closing a conference speech

How to Deliver an Effective Closing Speech for a Scientific Conference

In the world of scientific conferences, delivering a well-crafted closing speech is an important task. In this post, we will guide you through the key sections of a successful closing speech, helping you leave a lasting impression on the attendees and wrap up the conference on a high note.

Key Highlights and Breakthroughs

As the conference comes to an end, it's crucial to provide a concise summary of the main highlights. Reflect on the significant themes, breakthroughs, and notable research contributions discussed throughout the event. By summarizing the conference, you reinforce the key takeaways for the attendees and remind them of the value gained from their participation.

Recognizing Organizers and Contributors

Expressing gratitude is an essential part of any closing speech. Take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication of the conference organizers. Recognize their efforts in creating a platform that fosters knowledge exchange and supports scientific advancement. This is also an opportune time to thank the speakers for sharing their expertise and the attendees for their active participation.

Spotlight on Inspiring Presenters

Highlighting the contributions of the keynote speakers and presenters adds a personal touch to your closing speech. Briefly mention some of the standout speakers and their presentations, emphasizing the significance of their research and the value it added to the conference. This recognition not only acknowledges their efforts but also provides a sense of accomplishment and appreciation for their contributions.

Thanking the Active Conference Participants

Expressing gratitude towards the attendees is crucial, as their presence and engagement play a pivotal role in the success of the conference. Thank them for their active participation, thought-provoking questions, and valuable discussions. Emphasize that their collective presence contributed to the vibrant and intellectually stimulating atmosphere of the event.

Personal Insights and Takeaways

In this section, share your own reflections on the conference. Discuss the most memorable, interesting, or impactful moments that stood out to you personally. Highlight how the conference has contributed to the advancement of knowledge in the field and inspired further research. By offering your insights, you encourage others to reflect on the value and impact of the conference as well.

Keep momentum, keep the community

As the conference draws to a close, it's important to inspire and motivate the attendees to continue their scientific endeavors beyond the event. Encourage them to maintain the spirit of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and research excellence that the conference exemplified. Emphasize the importance of sustained efforts and continued engagement to drive scientific progress in the future.

In the closing section, provide your final remarks and wrap up the speech. Reiterate your gratitude to the attendees, organizers, and speakers for their contributions. Leave them with a positive and uplifting message that reinforces the significance of their involvement and participation in the conference.

Delivering a compelling closing speech for a scientific conference requires careful planning and execution. By following the structure outlined in this post, you can create a memorable and impactful closing speech that leaves a lasting impression on the attendees. Remember, a well-crafted closing speech not only signifies the end of a conference but also acts as a catalyst for future collaborations, research endeavors, and scientific advancements.

We hope this guide helps you deliver an effective closing speech at your next scientific conference. Best of luck with your future presentations.

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Roberto Rabasco

+10 years’ experience working for Deutsche Telekom, Just Eat or Asos. Leading, designing and developing high-availability software solutions, he built his own software house in '16

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9 Closing a Speech: End with Power and Let Them Know It is Time to Clap

Open Your Speech With a Bang Close It With a Slam-Dunk Westside Toastmasters

“Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending,” according to poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The first few words of your speech make the audience want to listen and the last few sentences help them decide what they feel about you and your topic. In this chapter, I will explain the function of a conclusion, the format of a conclusion, and I will give you numerous examples of ways to end your speech. Most of this chapter is dedicated to showing you good examples of different types of speech closings. Let’s get started by talking about the purpose of the closing.

A Strong Closing Does Many Things

• Summarizes the points. By restating your points your audience is more likely to remember them.
• Tells the audience when to clap. Let’s face it, it is so awkward when you are done with your speech, and no one claps. Being clear the end is near, relieves the audience of the pressure of wondering if they are clapping at the right time.
• Provides resolution. Your speech should give the audience a sense of resolve or a sense of being challenged.

The Formula for Closing Most Speeches

• Transition statement to ending.
• Review the main points–repeat the thesis.
• If it is a persuasive speech, tell the audience what you want them to do or think.
• Provide a closing statement.

Restate the Thesis

Tell them what you are going to say, say it, tell them what you have said. This speech pattern is useful in most types of speeches because it helps the speaker to remember your key points. As you build your closing, make sure you restate the thesis. A good rule of thumb is to write it in such a way that if the audience were asked to restate the main points, their answer would match closely with your thesis.

EXAMPLE Watch as Stella Young gives her thesis and then restates her thesis at the end of the speech as she wraps up. The thesis of the talk in the introduction: We’ve been sold the lie that disability is a Bad Thing, capital B, capital T. It’s a bad thing, and to live with a disability makes you exceptional. It’s not a bad thing, and it doesn’t make you exceptional. Restates the thesis of the talk at the closing: Disability doesn’t make you exceptional but questioning what you think you know about it does.

Stella Young, I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtPGrLoU5Uk

This next example is from a student’s speech. It is easy to pull out one sentence that clearly summarizes the main points of her speech. Following her summary, she winds the speech down into a thoughtful conclusion and ends with three powerful words.

Now is the time to separate the war on drugs from the war on addiction. T oday you’ve heard the problems, impacts, and solutions of criminalizing addictions. Bruce Callis is 50 years old now. And he is still struggling with his addiction. while you all are sitting out there listening to this, I’m living with it. Bruce Callis is my father and for my entire life, I have watched our misguided system destroy him. The irony here is that we live in a society where we are told to recycle. We recycle paper, aluminum, and electronics. But why don’t we ever consider recycling them most precision think on Earth– the human life. Student Tunnette Powell, Winner of the 2012 Interstate Oratorical Association Contest.

Closing Phrases

After you restate your thesis, you should carefully deliver your closing phrases.  Your closing should provide a resolution to your speech and/or it should challenge the audience. Frantically Speaking writer Hrideep Barot suggests  “a conclusion is like tying a bow or ribbon to a box of your key ideas that your audience will be taking along with them.”

A speech closing is not just about the words you say, but it is also the way you say it. Change the pace near the end of your speech. Let your tone alone should signal the end is near. It is about deliberate voice control, don’t let your voice weakly away.

In the next section, I will cover these ways to end your speech:

End with powerful words End with a quote End with a graphic End with parallel construction End on a positive note End with a challenge End with a question End with inspiration End with well-wishing End with humor End with a call to action End with a feeling of resolve End with a prop

The best way to teach you about advanced closings is to show not tell. For this section, I will briefly explain each type of closing and then provide a video. Each video is queued so you can play the video and watch the closing statement.  I included a transcript under each video if you want to follow along.  It will be most beneficial for you to watch the clip and not just read the text. By watching, you will have a chance to hear the subtle changes in the speaker’s voice as they deliver their closing statements.

End with Powerful Words

As you design your closing, look at the last three to five words and examine them to see if they are strong words. Oftentimes, you can rearrange a sentence to end with a powerful word. (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

Watch this clip for how BJ Miller ends with a powerful thought and a powerful word. 

Parts of me died early on, and that’s something we can all say one way or another. I got to redesign my life around this fact, and I tell you it has been a liberation to realize you can always find a shock of beauty or meaning in what life you have left, like that snowball lasting for a perfect moment, all the while melting away. If we love such moments ferociously, then maybe we can learn to live well — not in spite of death, but because of it. Let death be what takes us, not lack of imagination. BJ Miller, What Really Matters at the End of Life

End by Circling Back to the Opening

Another type of ending is to circle back to what you said in the beginning. You can revisit a quote, share the end to an illustration that was begun in the beginning, or you can put away a prop you got out in the beginning.

Watch this clip for how Zubing Zhang begins and ends with the same quote to circle back around to the main idea. 

She starts by telling a story of bungee jumping off the world’s highest platform and how she saw a sign with a quote that says, “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.” After telling her own story about pushing her emotional limits, she circles back around at the end by saying, “As the words said high on the bungee platform, “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.”

Yubing Zhang, Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone. 

End With Quote

If you end your speech with a quote, attend to the following.

• Always say the author of the quote before the quote for example, “I want to leave you with a leadership quote ‘What you do has far greater impact than what you say,’ Steven Covey.” The problem with this ending is that “Stephen Covey” are the last two words of the speech and that is boring. Consider instead this ending. “I think Robin Sharma said it best ‘Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration.'” In this arrangement, the last three words are powerful–influence and inspiration.
• Provided context for the quote before or after. Make sure the quote is meaningful and not just an easy way to end.

Watch this clip for how Sir Ken Robinson ends with a quote. Notice how he says the author and then the quote.

Also, notice how he then ties his speech to the quote with a final few sentences and ends with the powerful word–“revolution” and how he uses a strong vocal emphasis as he says his last word. (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

There’s a wonderful quote from Benjamin Franklin. “There are three sorts of people in the world: Those who are immovable, people who don’t get it, or don’t want to do anything about it; there are people who are movable, people who see the need for change and are prepared to listen to it; and there are people who move, people who make things happen.” And if we can encourage more people, that will be a movement. And if the movement is strong enough, that’s, in the best sense of the word, a revolution. And that’s what we need.

Sir Ken Robinson, How to Escape Education’s Death Valley. 

End with a Graphic

You might want to use a visual to make your final point. Bringing in a picture, graphic, or object, reengages the audience to pay attention to your final ideas.

Watch this clip for how Barry Schartz uses the magic words “so to conclude” and then he creatively uses a picture of a fishbowl to narrow in on his point. Notice how his final word is spoken with urgency as he says “disaster.” (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

 So, to conclude. (He shows a picture of fish in a fishbowl) He says, “You can be anything you want to be — no limits.” You’re supposed to read this cartoon and, being a sophisticated person, say, “Ah! What does this fish know? Nothing is possible in this fishbowl.” Impoverished imagination, a myopic view of the world –that’s the way I read it at first. The more I thought about it, however, the more I came to the view that this fish knows something. Because the truth of the matter is, if you shatter the fishbowl so that everything is possible, you don’t have freedom. You have paralysis. If you shatter this fishbowl so that everything is possible, you decrease satisfaction. You increase paralysis, and you decrease satisfaction. Everybody needs a fishbowl. This one is almost certainly too limited –perhaps even for the fish, certainly for us. But the absence of some metaphorical fishbowl is a recipe for misery and, I suspect, disaster. Barry Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice

End with Parallel Construction

Parallel construction is a series of repeated phrases. It can be a powerful tool to use in a persuasive speech as it creates a feeling of importance.

Watch this clip for how Malala Yousafzai ends with a series of parallel statements to build momentum. Notice how her pace perfectly matches her words and you feel her strength when she ends with “education first.” (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty, injustice, and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful future. So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty, and terrorism, and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education First.

Malala Yousafzai,  United Nations Youth Assembly

End on a Positive Note

Audiences are constantly evaluating a speaker to determine their attitude and motivation. As you consider your speech closing, ask yourself what type of impression do you want to leave?  Do you want to leave them with depression or hope? Sadness or promise? Most of the time, audiences will receive messages that end positively better than speeches that end negatively.

In this speech sample, Hans Rosling showed the audience some hard statistics and he even pointed fingers at the audience as part of the problem. To help them hear his main point, he wisely ends on a positive note.

