{"id":64971,"date":"2022-04-21T11:06:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T15:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=64971"},"modified":"2026-01-22T14:54:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T18:54:58","slug":"how-to-close-a-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-close-a-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Close a Speech: 5 Strategies for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What’s the best way to end a speech? What are some things you should avoid doing as you close your speech<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spectacular talk can be ruined by a bad ending. Your speech ending will determine how your audience will remember it. Avoid boring endings, asking for money<\/a>, or alluding that there was more you couldn\u2019t get to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this in mind, here’s how to close a speech on a high note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How to Close a Speech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A powerful speech ending will help drive your message home and make a lasting impression on your audience. In his book TED Talks<\/em>, Anderson explains how to close a speech effectively: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Apply what you\u2019ve discussed to a broader situation. <\/strong>For example, \u201cIf this management style can transform Fortune 500 companies, imagine what it could do in the White House.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Declare a personal mission<\/a>. <\/strong>End your speech by making a proclamation about how you<\/em> are going to use this knowledge to improve the world<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Leave them with a dream. <\/strong>Paint a picture of a better world. Inspire your audience with your dream for the future, but be sure to avoid clich\u00e9s.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Call them to action. <\/strong>Ask your audience to take the information you just gave them and do something with it. For example, \u201cIf we all contact our congressmen, they\u2019ll have to listen.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. End with beautiful language. <\/strong>A poetic statement, song lyric, or eloquent phrase can add a somber and memorable touch.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Anderson says whichever way you choose to end your talk, a short and simple \u201cthank you\u201d (followed by a pause for applause) before walking offstage is always successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Use the Power of Three<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    To give your speech a rhythmic end, you can use any of the above strategies in combination with a pattern of three<\/a>. Some of the most well-known examples of this are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Julius Caesar: \u201cVeni, vidi, vici\u201d (I came, I saw, I conquered) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    General Patton: \u201cBlood, sweat, and tears\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Thomas Jefferson: \u201cLife, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hearing information in threes is satisfying and feels like closure. Many speakers that have delivered TED Talks have employed the power of three in their final lines, including Bren\u00e9 Brown. In her talk, \u201cThe power of vulnerability<\/a>,\u201d she ends by saying that when we believe we\u2019re enough, \u201cthen we stop screaming and start listening, we\u2019re kinder and gentler to the people around us, and we\u2019re kinder and gentler to ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    What’s the best way to end a speech? What are some things you should avoid doing as you close your speech? A spectacular talk can be ruined by a bad ending. Your speech ending will determine how your audience will remember it. Avoid boring endings, asking for money, or alluding that there was more you couldn\u2019t get to.  With this in mind, here’s how to close a speech on a high note.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":64974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,34,79],"tags":[602],"class_list":["post-64971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-communication","category-entrepreneurship","tag-ted-talks","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Close a Speech: 5 Strategies for Success - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your speech ending will determine whether and how your audience will remember it. 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