lydia Machová? close her speech with her inspiring vision on language learning here.
?
Additional tips to deliver them with power:
?
?? These crucial parts of your presentation deserve extra rehearsal time.
?
?? Strong posture and purposeful gestures reinforce your message at the beginning and end.
?
?? Vary your tone and pace to emphasize key points and maintain engagement.
?
?? Use a powerful image or prop at the start and end to create a lasting visual memory.
?
?? Place brief pauses after your opening and before your conclusion to add more weight and heighten impact.
?
And just like piloting, presenting requires skill, practice, and attention to detail.
Take time to master these crucial components of your presentation, ensuring you not only take off smoothly but also land with impact.
With this approach, you can build an experience that your audience remembers and enjoys from start to finish.
Found this article helpful?
Every Sunday, we will tackle a new topic that simplifies presentations and makes them a digestible piece of cake, no matter the context.
The Presentation Talk addresses any topics related to preparing, rehearsing, and delivering a presentation - whether if it’s for business, or if it genuinely helps you become a better speaker. ??
Subscribe now and wait for more from The Presentation Talk!