Watch this clip for how Hans Rosling ends this thought-provoking talk on a positive note. (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

Now, when thinking about where all this leaves us, I have just one little humble advice for you, besides everything else, look at the data. Look at the facts about the world and you will see where we are today and how we can move forwards with all these billions on our wonderful planet. The challenge of extreme poverty has been greatly reduced and it’s for the first time in history within our power to end it for good. The challenge of population growth is, in fact, already being solved, the number of children has stopped growing.  And for the challenge for climate change, we can still avoid the worst, but that requires the richest, as soon as possible, find a way to use their set their use of resources and energy at a level that, step by step, can be shared by 10 billion or 11 billion by the end of this century. I’ve never called myself an optimist, but I do say I’m a possibilist and I also say the world is much better than many of you think.

Hans Rosling, Facts about the Population.

End with a Challenge

Leave the audience with a doable personal challenge. Help them mentally make sense of all the information that you shared by helping them know how to file it away and how to use it.

Watch this clip for how Melissa Butler ends with a challenge. (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

So, I challenge each of you, when you go home today, look at yourself in the mirror, see all of you, look at all of your greatness that you embody, accept it, and love it. And finally, when you leave the house tomorrow, try to extend that same love and acceptance to someone who doesn’t look like you . Melissa Butler, Why You Think You’re Ugly. 

Watch this clip as Darren LaCroix literally falls face down to anchor the point that when we fall, we “fall forward.” (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

Darren LaCroix talks about taking risks and falling down and getting back up, he literally and purposefully falls down during his speech and ends this way: What’s your next step… take it. I didn’t want to look back at my life and say you know I never did try that comedy thing, but I died debt-free. All of us are headed toward that goal we are going to teach a point where we get stuck and our feet are like in cement and we can’t move but we’re so afraid of that ouch but we forget that if we lean forward and take a risk–(He falls face down) and we fall on our face. When we get up, notice, you still made progress. So please, with me, go ahead and fall. But fall forward. Darren LaCroiz, Winning Speech delivered at National Speech Association

End with a Question

Asking a question at the end is one way to reengage the audience. It helps them think about what your topic might mean for them.

Watch this clip for how David Eagleman reminds us about why his topic is important and then ends with a question. Notice how he pauses before his final question and how he changes the pace of his speech for the final sentence. (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

So I think there’s really no end to the possibilities on the horizon for human expansion. Just imagine an astronaut being able to feel the overall health of the International Space Station, or, for that matter, having you feel the invisible states of your own health, like your blood sugar and the state of your microbiome, or having 360-degree vision or seeing in infrared or ultraviolet. So the key is this: As we move into the future, we’re going to increasingly be able to choose our own peripheral devices. We no longer have to wait for Mother Nature’s sensory gifts on her timescales, but instead, like any good parent, she’s given us the tools that we need to go out and define our own trajectory. So the question now is, how do you want to go out and experience your universe?

David Eagleman, Can We Create New Senses for Humans? 

Watch this clip for how Lera Boroditsky ends with a personal note and a  powerful final question. (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

I want to leave you with this final thought. I’ve told you about how speakers of different languages think differently, but of course, that’s not about how people elsewhere think. It’s about how you think. It’s how the language that you speak shapes the way that you think. And that gives you the opportunity to ask, “Why do I think the way that I do?” “How could I think differently?” And also,  “What thoughts do I wish to create?” Lera Boroditsky, How Language Shapes the Way We Think

End with Inspiration

“Inspiring your audience is all about helping them see their own vision, not yours.”

You may want to end your speech with inspiring and encouraging words. Pick words that resonate with most of your audience and deliver them in such a way that your audience feels your lift in emotion.

Watch this clip for how Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ends with an inspiring final note and a powerful last few words “regain a kind of paradise” (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.

I would like to end with this thought:   That when we reject the single-story,   when we realize that there is never a single story   about any place,   we regain a kind of paradise.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,  The Danger of a Single Story  

Watch this clip for how Dan Pink ends with an inspiring final note. (I have the video cued to play just the closing) Let me wrap up. There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. Here is what science knows. One: Those 20th century rewards, those motivators we think are a natural part of business, do work, but only in a surprisingly narrow band of circumstances. Two: Those if-then rewards often destroy creativity. Three: The secret to high performance isn’t rewards and punishments, but that unseen intrinsic drive– the drive to do things for their own sake. The drive to do things cause they matter.

And here’s the best part. We already know this. The science confirms what we know in our hearts. So, if we repair this mismatch between what science  knows and what business does, if we bring our motivation, notions of motivation into the 21st century, if we get past this lazy, dangerous, ideology of carrots and sticks, we can strengthen our businesses, we can solve a lot of those candle problems, and maybe, maybe — we can change the world. I rest my case. Dan Pink, The Puzzle of Motivation

End with Well Wishing

There are several types of closings where the speaker wished the audience well.

The Benediction Close: M ay God bless and keep you…. The Presidential Close: God bless you and may God bless the USA The Congratulatory Close: I congratulate you on your accomplishment and wish you continued success. 

End with Humor

You can end on a fun lighthearted note. It is important to always run your humor by a variety of people to make sure you are funny, and your humor is appropriate.

Watch this clip for how Andrew Dunham uses humor throughout his speech and ends with a funny one-liner. (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

I wish you all the best as we begin this journey on our paths and I sincerely hope and pray that your time and success have proven to be as memorable and spiritually rewarding as mine. If not, there’s always summer school.

Andrew Dunham, Valedictorian Comes Out As Autistic During Speech

End with a Call to Action

If you are delivering a persuasive speech, let the audience know exactly what you want them to do.

End with a Feeling of Resolve

Paul Harvey made famous the line “And now you know…the rest of the story.” Your closing should allow us to know the rest of the story or to know how a situation was resolved.

Watch this clip for how Lucy Hone ends this tough but inspiring talk with a feeling of resolve (I have the video cued to play just the closing)

https://youtu.be/9-5SMpg7Q0k?t=913 If you ever find yourself in a situation where you think there’s no way I’m coming back from this, I urge you to lean into these strategies and think again. I won’t pretend that thinking this way is easy and it doesn’t remove all the pain. But if I’ve learned anything over the last five years, it is that thinking this way really does help. More than anything it has shown me that  it is possible  to live and grieve at the same time. And for that I will be always grateful. Lucy Hone, The Three Secrets of Resilient People

End with a Prop

Nancy Duarte says you should give your audience, SOMETHING THEY  will ALWAYS REMEMBER–S.T.A.R. One way to do that is with an action or statement that will have the audience talking about it for a long time. President Obama did it with a mic drop.

Memorize Your Conclusion

End on time.

Do not diminish the effect of a great speech with a bloated, aimless conclusion. Dan Rothwell.

“Times about up.”

Don’t end with any references to time. It is like a giant stop sign saying, “stop listening.”  Don’t highlight that you ran over time or that it is almost time for lunch. You want them to think about your speech, not the clock.

“Any Questions?”

You want them to feel a sense of closure for your speech.  End with something powerful and let them applaud.  After the applause, you can offer to answer questions. Similarly, projecting your last slide with the words, “Any Questions” is a weak ending.

“Let Me Add This Point I Missed”

If you forget something in the body of your speech, it is usually best to leave it out.  Most of the time you are the only one who will miss it.

“Thank You to the Team”

There is a time to thank the organizers and those who helped you but it is not at the end of your speech. Your focus should be on your audience and what they need and what they need to hear is your idea.  Send a thank you letter to the team if you want them to feel your appreciation.

“I’m Sorry”

“Sorry again for the technology issue,” “I apologize for going over time, ” “I regret I have no answer to this.” These are all negative phrases.  Keep to your topic that is what they need to hear and stay focused.

“I’ll Close with this Video”

No, you should close with talking about the big idea.

If you don’t have a plan at the end, you will ramble. “Steer clear of meandering endings they kill a story,” according to the Moth Storytelling website. “Your last line should be clear in your head before you start. Yes, bring the audience along with you as you contemplate what transpires in your story, but remember, you are driving the story, and must know the final destination. Keep your hands on the wheel!”

To Thank or Not to Thank, That is the Question

There is a debate amongst speech professionals, speech teachers, and speech coaches about whether or not you should thank the audience. Here are their main arguments.

Why You Should Not Say Thank You

• You want to end with powerful words. “Thank you” are not strong words.
• The recency effect suggests they will remember the last words you spoke. You want them to remember more than just “thank you.”
• It is not a very creative way to end.
• It can be a sign of a lazy speaker, “I have no idea how to end this, I’ve run out of good things to say so I’ll say ‘Thank you’ so you will clap now.”

Why You Should Say Thank You

• It has come to be the expected ending in many settings. Violating their expectations can cause them to have a negative reaction.
• It clearly signals you are finished so the audience knows when to clap. The relieves the pressure from both you and the audience.
• It expresses gratitude.

I will leave it up to you to decide what works for you. As for me, I plan on trying to find more creative ways to end other than just saying “thank you.”

Maximizing the Primacy Recency Effect

If I were to read you a list of thirty things on my grocery list and then asked you to list all that you can remember, chances are you would remember the first times on the list and the last items on the list ( and any ones you found interesting from the middle). When people engage in listening, they tend to remember the first and last things they hear, it is called the primacy-recency effect. T his is just one more reason that your introduction and conclusion should be so well planned out. It is those first words and last words that the audience is going to remember. 

The primacy recency effect influences, not only what people pay attention to in a speech, but also which speech we pay the most attention to in a series of speeches. For example, if there is a lineup of six speakers, the first and last speakers tend to get the most attention.

As a speaker, you can use this information to your advantage by volunteering to go first or last. If you are giving a long presentation, you can break it up by allowing the audience to move around or talk to a neighbor. When you come back from break, you have re-engaged that primacy effect and moved them back to a high state of attention.

Do You Have Everything You Need for a Strong Closing?

• Have I signaled my speech is coming to an end with my words or my voice?
• Have I restated my main points?
• If I am persuading my audience, do they know what I want them to do or think?
• Have I written the last three to five words in such a way that I end with powerful words?
• Have I memorized my closing?

Getting Off the Platform is Part of Your Closing

Plan on making a strong exit. Whether you are stepping off a stage or simply going to your seat, you should consider that the audience is watching you.

I have had students who finished their speech and then walked over to the trashcan and in a large, exaggerated movement, they threw their notecards in the trash. In our minds, we threw their message away with those cards. I’ve seen speakers, sit in their chairs and then announce, “I can’t believe my hands were shaking so much.” I’ve sat there and thought, “I didn’t notice.” I then realized that the comments they made influenced my perception of them and my perception of their topic.

You said your last word and the audience is applauding, now what? Look at your audience and smile and nod in appreciation before walking off the stage. If you will be answering questions, wait until after the applause stops to begin your question and answering period.

When practicing your speech, it is a good idea to start from your chair, walk up to a spot and then give your speech, and then walk back to your chair and sit down. Your “speech” impression begins and ends from your chair.

Key Takeaways

Remember This!

• A speech closing should include a review of the main points and a purposeful closing sentence.
• Persuasive speech endings should tell the audience specifically what they should do or think about.
• The recency effect suggests that people remember the most recent things they have heard which is one reason the closing is so important.
• Chance the pace of your speech and the tone of your voice to signal the end of the speech.

