Use the chance to repeat your thesis a final time, if necessary. What’s the one thing you hope someone remembers from your speech? What’s the one thing that needs to be learned? In informal speeches, repeating the main points won’t be necessary. If you’re giving a toast at a wedding, you don’t need to run back through a list of the great things about the groom.
If you started the speech by drawing a sad portrait of a recently returned veteran who couldn’t get work, or health insurance, and ended up in dire straits, that can be a heart-breaking intro. Pick back up with the story in conclusion to let you know where that vet is now. Any kind of reference can work. If you started a speech with a quote by Thomas Paine, end with more about Thomas Paine. The bookend technique is an excellent way of signaling the end for the audience.
Put a face on things. Case studies and personal examples are extremely effective in helping an audience connect with a complicated issue or topic. Some people like to use this technique for the introduction, but it can be unexpected and even more effective to wait and use it at the conclusion, especially for speeches that are a little bit shorter.
“We can turn back the oceans and stop the warming of our planet. It’s not too late, as the title of my speech promises. It’s not too late for any of us. "
It’s also appropriate to use a “thank you” as the very last thing that you say: “We must continue fighting the good fight on climate change, for our children, for our economy, and for ourselves. Thank you. " Cue applause. Sometimes, it’s also appropriate to ask for questions if the occasion calls for it. People should be sure your speech is over, but if people seem hesitant, it’s ok to say, “I’d be happy to take questions, if anyone has them. "
“The fight for climate change (pause ) is a fight (pause) that we must (pause) win. Our children (pause). Our children’s children (pause). Demand it. "
Return to the story of the veteran struggling to find work. With the sorts of infrastructure you’re calling for in your speech, maybe he could be working a specific job, and getting into his own house, and even starting to plant a garden in the yard, something he always wanted to do. Dream a little, and let your audience do the same.
“We must do this for our children, we must do this for our neighbors, we must do this for America, we must do this for the world, we must do this for the oceans, we must do this for the forests. . . " “Politicians can’t legislate this. Architects can’t build this. Artists can’t dream this. Developers can’t innovate this. Only you can do this. "
Address the audience specifically. Start using “you” toward the end of the speech, or address an individual in the audience to help bring it home.
“Well, that’s pretty much it. " “That’s it. " “I’m done. "
When the speech is over, don’t keep talking. Even if you just remembered a point you forgot to make a few minutes ago, don’t launch back into the speech when people are clapping, or once they’re finished. When the speech is over, let it be over. If there’s a chance for Q & A, then get to it then.
Some speeches can be leavened with a bit of humor in the ending. If you’ve just given a particularly touching toast at a wedding, it might be good to release a bit of the tension with a well-placed gag. Probably not so much for a professional presentation.
