Closing Clunker #7: Failing To Thank Your Audience

Yes, I know some speaking coaches admonish never thank an audience because they should be the ones thanking you.  If I were 12 years old, I’d say, “Puh-leeze.” I’ve never bought into this advice. Yes, of course it is appropriate to thank your audience; after all, they have invested a top commodity in you: their time. To many people these days, time may be considered a more valuable asset than money. But, be specific in your thanks. On what grounds should you thank your audience?

• Obviously, for their investment of time
• For the invitation to speak to them in the first place
• As former National Speakers Association President Naomi Rhode, CSP, CPAE, would say, for the “privilege of the platform”
• For their hospitality
• For their interaction with you and their willingness to share ideas
• For asking meaningful questions

There’s nothing taboo about offering your audience a sincere thank you. You’ll end on a positive note every time.

Closing Clunker #6: Not Ending on Time

Unfortunately, this is a common tendency among many high-level executive speakers.  I’ve personally witnessed a business leader take almost one hour when he was scheduled on the agenda for 15 minutes.  Have you ever been there?  He totally destroyed the schedule for the meeting, and he ate into the next two speakers’ time.  This shows a lack of respect for your audience and the other presenters.  Stop on time.  Practice it.  Your audience will respect you more as a result, and to date, I’ve never heard of anyone complain about someone who gave a speech that was too short!

Closing Clunker #5: Promising a False Ending

We’ve seen it countless times.  An executive speaker starts to conclude, even signals the audience with the words “In closing,” yet suddenly decides to tell another story or go back to a previous point–or even introduce new information.  And then, she’ll begin to end again by saying, “So in conclusion,” and repeat the vicious cycle.  A running joke among some preachers in churches is that “in conclusion” really means we have another good 20 minutes left!  Of course, the congregation expects the sermon to be wrapped up quickly so they can head on out to lunch.

Don’t lie to your audience.  When you signal the ending, they expect it.  Many times, they are looking forward to it.  When you say it’s your one final thought, make it your once final thought.  Say what you need to say and stop.  Anything you add after you’ve begun closing lessens the strength of your final point.

Closing Clunker #4: Apologizing for Forgetting Something

Closing Clunker #4 is apologizing at the end for forgetting to say something you meant to say earlier.  It’s a good idea to remind yourself that your audience probably hasn’t seen a written copy of your presentation or speech.  They won’t know if you accidentally forgot to tell a story–unless you regress and tell them you did.  They probably won’t even realize you left out a key point.  And, that’s your “Minute with Mandi” for today.  Actually, today was more like 20 seconds!  Stay tuned for more closing clunkers tomorrow.

Closing Clunker #3: Packing Up Your Materials While Still Speaking

I’ve been nailed on this one before. It’s a bad habit. (I also have the annoying habit of clearing the dinner table while some people are still eating their meal, but that’s another story–and maybe fodder for another blog. I just happen to live with slow eaters!) Wait until you have completely finished your comments to turn off your laptop, unplug the projector, and tuck your notes into your briefcase. Otherwise, you are communicating to the people listening to you that you’ve already said anything worth hearing, so maybe they should tune out and begin packing up their notes, too.

Closing Clunker #2: Saving Q&A for the Very End

At professional conferences, Q&A is an important portion of many presentations.  I’ve spoken at conferences where it was mandatory to save time for questions from the audience, and the allotted time can be anywhere from five minutes to sometimes even 30 minutes.  However, it should not be the final element of your speech.  I repeat: It should not be the final element of your speech.  You, the presenter, must have the final word for a strong memorable closing.  Therefore, after the last main point, provide a transition to open the floor for questions, repeat each question asked so everyone in the room can hear and understand it, answer the question truthfully and to your best ability, watch the time, say you have time for one final question, and after the last question, close with your final planned remarks.  What’s the last idea you want floating around in their minds as they leave?  You get to decide that–and it’s not typically some random question someone in your audience has asked.  It should be your closing clincher.

1. Complete your last main point
2. Provide a transition to open the floor for questions
3. Repeat each question
4. Answer the question truthfully and to your best ability
5. Watch the time
6. Tell them you have time for one final question
7. Answer it, and close with your final prepared remarks

Closing Clunker #1: Fizzling Out at the End

For the next 10 days, these blog posts will focus on CLOSINGS for presentations.  Some speakers just don’t know when to stop.  Or, they don’t plan or script out their closing.  The entire speech can fall flat as a result.  Strong, well planned closing statements separate professional speakers from amateurs.  Here are some of the most common closing clunkers I see executive speakers make when I am conducting videotaping sessions and one-on-one coaching.  These are true closing bombs:

Closing Clunker #1:  Fizzling Out at the End

We’ve all seen this happen in business meetings.  A speaker hasn’t practiced how to close, so he or she says something along the lines of, “Well, I guess that’s it.  Any questions?”  Or, “Oops, we’re out of time, unless you have any questions.”  They seemingly add this as an afterthought and even appear to hope no one asks any questions.  This is implied through their lack of eye contact with the audience, speaking at a lower volume, and hurrying back to their seats without strategically “handing the baton” to the next speaker or the facilitator.  Some unprepared speakers even say, “Well, I guess that’s all I have to say,” and just shrink away.  Don’t let this unpreparedness happen to you.

Blogging at 31,000 Feet

I’m sure this is nothing new to some of you veteran road warriors and experienced bloggers.  But, on my flights from Jackson, Mississippi, very rarely do I have jet service.  Typically, I’m on connectors shuttling to and from Atlanta and/or Charlotte.  So, to have WiFi on this flight to Indianapolis is a rare treat.  Just thought I’d post from the Friendly Skies.  Make it a great afternoon.  I know I’ll be super productive for the next 55 minutes.

Rehearsing Your Presentation

Here’s yet another funny-bone tickler on the importance of rehearsing your speech any time, any place.  Let me know some of your best practices for practicing your presentations.  Where do you go?  What do you do?  How do you do it?

Presentation Tip R: Rehearse! Rehearse! Rehearse!

Presentation Tip R from The No-Panic Checklist for Presenters is “Rehearse! Rehearse! Rehearse!”  You’ll hear more about exactly how presenters should practice their presentations–and no, it’s not in front of a mirror–but first, I couldn’t resist sharing this “funny” for a Monday-morning chuckle.  Some of you road warriors will relate all too closely to this one.