Please share your feedback, suggestions, corrections, and ideas.

I want to hear from you. 

Do you have an activity to include? Did you notice a typo that I should correct? Are you planning to use this as a resource and do you want me to know about it? Do you want to tell me something that really helped you?

Click here to share your feedback. 

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Moth. (2021). Storytelling tips and tricks: How to tell a successful story. https://themoth.org/share-your-story/storytelling-tips-tricks 

Obama, B. (2016). White House correspondents dinner. [Video]. YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxFkEj7KPC0  Standard YouTube License. 

Pink, D. (2009). The puzzle of motivation. [Video]. YouTube  https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_the_puzzle_of_motivation  Standard YouTube License. 

Rothwell, D. (2014). Practically Speaking. Oxford University Press.Robinson, K. (2013). How to escape education’s death valley. [Video]. YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX78iKhInsc  Standard YouTube License. 

Rosling, H. (2014). Don’t Panic-Hans Rosling showing the facts about population.[Video]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FACK2knC08E  Standard YouTube License. 

Schwartz, B. (2005). The paradox of choice. [Video]. YouTube  https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choice  Standard YouTube License. 

Toastmasters International. (2016). Concluding your Speech. https://www.toastmasters.org/Resources/Concluding-Your-Speech

Young, S. (2014). I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much. [Video]. YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtPGrLoU5Uk  Standard YouTube License. 

Yousafzai, M. (2013). Malala Yousafzai addresses United Nations Youth Assembly. [Video]. YouTube https://youtu.be/3rNhZu3ttIU  Standard YouTube License. 

Zhang, Y. (2015). Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. [Video]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmN4xOGkxGo  Standard YouTube License. 

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Closing Ceremony Speech

A Closing Ceremony Speech is a pivotal moment, providing a chance to leave a lasting impression. This guide, brimming with diverse speech examples , offers a roadmap for creating impactful concluding remarks. Whether it’s encapsulating key moments, acknowledging contributions, or inspiring future endeavors, these speech examples serve as a foundation for crafting a message that resonates deeply. Ideal for anyone from students to professionals, this guide equips you with the tools to deliver a memorable and effective closing speech.

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As the old saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.”-1374 ( Chaucer) , and this has never rang true than in making closing speeches. Whether it be at a conference, during a big training or a special event. Everything has to come to an end and that is a fact. With that being said, some closing ceremony speeches can be tricky to write especially if you are told to write one and have no idea what to put. No worries, that problem will end too. Here are some 13+ closing ceremony speech examples to wow the right audience.

13+ Closing Ceremony Speech Examples

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Tips on Writing and Presenting Your Closing Ceremony Speech

You are about to be making or writing a closing ceremony speech. Whether it is for a church meeting, a wedding, a funeral, a graduation, or an award. There are a lot of people watching you, and you are supposed to be making it the best or a good closing speech. What are you going to do? Don’t panic, here are some tips to help you with.

• Begin with a greeting : Begin with a simple greeting to welcome your guests, and the audience.
• Mention Honored Guests : Just like in any formal event, there would always be honored guests, greeting and mentioning them should be a part of the speech.
• Start with a thank you : Say thank you for those who have attended. Whether it is a sad event, a happy event, or any other type of formal event. Never forget to say thank you. You are being polite.
• State the agenda: State as to why all of them are there. State the agenda or the reason for the ceremony.
• Make eye contact : Do avoid bringing your copy of the speech in front. You can bring cue cards, and glance every now and then. But do not read your cue cards. You must maintain eye contact with your audiences.
• Voice, Tone and Intonation : Keep an eye on your voice projection, your tone and your intonation. When making closing speeches, be careful you are not going to hurt someone’s feelings nor mispronounced someone’s name. Practice makes perfect.

Closing speeches for any type of occasion does not always mean it’s a sad event. Nor does it mean it has to be a boring event as well. When making your speech, interact with your audience, make them feel that they are part of the event as much as you are. Watch your tone when making and writing them as well, as a closing speech can also be a sad one especially when made in a funeral. But most of the time, closing speeches are used for happy events. With that being said, remember practicing makes it better.

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5 Strategies for Delivering the Best Closing Remarks

• Carolyn Manion Kinnie
• November 2, 2023

Table of Contents

Delivering a keynote speech is an exhilarating responsibility. It is up to you to set or reiterate the tone for an entire event, inspiring a potentially massive audience. This is no small feat–especially when done in less than an hour, under blinding lights, when you have just hopped off a plane. What’s one foolproof way to ensure you make a difference and achieve all the goals of your keynote? Prepare the best closing remarks possible. 

In this piece we’re going to give you five implementable strategies you can use to nail your closing remarks every time you speak. And before you ask “what are closing remarks? Why do they matter?” Rest assured, we’ve got you covered. 

Keep these tips in your back pocket next time you’re preparing a speech and get ready to leave your audience inspired and motivated to put your words into action. 

What are closing remarks? 

Haven’t heard the term “closing remarks” before and are wondering what the heck it means? Are you confused by how we’re using those words? Let’s get a few things straight. 

“Closing remarks” generally refers to one of two things: 1) the concluding section of a talk, or 2) the speech that ends an event or conference. In this piece, we’re talking about closing remarks in the context of #1– the last part of your speech before you walk off stage (or take questions). But if you landed here because you’re delivering “closing remarks” (the final talk) at a big event coming up, our strategies will help you write amazing closing remarks for your closing remarks! 

In short, we’re talking today about how you wrap up your talk. You might be thinking that how you open your talk is the most important part of the composition and preparation process–after all, you want to make a good first impression . Important as those first few words you utter on stage may be, closing remarks are arguably even more important. In fact, TSL podcast guest Shane Sams even recommends writing your closing remarks before you write the rest of your speech! Listen to his appearance on our podcast here and check out other episodes of the show right here.

Closing remarks are the last words your audience hears from you, so it’s important to a) maintain audience engagement and b) say something actually worth listening to. According to our founder Grant Baldwin, every good talk answers two questions– so what? and now what? With the five strategies we’re giving you today, you’ll be prepared to answer those questions in your closing remarks in a way that successfully sticks in your listeners’ brains! 

1. Close open loops

Opening and closing loops throughout your talk is a great way to maintain your audience’s attention. Opening a loop means raising a question in your audience’s mind. This draws them into your talk as they listen for an answer to that question. Resolving the question later on “closes the loop” and voila! They’ve been paying close attention that whole time! 

Opening and closing loops doesn’t have to be perfectly linear. If you have three or four open loops, your audience will probably be able to follow along if you close one and open another. But if you close one and open ten before you close another, you’ll lose them. Think of it like browser tabs–if you have too many open, you forget what they are!

Most of the time, you will open and close small loops to illustrate supporting points throughout your talk. You will also likely open a couple big overarching loops at the start of your talk. Things like “what’s the point of this industry trend” or “this is the most pertinent challenge to our profession.” Your closing remarks are the perfect time to close those loops to tightly wrap up your talk. Closing open loops reminds your audience of the points you made at the beginning (when you opened the loop) and offers resolution. Ideally, they are left secure in the new information they have acquired and excited to implement it!

An example of closing remarks aligned with this strategy could go something like this. You start your talk with “I’m going to tell you a crazy story today.” Your audience perks up, excited for the story. Then, you dive into the overall content and message of your talk. Then, you drive your point home at the end with the story you referenced at the beginning (see section #3 for more tips on storytelling in closing remarks)

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2. Give implementable solutions. 

In TSL founder Grant Baldwin’s book The Successful Speaker, he gives a few examples of different structures you can use to create your talk. One of those structures involves presenting a problem and offering the solution. If you structure your talk this way, closing remarks that package up the solution to a problem will come naturally. But even if your talk is structured differently–perhaps it’s a linear exposition of new information or a step-by-step presentation–offering solutions as you close could be the way to go. 

Your closing remarks are the last thing your audience hears from you. If you’re giving the final keynote, it’s the last thing they hear at the entire event. This means they should contain the most important information in your talk. If you give your audience a lot of information, they will be left wondering: “how do I implement what I just heard?” Don’t leave them hanging! Give them some solid implementable steps to take once they leave the auditorium so your talk isn’t just empty words. 

For example of closing remarks that eloquently showcase this strategy, look no further than the esteemed speaker Mel Robbins. In her famous TED talk “ How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over ,” Mel closes with ideas for how her audience can practice her “5-second rule” at the upcoming cocktail hour. 

In general, it’s wise to offer long-term solutions as well as short-term ideas as Mel does. If you can equip your audience with the tools to fix their problems not just now, but far into the future, you are adding incredible value to your lives. And speakers who add value are the ones who get booked and paid to speak again and again. 

You can listen to an in-depth speech breakdown of Mel’s talk by TSL founder Grant Baldwin here . 

3. Tell a Story

Storytelling is one of the most compelling tools in any speaker’s toolkit. Stories about yourself are especially powerful. Even if you haven’t lived a very exciting life, when you tell a personal story it comes alive for your audience in a special way. If you have a powerful story that illustrates the point you’re trying to make, it deserves a spot in your closing remarks.  

It’s actually scientifically proven that people pay more attention to stories . If a few eyes have glazed over during the course of your talk, telling a story is a great way to bring those lost sheep back into the fold. If your field uses a lot of jargon or you have been presenting data, charts, and numbers, a story lightens the mood while conveying important information.  

When you close your talk with a story, you should give a one-liner explanation of how it relates to your point. (If you’re positive that the story speaks for itself, get outside feedback from friends and family first to confirm this.) Otherwise, listeners might get caught up in the details and remember the story but not your message. As we mentioned above, using a story to close a final open loop is a great way to release tension and give your audience closure. You can listen to our founder Grant chat with Mike Pacchione about these storytelling tips and more here . 

4. End with a quote

Ending your talk with a quote can be tricky. You don’t want to bore your audience with something they’ve heard a million times, nor do you want to distract them from your message with an obscure quote that they struggle to remember. However, If someone else has said something that coordinates with your message, why reinvent the wheel? 

Many motivational speakers use quotes to their advantage in their closing remarks. J.K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Speech in 2005 is a great example of utilizing a famous quote without going off track. One of the overarching themes of her speech is the concept of human goodness and the urge to better the lives of others. As she draws to a close, she cites the Roman author Seneca: “As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.” Then, just in case her point isn’t obvious, she ends with: “I wish you all very good lives.” 

You don’t have to be delivering a Harvard Commencement Speech to integrate a powerful quote into your closing remarks. If somebody’s words helped teach you the same lesson you’re trying to teach your audience, by all means share them!

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5. Sell yourself

It might sound tacky, but the closing remarks of your talk are a great opportunity to pitch other services you offer, like coaching, consulting, and courses. Yes, you can even pitch your speaking business. Selling yourself onstage is vital to getting new clients during the scrappy and ambitious stage of your speaking career. 

This tactic is assuredly dependent upon the context of your talk, and you should always check with your event planner before making a sales pitch. 

Selling yourself falls flat if you haven’t offered any value. But you can’t pack all your expertise into a one-hour keynote. Your talk should be able to stand on its own while leaving the most ambitious and inspired listeners wanting more. The value you can add might be enough for some audience members, but you can encourage others to reach out or talk to you afterward to learn more about how you can continue helping them! 

