4FinaleHow to Close

There is an old saying in literature: “The conclusion is where the author got tired of thinking.” The same principle applies to many spoken presentations. Since the fear of public speaking or delivering presentations is so prevalent, the conclusion often provides relief for the speaker. Think of the times you have heard someone telegraph that she is wrapping up by lowering the volume of her voice, running out of energy, or noticeably picking up the pace. Sprinting to the finish line, you can almost hear the voice in her head saying, “Let’s end this misery and get off the stage!”

If doubts and anxiety have been building throughout your presentation, then your confidence level will be low. You may believe that, at this point, ...

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