How to Finish a Presentation

You have explained the problem, answered questions, and made your recommendation. Then you look at the clock and say, “Well, that’s about all I have.”

Presenter writing a short next-step checklist on a flip chart at the end of a presentation

People know you’re finished. But do they know what you want them to remember or do?

Your ending deserves the same preparation as your opening. Give people a clear main point and, when the presentation calls for it, a specific next step.

Decide on the ending before you build the slides

Before you start preparing, finish this sentence:

“When I’m done, I want these people to…”

Maybe you want them to approve a purchase, try a different process, or understand why a deadline has changed. That answer helps you decide what belongs in the presentation and how to finish it.

Suppose you are asking managers to try a new way of welcoming employees. Your ending should explain what you’re asking them to try, who will handle it, and when it begins. “Let’s all work together on this” leaves too much for people to figure out.

Use Return, Resolve, and Request

In When You Have the Floor, I call this the Purposeful Close: Return, Resolve, and Request.

Here’s what that means when you’re preparing your ending.

Return: Remind people of the main idea. You don’t need to repeat every section of the presentation. Say the one thing you want them to remember.

Resolve: Finish what you introduced. If you began with a question, answer it. If you described a problem, explain how your recommendation addresses it. If you told a story, make the lesson clear.

Request: Tell people what you want them to do next. Make the request something this audience can actually do.

For an imagined meeting about welcoming new employees, that might sound like this:

“A new employee shouldn’t have to spend the first morning finding someone who can help. Assigning a contact before the start date gives that person someone to turn to. I’m asking each department manager to name that contact by Thursday so we can begin with Monday’s new arrivals.”

That ending connects the problem to the recommendation and gives people a task they can carry out.

Ask the right people for the right action

A clear request still falls short if you’re asking the wrong audience.

Employees may be able to try a new procedure. They may not have the authority to approve the software purchase it requires. A leadership team may approve the purchase, but someone else needs to arrange the training.

Think about who is listening. What can they decide, approve, begin, change, or practice?

You don’t have to force a decision into every presentation. If you’re explaining a policy change, people may simply need to understand what changes and where to get help. Say that clearly.

Leave time to finish

If you use every available minute explaining the background, your ending will feel rushed.

Practice the whole presentation aloud, including the close. If it runs long, shorten examples and extra detail before cutting the sentences people need at the end.

Prepare a shorter ending too. If the meeting chair tells you there is only a moment left, you should still be able to state your recommendation and request.

For example:

“Please name a contact for each new employee by Thursday so we can begin Monday.”

You can say that without rushing through another slide.

Finish after the questions

The last question may be about one small detail. Answer it, then briefly return to the main point.

You can tell people beforehand, “I’ll take questions, then finish with what we need to do next.”

If a question uncovers a problem with your recommendation, acknowledge it and adjust your next step. You might need to check a fact before asking for approval. Don’t repeat an ending that no longer fits what the discussion revealed.

Practice the last few sentences

Say your ending aloud without looking at your slides. Can you explain the main point and next step in familiar words?

Ask someone to listen. Then ask, “What am I asking you to do?” If the answer is unclear, rewrite the request.

You can thank people for their time. Just make sure you have finished the message first.

If you want help preparing an ending people can understand and act on, a professional presentation review can show you what to strengthen before your next presentation.