We have two great podcast episodes on how to sell yourself as a speaker here and here .

As you prepare and rehearse your speech, keep in mind that you may have to do a little improv once in a while. Yes, even for your closing remarks. Whether you run out of time or have to fill extra time, stay on top of your ability to improvise and keep these five tips in mind. For example, if you offer a strong solution to a pertinent challenge in your industry but realize you have to fill a few more minutes, you can tell a story of how you overcame that challenge using that exact solution. Alternatively, if you find yourself running out of time, you can make a pitch for joining your email list or hiring you as a coach to find out more information (again, only do this after adding value). 

Ultimately, using one or a combination of these five strategies will ensure that your closing remarks really stick with your audience. If you need help crafting your next speech, get in touch with us here .

Closing remarks make up the conclusion to your talk. It’s where everything comes together and you reiterate the overarching message.  

What is the best closing remarks strategy? 

The best closing remarks are those that leave your audience empowered to apply your talk to their own lives. You can do that by closing thematic loops that you opened earlier in your speech, offering implementable solutions, leaving your audience with an inspiring quote, telling a story, or letting them know about your other professional services. 

What are examples of closing remarks?

J.K. Rowling’s 2005 Harvard Commencement Speech and Mel Robbins’s TED talk offer great examples of closing remarks that use these strategies. 

• Last Updated: February 29, 2024

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How to close out a conference with style.

Let’s imagine that you’ve been given the assignment of closing out a conference.  You’re the final speaker and you want to leave the audience happy, motivated, and ready to come back for more.  Assuming you’re not just going to give your usual speech and wish the audience bon voyage, you want to figure out some way to sum up the conference without just going over the main points of each of the preceding speakers.  That’s way too boring, so I'll suggest 5 ways to close out a conference with style, in order of ascending complexity.

1.  Give a brief, focused summary that talks about "Here are the 3 most important ideas I've learned.  Here's what I'm going to do differently when I get back to the office.  Here are the 3 ideas we should look for more information on going forward."

2.  Focus on the future:   give a short talk on the implications for the future of some of the key ideas you heard.  Use these to fit in some of your favorite ideas or issues that weren't addressed fully during the conference.

3.  Poll the audience for their ideas about aspects of #1  & 2 .  In other words, quote people you've interviewed along the way for the 3 most important ideas, what they're going to do differently, further research, implications, etc.

4.  Take along a video camera, and interview audience members during the 3 days. Get their very quick reactions to selected talks, ideas for the future, etc.  Then show the video as the closer. (I've used this last idea at several conferences to huge enthusiasm, because people love to see themselves on camera, and the idea builds cohesion and excitement during the 3 days.  It works best if you have a camera AND a sound person; the quality is much better.  But it can be done with a simple hand-held video camera.)

5.  (Just for fun.)  Play a quick game of conference trivia.   Offer prizes (cash, easy things to carry, champagne, gift certificates) to all who can answer the questions (of what went on during the 3 days).  This means that you have to pay close attention during the entire conference, for good trivia. 

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• How to end a speech effectively

How to end a speech memorably

3 ways to close a speech effectively.

By:  Susan Dugdale  | Last modified: 09-05-2022

Knowing how, and when, to end a speech is just as important as knowing how to begin. Truly.

What's on this page:

• why closing well is important
• 3 effective speech conclusions with examples and audio
• 7 common ways people end their speeches badly  - what happens when you fail to plan to end a speech memorably
• How to end a Maid Honor speech: 20 examples
• links to research showing the benefits of finishing a speech strongly

Why ending a speech well is important

Research *  tells us people most commonly remember the first and last thing they hear when listening to a speech, seminar or lecture.

Therefore if you want the audience's attention and, your speech to create a lasting impression sliding out with:  "Well, that's all I've got say. My time's up anyway. Yeah - so thanks for listening, I guess.",  isn't going to do it.

So what will?

* See the foot of the page for links to studies and articles on what and how people remember : primacy and recency.

Three effective speech conclusions

Here are three of the best ways to end a speech. Each ensures your speech finishes strongly rather than limping sadly off to sure oblivion.

You'll need a summary of your most important key points followed by the ending of your choice:

• a powerful quotation
• a challenge
• a call back

To work out which of these to use, ask yourself what you want audience members to do or feel as a result of listening to your speech. For instance;

• Do you want to motivate them to work harder?
• Do you want them to join the cause you are promoting?
• Do you want them to remember a person and their unique qualities?

What you choose to do with your last words should support the overall purpose of your speech.

Let's look at three different scenarios showing each of these ways to end a speech.

To really get a feel for how they work try each of them out loud yourself and listen to the recordings.

1. How to end a speech with a powerful quotation

Your speech purpose is to inspire people to join your cause. Specifically you want their signatures on a petition lobbying for change and you have everything ready to enable them to sign as soon as you have stopped talking.

You've summarized the main points and want a closing statement at the end of your speech to propel the audience into action.

Borrowing words from a revered and respected leader aligns your cause with those they fought for, powerfully blending the past with the present.

For example:

"Martin Luther King, Jr said 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.'

Now is the time to decide. Now is the time to act. 

Here's the petition. Here's the pen. And here's the space for your signature.

Now, where do you stand?"

Try it out loud and listen to the audio

Try saying this out loud for yourself. Listen for the cumulative impact of: an inspirational quote, plus the rhythm and repetition (two lots of 'Now is the time to...', three of 'Here's the...', three repeats of the word 'now') along with a rhetorical question to finish.

Click the link to hear a recording of it:  sample speech ending with a powerful quotation .

2. How to end a speech with a challenge

Your speech purpose is to motivate your sales force.

You've covered the main points in the body of it, including introducing an incentive: a holiday as a reward for the best sales figures over the next three weeks.

You've summarized the important points and have reached the end of your speech. The final words are a challenge, made even stronger by the use of those two extremely effective techniques: repetition and rhetorical questions.

"You have three weeks from the time you leave this hall to make that dream family holiday in New Zealand yours.

Can you do it?

Will you do it?

The kids will love it.

Your wife, or your husband, or your partner, will love it.

Do it now!"

Click the link to listen to a recording of it: sample speech ending with a challenge . And do give it a go yourself.

3. How to end a speech with a call back

Your speech purpose is to honor the memory of a dear friend who has passed  away.

You've briefly revisited the main points of your speech and wish in your closing words to  leave the members of the audience with a happy and comforting take-home message or image to dwell on.

Earlier in the speech you told a poignant short story. It's that you return to, or call back.

Here's an example of what you could say:

"Remember that idyllic picnic I told you about?

Every blue sky summer's day I'll see Amy in my mind.

Her red picnic rug will be spread on green grass under the shade of an old oak tree. There'll be food, friends and laughter.

I'll see her smile, her pleasure at sharing the simple good things of life, and I know what she'd say too. I can hear her.

"Come on, try a piece of pie. My passing is not the end of the world you know."

Click the link to hear a recording of it: sample speech ending with a call back . Try it out for yourself too. (For some reason, this one is a wee bit crackly. Apologies for that!)

When you don't plan how to end a speech...

That old cliché 'failing to plan is planning to fail' can bite and its teeth are sharp.

The 'Wing It' Department * delivers lessons learned the hard way. I know from personal experience and remember the pain!

How many of these traps have caught you?

• having no conclusion and whimpering out on a shrug of the shoulders followed by a weak,  'Yeah, well, that's all, I guess.',  type of line.
• not practicing while timing yourself and running out of it long before getting to your prepared conclusion. (If you're in Toastmasters where speeches are timed you'll know when your allotted time is up, that means, finish. Stop talking now, and sit down. A few seconds over time can be the difference between winning and losing a speech competition.)
• ending with an apology undermining your credibility. For example:  'Sorry for going on so long. I know it can be a bit boring listening to someone like me.'  
• adding new material just as you finish which confuses your audience. The introduction of information belongs in the body of your speech.
• making the ending too long in comparison to the rest of your speech.
• using a different style or tone that doesn't fit with what went before it which puzzles listeners.
• ending abruptly without preparing the audience for the conclusion. Without a transition, signal or indication you're coming to the end of your talk they're left waiting for more.

* Re  The 'Wing It' Department

One of the most galling parts of ending a speech weakly is knowing it's avoidable. Ninety nine percent of the time it didn't have to happen that way. But that's the consequence of 'winging it', trying to do something without putting the necessary thought and effort in.

It's such a sod when there's no one to blame for the poor conclusion of your speech but yourself! ☺

How to end a Maid of Honor speech: 20 examples

More endings! These are for Maid of Honor speeches. There's twenty examples of varying types: funny, ones using Biblical and other quotations... Go to: how to end a Maid of Honor speech    

How to write a speech introduction

Now that you know how to end a speech effectively, find out how to open one well. Discover the right hook to use to captivate your audience.

Find out more: How to write a speech introduction: 12 of the very best ways to open a speech .

More speech writing help

You do not need to flail around not knowing what to do, or where to start.

Visit this page to find out about  structuring and writing a speech . 

You'll find information on writing the body, opening and conclusion as well as those all important transitions. There's also links to pages to help you with preparing a speech outline, cue cards, rehearsal, and more. 

Research on what, and how, people remember: primacy and recency 

McLeod, S. A. (2008).  Serial position effect .  (Primacy and recency, first and last)  Simply Psychology.

Hopper, Elizabeth. "What Is the Recency Effect in Psychology?" ThoughtCo, Feb. 29, 2020.

ScienceDirect: Recency Effect - an overview of articles from academic Journals & Books covering the topic.

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How to Write a Powerful Closing

by Allison Shapira | Mar 31, 2016 | Speaking Tips , Writing Tips , Newsletter | 8 comments

Absolutely! In fact, the opening and closing sentences are the two most important parts of any speech or presentation.

Every speech is an opportunity influence people’s behaviors, beliefs, or actions. That’s an incredible opportunity and a deep responsibility to make your speech matter. One of the ways to do that is through writing a powerful closing.

Before you write your closing, it’s important to identify the emotion of your speech . How do you want people to feel after your speech: Inspired? Outraged? Excited? Your speech should build toward that feeling and your closing sentences should be the culmination of that feeling.

Before you write your closing, it’s also important to identify the goal of your speech. What do you want people to do as a result of hearing you speak: Vote for you? Hire your company? Join your company? Identifying this in advance helps you write a closing that reinforces the goal of the speech.

