The end has to be another strategic climax; it must outshine the entire speech. You leave the final, lasting impression with a stirring end statement. 80% of the applause is for the last sentence.

Nine eye openers to finish your speech

1. Summarize
   "Ladies and gentlemen, to finish I would like to summarize the most important issues of this evening's speech: 1 2 3." (If possible, back these core statements with an overhead slide).  
2. Call for action
   "And therefore, ladies and gentlemen, I ask you, no, I summon you to... ".
   The probability that your speech will be followed by action is that much greater. Call for something specific. The more specific, the better it is; in other words, not: "Let's tackle the problems together. There is a lot to do." but instead: "Let's make a real job of it! Let us be the first to make sure that from today onwards every complaint is taken seriously..."
3. Appeal to your audience's sense of honor
   Your audience associates terms like "courage", "performance", "success", or "power" with positive values. Spur their ambition: "We have mastered the past with flying colors, we can be proud of our current performance, so why should we be afraid of the future? And, therefore I appeal to you..."
4. Finish on a positive note
   Even if your speech dealt with a serious subject, you should leave your audience with a positive mood. A positive basic attitude increases the level of satisfaction. Get your audience in a positive mood once more at the end of your speech. Give them courage. Get them laughing or at least bring a smile to their faces:
   "It is often said that: as people get older they shrink, but their speeches become longer I would like to prove that this is not a law of nature and therefore..."
5. Wish something for your audience
   A wish also ensures a positive conclusion:
   "I wish you all a good trip home."
   "I wish you continued success."
   "I wish that you achieve all of your goals."
6. Make a reference to the start of your speech
   That is an especially elegant way of concluding. By referring to the start of your speech you give it form and content and help your audience understand the speech as a whole: "Remember what I said at the start, ladies and gentlemen? I spoke of risks. It is now up to us to turn these risks into opportunities."
7. Look to the future
   This conclusion is especially suitable for persuasive speeches. Point out to your audience what will happen if they do not follow your suggestions. Describe alternatives: "If we don't act now, in three years we will have the following situation..., is that what you want? Therefore, I implore you..."
8. Quote someone
   A good quote is suitable at any time in your speech, also at the end. "I would like to end with a quote from Winston Churchill, the great British statesman, who once said: 'You don't resolve problems by putting them on hold.'"
9. Make a toast
   This conclusion is especially suitable for after-dinner speeches. Make sure that everyone's glass is filled, after all, you want them to clink glasses and drink. "And now, dear friends, raise your glasses with me. Dear Frank, we thank you for the invitation and wish you all the best for the coming year. Cheers!"

Do you remember everything that J. F. Kennedy said back then at his famous speech in Berlin? Most people don't. But almost everyone knows how he finished his speech – even after more than 45 years: "Ich bin ein Berliner."

Author

Gerhard Reichel Institut für Rhetorik Email reichel.seminare@t-online.de http://www.gerhardreichel.de