Discuss ways to ensure the presentation ends with a strong close.

The close of a speech or presentation has two critical jobs to accomplish: making sure your listeners leave with the key points from your talk clear in their minds and putting your audience in the appropriate emotional state.Use the close to succinctly restate your main points,emphasizing what you want your listeners to do or to think.You could repeat your specific recommendations and then conclude with a memorable statement to motivate your audience to take action.Repetition of key ideas,as long as you don't overdo it,greatly improves the chance that your audience will hear your message in the way you intended.End on a strong note that confirms expectations about any actions or decisions that will follow the presentation-and to bolster the audience's confidence in you and your message one final time.If the audience reached agreement on an issue covered in the presentation,briefly review the consensus,you expect any action to occur as a result of your speech,be sure to identify who is responsible for doing what.List the action items and,if possible within the time you have available,establish due dates and assign responsibility for each task.Make sure your final remarks are memorable and expressed in a tone that is appropriate to the situation.Whatever final message is appropriate,think through your closing remarks carefully before stepping in front of the audience.You don't want to wind up on stage with nothing to say but "Well,I guess that's it."