Here are some options for ending your speech:

• Close with an inspirational quotation.  Find a short quote that captures the feeling you want the audience to have. Set it up with a transitional sentence that introduces the quote and its relevance to the audience, something like, “The author Marianne Williamson said it best when she wrote…”
• Include a call to action. Once you identify what you want people to do as a result of your speech, conclude with a clear call to action that specifically tells the audience how they can get involved. Make sure it’s a reasonable request as opposed to something too unrealistic. For instance, asking the audience to introduce you to potential investors is an easier “ask” than asking them to become investors themselves. If you truly know your audience, you will know what “call to action” is important. Be sure to mention how this call to action benefits the audience, not just you.
• Tell a story. If you’ve just delivered a presentation that’s an overview of a subject with facts and figures, make it personal by telling a story that helps the audience visualize the subject on a more human level. For instance, “Finally, let me show you an example of this work in action…” [Tip: This technique works really well as a speech opener as well, though you will frame it differently]
• Describe the impact of what happens if the audience does what you ask. If your speech is about changing people’s actions, then paint a picture of a positive future to help them visualize the outcome. For instance, “By working together, we can all live in a world where…”
• Transition to Q+A. After ending with a concluding sentence, pause and then confidently ask if there are any questions in the audience. That transition from speech closing to Q+A is very important to maintain your authority in the room. Don’t end with, “So, yeah” and then look questioningly at the audience. Practice that transition with confidence and purpose.
• Match the opening sentence. Ideally, the opening and closing sentences should relate to one another in meaning and intensity. As you write your closing sentence, re-read the opening sentence and see how you can refer back to it or build on it. You might need to re-write the opening sentence to match the conclusion. In fact, I often write the two sentences at the same time to make sure they match.

Should I thank the audience?

Toastmasters International often advises its members against saying “thank you” to the audience, but in my experience I think it can be appropriate when said authentically. However, the words “thank you” should not replace your closing; they should be said after the meaningful, momentum-building closing we discussed above. If you do thank the audience, pause after your final sentence, then look the audience members in the eye and say “thank you.”

A few other tips:

• Memorize your final sentence. This helps you make direct eye contact with the audience which really drives home your message. Don’t end your speech by staring down at your paper or staring at your feet and mumbling something unintelligible.
• Speak slowly when you conclude. Many people feel rushed to finish their speech so they wind up rushing their conclusion. That can leave the audience confused as to whether or not the speech is over. Speak the final sentence slowly, with confidence and meaning.

Jon, thanks for requesting this topic! I’m sure other readers had similar questions. By using the above methods, you insure that your speech builds to a powerful conclusion that moves your audience to take action. That creates a truly dynamic closing.

Very helpful

Thank you so very much for your comment and for taking the time to read it!

Very Informative

Very good information and really practical tips.

Thank u for such great info

hi i read this a year later but thank you! so much!

Very helpful information, thank you

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How To Close A Speech That Brings Your Audience To Their Feet

by Matt Eventoff

You’ve engaged your audience from the beginning of your presentation. They nodded as you delivered your message. Their eyes were locked as you wove through a carefully crafted medley of stories, anecdotes and analogies, all supporting your message. There’s no question; the majority of your audience agrees with what you’re saying.

Empowered, the time has come to bring your speech to a close, at which point you exclaim:

“In conclusion, I appreciate the time you spent listening about __________. Thank you.”

…and then nothing happens. Everyone quietly claps, or just nods, and leaves the conference room. What just happened? How did your audience go from edge-of-your-seat to almost asleep?

Whether you’re taking a company public, introducing a new product to market or delivering a lecture, the conclusion of the presentation is crucial to its success. It’s the final impression you leave with your audience. How you use those last few words will determine the kind of energy you leave in the room.

There are many effective ways to close a speech. In fact, many of the tips I’ve shared for opening a presentation will also work for the closing. One of my favorites techniques, however, is using a call to action because the closing of a speech is your chance to motivate your audience. Here are three ways to use it:

1. A Direct Call to Action.

A speech or presentation without a call to action is a speech or presentation probably not worth giving. The close of your speech should clearly spell out what you want your audience to do next. Here are some examples:

“In order to guarantee that we save __________ tomorrow, we need to __________ today! Let’s get to work.”

“If every person in this room leaves and immediately __________, I guarantee you’ll enjoy __________ next year!”

“We can have __________ or we can have __________. The choice is ours, and is based entirely on the decision we each individually make today. __________ or __________. I know I’m choosing __________.”

2. A Call to Vision.

You can also motivate your audience by sharing your vision. Create a mental picture for your listeners of what could happen as a result of your call to action . Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. illustrated this beautifully with the final words of his epic “I Have a Dream” speech:

“And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

3. A Call to Question.

Finally, end with a rhetorical question that captures your message and leaves the audience thinking. One that directly ties into your call to action can be very effective. Here are two examples:

“What choice will you make when you leave here today? Will go about your normal routine or will you __________?”

“Ultimately, the future of __________ lies in your hands. When will you be ready to do something about it?”

What’s your favorite way to close a speech? Please share it in the comments below.

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How To End A Speech

Putting together and delivering an effective speech takes time and the right strategy. One of the most challenging aspects is figuring out how to end a speech effectively. You might have prepared a fantastic opening and delivered a compelling message, but if you fail to wrap up your speech in a powerful and memorable way, your audience may leave feeling unsatisfied or even forget what you said altogether.

Many speakers struggle with their closing words, whether it’s because they run out of time, they lose their train of thought, or they simply don’t know how to bring everything together in a cohesive and impactful way. This can lead to a lack of confidence, anxiety, and even embarrassment, all of which can significantly hinder your ability to communicate your message effectively.

In this article we’ll explore some proven tips and strategies, show you three simple techniques that summarize your message and key ideas, and explain how to get your audience members to take action. You’ll start delivering the final words of your speeches with confidence and know you’re leaving a lasting impression on your audience. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker looking to polish your skills or a newcomer to public speaking , this article will help you overcome the hurdles of ending a great speech so you can deliver a powerful and memorable message every time. Your last words will be your most impactful words.

Why is a Conclusion Important?

“Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of the ending.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The conclusion of your speech is arguably the most critical part. It’s the pinnacle of your persuasion, the culmination of everything you’ve talked about so far, and it’s the moment when you state your final call to action. This is why it’s crucial to devote sufficient time and attention to crafting your last inspiring words and final point.

Your conclusion is where you’ll leave your audience with the most significant take away from your speech. These closing words are the last impression they’ll have of you and your key message, and it’s where you can reinforce the key message points you’ve made throughout your presentation. By reiterating your main message and summarizing your key arguments, you can ensure that your audience remembers your message long after your speech is over in such a way that inspires them to take action.

The conclusion is also where you summarize your entire speech and make your final call to action. Whether it’s encouraging your audience to remember and take specific actions, supporting a particular cause, or adopting a new way of thinking, your conclusion is the time to motivate your audience to act. This is where you can challenge them to make a difference, do something, or think differently about a particular issue.

Most importantly, your conclusion can make or break your speech. A weak or ineffective ending can leave your audience feeling unimpressed or even confused, undermining the impact of your entire presentation up to that point. Conversely, a strong and impactful conclusion can leave a lasting impression on your audience, motivating them to take action and inspiring them to share your message with others. It even has the potential to turn an average persuasive speech into an unforgettable speech.

Because the conclusion of your speech is so important, it’s worth taking the time to ensure that your final words are as effective as possible. By crafting a strong and impactful conclusion, you can leave your audience with a lasting impression, and ensure that your message is remembered long after your closing statement.

BE AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR Suasive Presentation Coaching

What is a good closing message?

A good closing is a bookend to your opening, but is much more concise. It should resolve the entire presentation. In the beginning you grab your audience’s attention. Next you navigate them through all the parts. Finally you introduce your call to action so the audience knows what to expect. Your speech’s closing message should fulfill the classical requirements of any story: a strong beginning, a solid middle, and a decisive end.

To fully understand how your closing message connects with your opening you’ll need to first understand the three parts of your opening and how to think about them: Opening Gambit, USP, and Point B.

Opening Gambit

The Opening Gambit is a series of short sentences to get the audience engaged and establish a need for your idea, concept, or solution. Suasive recommends the following seven Opening Gambits .

• Rhetorical question Get your audience thinking about your message by posing a meaningful question that is relevant to them. Scott Cook, the founding CEO of Intuit, used a rhetorical phrase when making a presentation at the Robertson, Stephens, and Company Technology Investment Conference in San Francisco. He began with: “Let me begin today’s presentation with a question. How many of you balance your checkbooks? May I see a show of hands?” Almost everyone’s hand went up. “Okay. Now how many of you like doing it?”  Everyone’s hand went down. He had their focus because he got them moving their body and used an easy question that would resonate with everyone. If he had launched into his presentation with a detailed description of Quicken accounting software, he likely would have lost them. Instead, he engaged the audience with a personal question and got them focused on thinking about their checkbooks.
• Factoid You can convert any question to a simple, striking statistic or factual statement to capture your audience’s attention. For instance, instead of asking, “How many iPhones are sold each year?” (which cedes control of the floor), turn it into a Factoid: “185 million iPhones are sold every year.” The Factoid you choose should be related to the main theme of your presentation and not just dropped in for shock value. We’ve all heard off-the-wall statements that only serve to throw the audience off track all the while never coming back to the main point thread or thesis.
• Retrospective/Prospective A Retrospective (backward) or Prospective (forward) look allows you to grab your audience’s attention by moving them in one direction or another, away from their present, immediate concerns. Consider this technique as a flashback or flashforward, or “That was then, this is now.” For instance, you could refer to the way things used to be done, the way they are done now, and the way you project them being done in the future. Technology companies often choose to start their presentations with a look back to earlier functions to contrast how their new technology disrupts the same functionality: library search before the internet, cassette tapes before digital music, brick and mortar shopping before e-commerce, a rat’s nest of tangled wiring before Bluetooth, and keypad entry before facial recognition.
• Anecdote An anecdote is a brief human interest story. “Personal stories” have recently become the holy grail of storytelling . A tsunami of consultants, courseware, workshops , seminars, blogs, and publications are now advising individuals and businesses to develop their great speeches and presentations by reaching deep inside themselves for a heartwarming opening anecdote. People naturally identify with other people, and a personal story can create empathy.
• Quotation You can also use a relevant quotation from a well-known, reliable source such as William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill , John F. Kennedy, Tom Peters or, as many businesspeople do, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War . Yet the best famous quotation is something from a third party that credentializes you, your idea, or your company. Whichever you use, be sure to tie the quotation closely to your content.
• Aphorism An aphorism is a well-known saying, maxim, or idiom. Because of its familiarity, as soon as you state an Aphorism, it rings a bell in your audience’s minds. They may not even recognize the source, but it brings them to attention.
• Analogy Analogies help explain complex subjects. If your business involves highly technical or specialized products, services, or systems, a simple analogous comparison can help clarify. During the early days of the internet, companies developing networking products analogized the web to highways: with main roads to represent carriers, interchanges to represent routing and switching equipment, on-ramps and off-ramps to represent local carriers, and tolls to represent revenues.

COMMUNICATION WITH PURPOSE

Unique Selling Proposition

Once you’ve stated your Opening Gambit, it’s time for your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). The USP is a succinct summary of your business, describing the basic premise that describes what your company, product, or service does. One of the most common complaints about presentations is “I listened to them for 30 minutes, and I still don’t know what they do!” The USP is what they do.

The Opening Gambit grabbed your viewer’s attention and established need, and your USP demonstrates your solution to that need with maximum clarity. It summarizes the body or middle part of your speech. The best USPs are short and are communicated in one sentence.

Which company’s USP is “Melt in your mouth, not in your hand?” 

Did you guess it? M&Ms of course.

