You work hard on your content, your stories, and your delivery — so don't let a weak ending undo all of it. In this QuickBites episode, you'll hear exactly what a forgettable conclusion sounds like, why it costs you credibility, and how two simple tweaks can transform the way your audience walks away from your talk.
This episode takes less than five minutes and gives you one of the highest-leverage improvements you can make to any presentation: a conclusion that sticks. Listen, apply it to your next talk, and notice the difference immediately.
Welcome to QuickBites — public speaking tips and techniques you can digest in five minutes or less.
The Average Trap
Did you look in the mirror this morning and say, "I hope I'm perfectly average today"? Probably not. Yet by definition, many of us will be. I'm not here to tell you to 10x your efforts every day. But I do believe you should take advantage of the small opportunities to be above average when they present themselves.
Here's a case in point. Recently I attended a talk given by a well-known speaker in her field. I'll call her Susan — because that's her name. Susan spoke for just under an hour, consistently delivering relevant information while keeping her audience completely enthralled. She was a well-above-average speaker. Until she reached the end.
A Good Talk With a Forgettable Finish
After completing her last talking point, Susan simply said: "You've been a great audience and I hope you have found this information beneficial." Was it terrible? No. Was it average? At best.
With very little extra effort, Susan could have turned that ending into something memorable. Instead of a statement, she could have asked a question that made her message stick:
What was your greatest takeaway — and how are you going to use it to reach your objective?
Or, if she wanted to keep the word "beneficial" in her closing, she might have asked: "What did you find most beneficial? And how is it going to make a difference in your work?"
Small Tweaks, Above-Average Results
Neither of those examples is an earth-shattering conclusion. But small tweaks like these advance a talk from average to above average — and they don't require much effort. The conclusion is arguably the most crucial aspect of your talk. Make sure it isn't perfectly average. And the same is true for every other aspect of what you do on stage.
If you'd like to learn more about crafting compelling conclusions, tune into the QuickBites episode titled, appropriately enough, "How to Craft Compelling Conclusions," released July 29, 2021.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.
Follow the podcast wherever you listen.
Ranked in the Top 3% of podcasts worldwide. New episodes every week.
The Captivating Public Speaker
The principles in this episode are explored in depth in Peter's award-winning book — winner of six international honors including the 2023 International Business Book of the Year Runner-Up.
Read the Book →Take your speaking from good to genuinely unforgettable.
The podcast gives you the ideas. Coaching gives you the transformation.
Schedule a Consultation →