At our November business practice event, Steve Peer and Santoshi Pisupati presented “Presentation Gold: How to Stick the Landing when Presenting,” sharing tips on how to be a better presenter.

Their final thoughts:

• Your introduction is the blueprint for your conclusion. The human mind’s tendency is to remember the first and the last thing it hears. So put the most important information at the beginning and end of your speech. It might seem repetitive, but when your audience zones out (it happens sometimes), they can’t press rewind.
• Be bold when concluding your presentation. Use words to get your audience off their phones and paying attention again, such as: In conclusion. To conclude. In summary. With the two minutes I have left. To wrap it up. Once you have their attention, share your conclusion.
• Use a quote that will stay with your audience long after they leave the room.
• Call to action. If your primary purpose is to move your audience to action, use the last few minutes to reinforce the call to action you seek. Examples of strong calls to action include: Join the fight. Begin the journey. Improve the process. Donate today.
• A compelling story. Ending your presentation on a story—especially if that story is personal or illustrates how the content presented affects others—is the best way to conclude. Creating empathy with your audience and tying the story back to points made throughout your presentation ensures your presentation hits the mark.