Point B is your call to action. It’s how you end your speech with a bang and plan to bring your audience to action. The Opening Gambit, USP, and Point B are all connected in a sequence that feeds into one another.

Here’s an example of a full sequence from Opening Gambit to Point B.

• Opening Gambit (Anecdote): Last year, one of Acme’s customers had a flood in their home. The sprinkler system broke and damaged all the furniture, carpets, and other possessions. Not only did they lose their home, they took a big financial hit.
• Link: This customer is like many customers who purchase a basic policy not customized to their individual needs. That means being just one step away from disaster.
• USP: Acme Insurance has a solution. We can provide you with a customized, value-added package of insurance that provides for your Individual needs to protect you against serious financial loss.
• Proof of Concept (POC)–evidence that your USP is worthy: That’s why Acme is one of the fastest-growing insurance brokers in the state.
• Link: I know that you’ll want to take advantage of this opportunity…
• Point B: …and sign up for this important coverage today.

You can see how all three elements feed into each other. One can’t effectively exist without the other. What’s great about the three steps is they compromise your entire speech outline on a macro level, and you can also use them again on a micro level within the closing section of your presentation.

Three Ways to Close a Speech Effectively

“Tell ’em what you’ve told ’em” is a classic closing technique that involves summarizing your main points and reiterating your message in a clear and concise way. This technique helps to reinforce your key ideas and ensure that your audience remembers them long after your speech is over. By summarizing your main points and restating your message, you can drive home the key takeaways and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

“Tell ‘em what you’ve told ‘em” is your closing, a bookend to your opening, and includes three key elements: a Bookend Gambit (like the Opening Gambit but more concise), Recap (of the agenda and your main points), and Point B (call to action).

The Bookend Gambit is a powerful technique that involves referencing your Opening Gambit in your closing remarks. This technique creates a sense of closure and brings your presentation full circle, leaving your audience feeling satisfied and fulfilled.

A brief Recap of your agenda is the second element of the closing technique. By summarizing what you’ve covered you can reinforce the key points you’ve made and drive home your message in a powerful and impactful way.

Point B is the third element and involves making a clear and compelling call to action in your closing remarks. This technique encourages your audience to take specific actions based on the message you’ve delivered, whether it’s signing a petition, making a donation, or simply changing their behavior. By providing a clear and actionable next step, you can motivate your audience to take action and make a difference.

What is a Strong Concluding Statement?

A strong concluding statement is critical for leaving a long-term impression on your audience and motivating them to take action. You want to end your speech with your audience thinking about your objective, willing to do what you want them to do. It’s the last thing they hear you say at the end of your speech, and for many leading speakers it holds the most weight.

One of the most effective ways to close your speech with a bang is with a clear and concise call to action, also known as Point B as discussed above. This final remark should be a short and powerful statement that encapsulates the central message of your presentation and inspires your audience to act.

For example, let’s suppose that in your opening statement you said, “So that we can control our own destiny, I’m seeking your approval and a budget to start this unit.” In your closing statement, you might shorten this message to “All we need is your approval.” This statement is short, clear, and to the point, emphasizing the importance of your request.

Need Help Closing Your Speech?

Putting all the pieces of your speech or presentation together takes know how. The good news is because it’s more science than art, anyone can learn how to do it with the right training. A good presentation has all the parts of a good compelling story – a beginning, middle, and end. The only difference is the pacing and delivery techniques, but story is still at the heart. With practice and preparation, you can improve your speech writing and delivering skills, and make sure your ideas are heard and considered.

So whether you are preparing for a job interview, a presentation at work, or an entire speech in front of a large audience, remember to believe in yourself, focus on your key points, and prepare to the best of your ability. When it’s time to deliver your closing remarks, be sure to incorporate the three techniques you learned in this article and we’re confident you’ll make an impact.

How to tell your story so the audience feels it’s their story.

Suasive, Inc. is a Silicon Valley-based communication consulting company that offers public speaking classes for organizations and individuals. To date, we’ve coached over 600 CEOs and helped individuals in some of the world’s largest companies including Netflix , eBay , Sonos , Lyft , and Freshworks .

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9 Tips to End a Speech With a Bang

A good talk or public speech is like a good play, movie, or song.

It opens by arresting the listener’s attention, develops point by point, and then ends strongly.

The truth is, if you don’t know how to end a speech, the overall message won’t be persuasive and your key points may get lost.

The words you say at the beginning, and especially at the end of your talk, are usually the most persuasive parts of the speech and will be remembered longer than almost any other part of your speech.

Some of the great speeches in history and some of the most memorable Ted talks have ended with powerful, stirring words that live on in memory.

How do you end a speech and get the standing ovation that you deserve?

Keep reading to discover how…

Here are 9 tips and examples for concluding a speech.

1) Plan Your Closing Remarks Word for Word

To ensure that your conclusion is as powerful as it can be, you must plan it word for word.

Ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this talk?”

Your answer should involve the actions that you want your listeners to take after hearing you speak on this subject.

When you are clear about the end result you desire, it becomes much easier to design a conclusion that asks your listeners to take that action.

The best strategy for ending with a BANG is to plan your close before you plan the rest of your speech.

You then go back and design your opening so that it sets the stage for your conclusion.

The body of your talk is where you present your ideas and make your case for what you want the audience to think, remember, and do after hearing you speak.

2) Always End a Speech With a Call to Action

It is especially important to tell the audience what you want it to do as a result of hearing you speak.

A call to action is the best way to wrap up your talk with strength and power.

Here is a Speech Conclusion Call to Action Example

“We have great challenges and great opportunities, and with your help, we will meet them and make this next year the best year in our history!”

Whatever you say, imagine an exclamation point at the end. As you approach the conclusion, pick up your energy and tempo.  This is even more important if the presentation you are giving is virtual .

Speak with strength and emphasis.

Drive the final point home.

Regardless of whether the audience participants agree with you or are willing to do what you ask, it should be perfectly clear to them what you are requesting.

3) End a Speech With a Summary

There is a simple formula for any talk:

• Tell them what you are going to tell them.
• Then, tell them what you told them.

As you approach the end of your talk, say something like,

“Let me briefly restate these main points…”

You then list your key points, one by one, and repeat them to the audience, showing how each of them links to the other points.

Audiences appreciate a linear repetition of what they have just heard.

This makes it clear that you are coming to the end of your talk.

4) Close with a story

As you reach the end of your talk, you can say,

“Let me tell you a story that illustrates what I have been talking about…”

You then tell a brief story with a moral and then tell the audience what the moral is.

Don’t leave it to them to figure out for themselves.

Often you can close with a story that illustrates your key points and then clearly links to the key message that you are making with your speech.

To learn more about storytelling in speaking, you can read my previous blog post “8 Public Speaking Tips to Wow Your Audience.”

Here’s a recap of these 4 tips in a video…

5) Make Them Laugh

You can close with humor.

You can tell a joke that loops back into your subject and repeats the lesson or main point you are making with a story that makes everyone laugh.

During my talks on planning and persistence, I discuss the biggest enemy that we have, which is the tendency to follow the path of least resistance. I then tell this story.

Ole and Sven are out hunting in Minnesota and they shoot a deer. They begin dragging the deer back to the truck by the tail, but they keep slipping and losing both their grip and their balance.

A farmer comes along and asks them, “What are you boys doing?”

They reply, “We’re dragging the deer back to the truck.”

The farmer tells them, “You are not supposed to drag a deer by the tail. You’re supposed to drag the deer by the handles. They’re called antlers. You’re supposed to drag a deer by the antlers.”

Ole and Sven say, “Thank you very much for the idea.”

They begin pulling the deer by the antlers. After about five minutes, they are making rapid progress. Ole says to Sven, “Sven, the farmer was right. It goes a lot easier by the antlers.”

Sven replies, “Yeah, but we’re getting farther and farther from the truck.”

After the laughter dies down, I say…

“The majority of people in life are pulling the easy way, but they are getting further and further from the ‘truck’ or their real goals and objectives.”

That’s just one example of closing using humor.

6) Make It Rhyme

You can close with a poem.

There are many fine poems that contain messages that summarize the key points you want to make.

You can select a poem that is moving, dramatic, or emotional.

For years I ended seminars with the poem, “Don’t Quit,” or “Carry On!” by Robert W. Service. It was always well received by the audience.

7) Close With Inspiration

You can end a speech with something inspirational as well.

If you have given an uplifting talk, remember that hope is and has always been, the main religion of mankind.

People love to be motivated and inspired to be or do something different and better in the future.

Here are a few of my favorite inspirational quotes that can be tied into most speeches.  You can also read this collection of leadership quotes for further inspiration.

Remember, everyone in your audience is dealing with problems, difficulties, challenges, disappointments, setbacks, and temporary failures.

For this reason, everyone appreciates a poem, quote or story of encouragement that gives them strength and courage.

Here are 7 Tips to Tell an Inspiring Poem or Story to End Your Speech

• You have to slow down and add emotion and drama to your words.
• Raise your voice on a key line of the poem, and then drop it when you’re saying something that is intimate and emotional.
• Pick up the tempo occasionally as you go through the story or poem, but them slow down on the most memorable parts.
• Especially, double the number of pauses you normally use in a conversation.
• Use dramatic pauses at the end of a line to allow the audience to digest the words and catch up with you.
• Smile if the line is funny, and be serious if the line is more thought-provoking or emotional.
• When you come to the end of your talk, be sure to bring your voice up on the last line, rather than letting it drop. Remember the “exclamation point” at the end.

Try practicing on this poem that I referenced above…

Read through “Carry On!” by Robert Service .

Identify the key lines, intimate parts, and memorable parts, and recite it.

8) Make it Clear That You’re Done

When you say your final words, it should be clear to everyone that you have ended. There should be no ambiguity or confusion in the mind of your audience. The audience members should know that this is the end.

Many speakers just allow their talks to wind down.

They say something with filler words like, “Well, that just about covers it. Thank you.”

This isn’t a good idea…

It’s not powerful…

It’s not an authoritative ending and thus detracts from your credibility and influence.

When you have concluded, discipline yourself to stand perfectly still. Select a friendly face in the audience and look straight at that person.

If it is appropriate, smile warmly at that person to signal that your speech has come to an end.

Resist the temptation to:

• Shuffle papers.
• Fidget with your clothes or microphone.
• Move forward, backward, or sideways.
• Do anything else except stand solidly, like a tree.

9) Let Them Applaud

When you have finished your talk, the audience members will want to applaud…

What they need from you is a clear signal that now is the time to begin clapping.

How do you signal this?

Some people will recognize sooner than others that you have concluded your remarks.

In many cases, when you make your concluding comments and stop talking, the audience members will be completely silent.

They may be unsure whether you are finished.

They may be processing your final remarks and thinking them over. They may not know what to do until someone else does something.

In a few seconds, which will often feel like several minutes, people will applaud.

First one…

Then another…

Then the entire audience will begin clapping.

When someone begins to applaud, look directly at that person, smile, and mouth the words thank you.

As more and more people applaud, sweep slowly from person to person, nodding, smiling and saying, “Thank You.”

Eventually, the whole room will be clapping.

There’s no better reward for overcoming your fear of public speaking than enjoying a round of applause.

BONUS TIP: How to Handle a Standing Ovation

If you have given a moving talk and really connected with your audience, someone will stand up and applaud. When this happens, encourage others by looking directly at the clapper and saying, “Thank you.”

This will often prompt other members of the audience to stand.

As people see others standing, they will stand as well, applauding the whole time.

It is not uncommon for a speaker to conclude his or her remarks, stand silently, and have the entire audience sit silently in response.

Stand Comfortably and Shake Hands

But as the speaker stands there comfortably, waiting for the audience to realize the talk is over, one by one people will begin to applaud and often stand up one by one.

If the first row of audience members is close in front of you, step or lean forward and shake that person’s hand when one of them stands up to applaud.

When you shake hands with one person in the audience, many other people in the audience feel that you are shaking their hands and congratulating them as well.

They will then stand up and applaud.

Soon the whole room will be standing and applauding.

Whether you receive a standing ovation or not, if your introducer comes back on to thank you on behalf of the audience, smile and shake their hand warmly.

If it’s appropriate, give the introducer a hug of thanks, wave in a friendly way to the audience, and then move aside and give the introducer the stage.

Follow these tips to get that standing ovation every time.

« Previous Post 8 Public Speaking Techniques to Wow Your Audience Next Post » 15 Ways to Start a Speech + Bonus Tips

About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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How to Close a Speech – 15 Unique Ways

The question of how to close a speech is an important one that every presenter must ask, given the weight those final words have on your audience.

As the open of your speech sets the stage, your close seals the deal. It is your last chance to restate a key idea, make a final impression, inspire the audience, move a group to action, or change a person’s perspective. A tall order, yes, but it’s far from impossible.

When speakers think about how to close a presentation, there are several key elements to consider when it comes to their close:

• Is it engaging?
• Does it reiterate your message?
• Have you clearly identified the next step you want your audience to take?

Too often, speakers mistakenly believe that the audience will be able to infer what they should do next. The truth of the matter is even the most talented presenter can benefit from sending the audience off with a clear call to action . When it is specific, easy to execute, and aligns with their needs, wants, and concerns, they are more likely to take you up on your request.

Since these final words are so important, you’ll want to make a singular impression.

Here, we offer 15 unique ways to close a speech.

15 Unique Ways to End a Speech

These presentation closes highlight many different approaches in how to end a speech that work for our clients in our public speaking classes . What they are not are recipes for quick escapes. Save the “thank you for your time,” “feel free to email or call me with questions,” and “that’s all I have for today” for another day. Your close is what you want them to remember, so make sure it’s something they can’t forget.

1. The Summary Close –  Let’s talk turkey. This close is about the most straightforward, direct, and unequivocal one in the list. In the annals of how to close a presentation speech, it also could be called the “recap” close. If you opt to close a speech with a summary, you want to be clear with your biggest idea and convey to the audience that it is what you want them to remember. That doesn’t mean, however, the summary close is never engaging.

For example, you’re a doctor who is encouraging an audience to adopt lifestyle changes that can lead to longevity. You could end your talk by saying:

“In conclusion, while genetics plays an important role in our lifespans, there are decisions you can make that can improve your chances for a longer and more productive life. There are three letters I want you to remember, “i”, “a,” and “n.” Why? They come at the end of three important words: octogenarian, nonagenarian, and centenarian. If you plan to be active in your 80s, 90s, and 100s, you better start eating better, getting more exercise, eliminating unnecessary stress, and scheduling those routine screenings. A thriving future is in your hands.”

2. The Illustrative Close – The artistry in this close comes from your ability to appropriate a first- or third-person anecdote, case study, or fable; an apocryphal (fictional but plausible) tale; or another storytelling device to serve as an illustration of the main points you made during your talk. Quick tip: Many talks begin and end in this manner.

Example No. 1: You are a senior vice president of a nonprofit that provides health and humanitarian care to locations around the world. You are talking to a group of would-be donors about the significance of their contributions. You decide to end your speech with a personal experience.

“I’ve spent the past 20 minutes encouraging you to dig into those pockets to help make the world a better place for others. I want to tell you one more story. It’s about a personal decision I made some 10 years ago after visiting a coffee shop. I plunked down my two dollars, grabbed my coffee, and headed out the door. During my five-minute walk back to my office, my one-minute walk up the stairs, and the four minutes I spent catching up on email, I had finished it. In 10 minutes, I had managed to spend and consume the amount of money that the world’s poorest people live on in a day. Could I give up that coffee to help others? You bet I could, and I did. Since then, no matter what else I donate each year, it always contains $520, what I call my “coffee fund.” Simple measures not only add up but have the power to change lives.”

Example No. 2:

You are a guidance counselor who is speaking to a group of students who are applying to college. Throughout your talk, you impress upon them the importance of planning and setting deadlines. You could end your speech by referencing Aesop’s fable The Ants and the Grasshopper .

“I want to tell you all a story, and perhaps it is one you remember. Long ago, a grasshopper decided to spend his summer making music and otherwise lazing about. In contrast, a group of ants busily set aside food for the winter. The grasshopper thought he would be fine if he waited to the last minute. He wasn’t, nor will you be if you put off the tasks that need to be done today. Applying for college is an intense and important process that can’t be rushed at the end.”

3. The Surprise Close – Some of the best movie endings of all time were wicked twists, surprising conclusions, and outright shockers. Why are they so memorable? First, they are unexpected. It turns out our brains are more active when we experience something we didn’t anticipate. Second, we expected a different conclusion. When a pattern is broken, we become particularly attuned to what comes next . When you close a speech with a surprise ending , you are signaling to your audience to listen up. Here are some ways to do that:

• Your talk is about how positive thinking gives you the power to overcome overwhelming obstacles. Your talk has been about a woman who “beat the odds.” At the end, you reveal that person is you.
• You lead a school building committee, and you are giving a presentation about the renovation plans for an 80-year-old school. You want to persuade the community to back the plan. As you end your speech, you concede that speaking about the design is a lot less effective than seeing it. You could close with this:

“We all know seeing is believing. So, while I do not have an actual building to show you, I want to take you on a virtual tour of our new middle school. You are the first to see this. (You reveal a screen and project a short video.) This plan provides for the students’ futures and doesn’t keep them stuck in the past.”

4. The Metaphor Close – When it comes to how to close a speech, you may feel that you are drowning in options, but if you take a careful look at your topic and what you want to convey, you will find it’s as easy as pie. We bet that’s music to your ears. Welcome to the metaphor close. We just gave you three. Metaphors are figures of speech that make an indirect comparison between two things that are symbolically similar but literally different. You are not literally drowning in options, but it sure can feel that way.

Here’s a way to employ this close: You are a spokesperson for a technology company that is releasing a new residential surveillance product. You outlined its merits throughout your talk and have arrived at the end. Here, we show you two closes, one without and one with a metaphor.

Example No. 1 (Without)

“Our proprietary technology makes our product stand out. By installing our surveillance system, you have – at your fingertips – one of the industry’s strongest lines of defense against would-be thieves, intruders, and other unwanted visitors.”

Example No. 2 (With)

“When you install our surveillance system, it is as if you have dozens of lookouts guarding your home.”

5. The Forward-Looking Close – Calling all dreamers and visionaries: Paint a picture of what the world might look like in the future. This speech close is a good option if you are talking about recommendations to adopt or future trends that could have a bearing on your topic. It’s important to create a vivid and vibrant picture to help the audience better visualize what it is you hope to accomplish. Say you are a financial advisor talking to a group 15 years away from retirement. During your talk, you have shared a portfolio of products and your firm’s approach to investment. Your close could be this:

“I have shared with you some tips and techniques that will help you to grow your money, so you have it when you need it most. We have talked about your bottom line, market variability, and the strategies that go into investing. But, I want to leave you with a different picture. When you pay attention to your investments today, your tomorrows will be spent poolside, hiking mountains, traveling the globe, learning a new skill, or finally attaining what you have always dreamed of doing. You will no longer be working for your money. Your money will be working for you.”

6. The Backward-Looking Close – We move away from the future and reach into the past. Some audiences, including those who are discouraged or complacent, may need to be reminded of how far they have come. Say you are the manager of a sales team that has spent the past two years working full tilt to hit revenue goals. During your speech, you outlined an ambitious approach to the coming year that some audience members believe is unattainable. Your close, then, encourages them to move forward with confidence, given their past successes. You could offer this:

“I know how hard you all worked these past two years to increase revenue and create a more thriving and vibrant environment. You may not think it, but I can hear your silent groans of frustration. Yes, we do have an ambitious path before us. However, I have no doubts that you are all up to the task. In the past two years, you have taken a company with $500,000 a year in sales to one that clears $1 million. The expressions of doubt and concern that face me now were the same I saw two years ago. But guess what? During these past two years, whatever challenges we faced were met and managed quickly – and that is entirely due to your work ethic. I know we can do this. I know we will do this.”

7. The Next Steps Close – You probably have several to-do lists in your life. There are those that cover daily needs; others focus on short-term goals. There’s likely one lurking out there for long-term dreams, too. Although the timeframe may be different, each list has its own set of tasks that must be met to ensure that things get done. You can close a speech with a similar list. In this case, you want to lay out the sequence and timeline of steps needed to make a decision or achieve a goal.

8. The Rhetorical Question Close –  You don’t have to wait until the end, as rhetorical questions are effective throughout a talk. However, asking one at the conclusion of your presentation is powerful since the audience leaves with your question rattling around their minds. One of the most famous rhetorical questions came during a 1980 presidential debate between President Jimmy Carter and his challenger, Governor Ronald Reagan. In the ensuing years, Reagan’s message has become an oft-asked question during every presidential election cycle: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” Here’s what he said to end that 1980 debate:

“Next Tuesday is Election Day. Next Tuesday all of you will go to the polls, will stand there in the polling place, and make a decision. I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we’re as strong as we were four years ago?” And if you answer all of those questions yes, why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don’t agree, if you don’t think that this course that we’ve been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have.”

9. The Provocative Close – Merriam-Webster defines provocative as “serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate.” Of course, every presenter hopes to stimulate the minds of their audiences, but a provocative close snaps people to attention. Here’s how to end a presentation speech provocatively. For instance, you are:

• Delivering a wake-up call – You conclude with a forceful call to action. This is particularly effective if you have power or hold sway over the group to whom you are presenting. For example, you have just delivered a talk to employees about a new technology they are going to have to learn – no ifs, ands, or buts.
• Talking to a group that resists change – You could end with the consequences if no action is taken regarding your topic. You want to paint an “if we fail to act” vision, but it’s also important to take it easy. Too much negativity could lead to a sense of hopelessness, and hopelessness is not the greatest of motivators.

10. The PowerPoint Close – When you dispense with cluttered visual presentations and instead offer an image that draws your audience in, PowerPoint can create a memorable close. Powerful visuals encourage curiosity. Here are a few options to close a speech with a PowerPoint slide. You might project:

• A photo that is seemingly unrelated to your speech topic and requires your explanation.
• An image that is humorous but makes a profound point.
• A line graph showing two potential outcomes – one if the audience gets involved and another if they don’t.

11. The Recommendation Close – In the long-running game show “Let’s Make a Deal,” contestants, who are dressed in outlandish costumes, are urged to, yes, make a deal for cash and prizes. They must choose a prize or gamble for another, which is often behind a curtain or some other wall or obstruction. “Let’s Make a Deal” contestants don’t know what’s behind the curtain, but your audience will. With the recommendation close, you provide your audience with the plusses and minuses of several different options – no curtains or costumes needed.

To be viewed as credible, however, you should offer honest pros and cons for each recommendation. It should not appear to the audience as if you are stacking the odds in favor of one column over the other. Just be mindful not to tip your hat, and the audience will get an unvarnished look at the options before them.

12. The Activity Close – As you can see, how to conclude a presentation speech is as unique to the presenter as it is to the message. In this close, you engage in an activity that drives your main message home. For instance, you could employ a group “pop quiz” to see how many of your key points landed. ( Added bonus: The feedback affords one more opportunity to clarify and reiterate what you want the audience to remember.) You could also end with some of the following activities:

You are a representative for a cosmetics company and are unveiling a new foundation. For your close, you break the audience into groups, provide samples, and ask the groups how it delivered. You run a government agency that is implementing a new program for requests for proposal. You are running some information sessions for contractors, consultants, and other businesses. For your close, you could lead participants through one test round of the system.

13. The Takeaway Close – Parents of young toddlers and teenagers do this every day, to mixed results, but when used to close a speech it can be entirely effective. You ask the audience to reflect on two or three things they heard you say that resonated with them the most. You might even ask them to write them down. The exercise has a twofold benefit – you get to see whether your messages stuck, and the audience is forced to recall what you said, but on their terms.

14. The “Since I Started Speaking” Close – This close works well when talking about a health issue, a societal phenomenon, or anything that can be explained through statistics and further broken down into concrete examples. Say, for instance, you are a spokesperson for a smoking cessation program, and you are talking to a group of employees about the dangers of smoking. After you have outlined how smoking leads to disease and is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, you could end with this:

“In the 60 seconds it will take me to finish my presentation, someone in the United States will have died from cigarette smoking. That happens every minute, making smoking the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The dangers are real, and the dire consequences of smoking are relentless, yet it remains an unhealthy habit that too many are unable to quit. What will it take to make that change? After you leave here today, why don’t you take a minute and think of how much it costs you to smoke. Then think of what you could be doing with the money instead. Vacations? Home renovations? New bikes? A new wardrobe? Philanthropic pursuits? Find the incentive that finally gets you to stop lighting up. Quitting is difficult, but it isn’t impossible. And we’ll be here to help you, even if you fall down a few times along the way.”

15. The Relevance Close – In today’s fast-paced society, yesterday’s news ain’t what it used to be. A fresh tidbit during the morning news cycle is stale by lunchtime. Such an environment can make it hard for a presenter whose talk is historical or retrospective in nature. How to close a speech in this scenario? Connect old ways or thoughts to contemporary norms or thinking. Perhaps, you find that your topic reflects an adage that stands the test of time. Say you are a museum curator whose latest exhibition delves into the history of work and the machines that revolutionized different industries. You have just wrapped up a presentation about the show to a group of donors. You have laid out the main points and are heading for the close. Here are some closing techniques:

You might remind the audience how the machines of yesterday were once the state-of-art technology of their day. Then, encourage them to think about what will replace current technology and how that will affect the nature of work. Map out the historical line between an object of today with its predecessors to show how the technology of work is ever evolving. Find an adage or quote that covers the overall theme of how technology and human industry have been and will be linked into the future.

One caveat: For most talks, speakers would want to establish such a relevance early on (i.e., what now seems old was once state of the art). However, for some talks, such as the one referenced above, the moment might have more impact and resonance if it is saved until the end.

Need Help Closing Your Speech?

While every presenter needs to think about how to close a speech, the answer is not always going to be the same. It’s a personal decision that should reflect your personality, your goals, and the content of your presentation. You might choose one that is straightforward, traditional, creative, or innovative.

Whichever you choose, aim to end on a high note. This is not the time for quick goodbyes, mumbled thank-yous, or body language that suggests all you really want to do is flee. There are many public speaking tips  we share with our clients, and a key one is to remember that a presentation’s close is one of its most important parts.

It’s your last chance to make an impression on your audience – which in turn will help you to inspire them to think big, persuade them to change their perspective, or move them to action. Make it count!

Most speakers benefit from teaming any of these unique endings with a second close, which can make for a more powerful and memorable ending. Want to learn more? In this post , we delve into the art of wrapping up your talk with two closes, rather than just one. 

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How to deliver a powerful closing to a speech on any topic

Most speeches end with a thud, or maybe a whimper. Yours doesn’t have to; this list of five ways to close a speech (with examples) will help you.

They click to their last slide, deliver the information on the screen, and limp to the finish line by mumbling something such as:

A speech’s close is one of its most important parts, but it may also be the most neglected. The close is your final opportunity to accomplish your goal, whether it’s to inspire the audience, drive an action, inform a community, break the status quo, or change an opinion.

Here are five great ways to close a speech, each with an example.

(Note that you may want to also include a call-to-action in your close, which I’ve written about here .)

Close No. 1: Deliver a summary.

You may have heard the old public speaking adage that advises speakers to use a three-step approach: “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you’ve told them.”

You don’t need to follow that rigid rule for every presentation. But you’ll probably use something similar to it the majority of the time, particularly in the “summary” close.

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10 Of The Best Things To Say In Closing Remarks

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking , Speech Writing

What are closing remarks?

A closing remark is the last sentence, paragraph or concluding part of your speech or presentation. They are also referred to as ‘concluding remarks’.

In a speech/presentation, the outset and the conclusion are 2 essentials. It leaves an impact on the audience and makes your speech/presentation eloquent .

We have written an article on opening lines in speech writing , read this article to know how to begin your speech perfectly.

Every speech or presentation comes with an objective and something to take away from it. The point is that if you don’t end your speech appropriately the main essence of your speech /presentation will be forgotten and dispersed just as quickly.

The closing remark will be your last chance to be innovative and make up for the missing bits if any.

The limit of your closing remark must last between 10% to 15% of your speech. So for instance, if your speech is a 7-minute speech your closing remark must last for at least a minute.

The purpose of closing remarks

The main purpose of closing remarks is, it lets the audience know that the speech is supposed to end.It helps to summarize your speech in short and accentuate the main points of your speech.

Also, research suggests that the audience often remembers the end closing part precisely than the entire speech.

A powerful speech ending does 40% of your work. It’s also not easy to write a ‘Closing remark’. You have to think and choose the right words that hit hard and leave a mark. Here’s a detailed video we have made of some amazing speech ending lines you can get inspiration for your own speech:

Some Dos of closing remarks

The speaker must follow a few things with respect to the format of the speech. Here are some dos which will help the speaker in concluding his speech.

Indicate that the speech is close to the end

An experienced speaker will always signal that the speech is about to end so that the audience is mentally ready for a conclusion. For example- In a novel, the author uses Epilogue as a tool to let the readers know that the story is going to get over soon.

Give a rundown of your speech/presentation

At times, it’s possible that the readers may have missed some points while you were speaking or they may have zoned out during the span of your speech. So give a brief run-through of your points at the end and this will reinforce the message of your speech.

Make eye-contact

As mentioned above, the closing remark or concluding part of your speech will be the last chance of leaving an impact on the audience. So a confident eye-contact may let the audience know so much more than just words could convey.

It will also make your call-to-action more effective and influencing.

In case you find eye contact difficult (like I did), here are some alternatives you can use that give the illusion that you are maintaining eye contact without you actually having to do so:

Some don’ts of closing remarks

Some things should be avoided when writing your closing remarks for a speech or presentation. Given below are the most primal things that the speaker should keep in mind.

Don’t make the closing remarks lengthy

If the speaker does not add a closing remark, the speech would look incomplete and end abruptly. Also, try not to make the closing remark too prolonged, this may bore the audience and they may lose interest.

The audience may also not be able to distinguish between the main points and jumble up what is important and what is not.

Don’t end with a simple ‘Thank You”

Saying a dry and plain ‘Thank you’ to be polite at the end of your speech is not very persuasive. It is a very mundane way of ending your speech.You need to drive your point home so be creative.

Don’t add new material out of no where

Adding in new material in the closing remarks which are not mentioned in the speech will catch the audience off guard. The audience may not be able to process what’s going on. So mention only those points in your closing remarks that have already been spoken about.

Types of closing remarks

You want your closing remarks to be such that the audience can get a flashback of the entire presentation or speech with just what you said at the end. These may alter accordingly with what kind of a presentation it is.

The fitting remark

What is it.

The fitting remark is the most basic remark of them all. It’s to the point, decisive and direct. The idea of your presentation is conveyed through this remark.

The fitting remark mainly summarizes your speech in sweet and simple words with no extra spice to your conclusion.

Example of a fitting remark

Here is an example of a Speech where Emma Watson closes her speech with a fitting remark. Like I mentioned above, this speech is to the point and decisive. The idea of Gender Equality was conveyed very clearly and directly by her closing remark.

The motivational remark

The motivational remark is used when the speaker uses motivational quotes, phrases, or even dialogues for that matter. The objective is to leave the audience on a ‘motivated to do something’ note.

This remark is to re-energize your audience towards your speech/presentation. When the speaker ends his speech it should have such an impact that they remember your words and do something with that motivation.

Motivational speeches can be given on a variety of topics. We have written an article about ‘How to give a motivational speech on leadership to students’ . You can check it out to get a better idea. This is just one example of how to go about it.

Example of a motivational remark

This speech by Jeremy Anderson just leaves a mark that has you sitting straight and energized. It motivates the audience to know their worth and not let themselves down.

The expository remark

In this type of a remark the speaker shares his anecdotes, his own experience or has a very relatable end to his speech. The main purpose of such an end is so that the audience can connect to the speaker on a deeper level and know exactly what he is saying.

It’s a sort of a congenial connect with the audience. We have written an article on Storytelling approaches you can use in your speech or presentation. This article will give you an insight into why storytelling is so important what are the different techniques used.

Example of a expository remark

Priyanka Chopra in this speech shares her own experiences and anecdotes that people can connect with which makes her speech so much more interesting and inspiring.

The contemplative remark

The contemplative remark leaves the audience pondering over what the speaker has said. Its goal is to make the audience think about all factors such as the lessons, the theme of the speech and wavelength during the span of the presentation/speech.

The speaker can emphasize ‘what the audience thinks’ and leave it there for them to figure out their thoughts.

Example of a contemplative remark

For instance, President Obama in his speech about Bin Laden’s death concludes with a contemplative remark that leaves the audience pensive.

“Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores. And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11.  I know that it has, at times, frayed.  Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete.  But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to.  That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are:  one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” President Obama in his speech about Bin Laden’s death

The propositional remark

In this remark, the speaker ends with a piece of advice for the audience. It’s more subjective than objective. This is more like a suggestion/tip.

Example of a propositional remark

Michelle Obama’s speech is an advice for students about how to succeed in life. Her closing remark suggests that it’s not important if you went to an Ivy League or a State School what is important is the hard work you do and that will take you closer to success.

The rhetoric remark

The rhetoric remark has to do with a question that doesn’t really need an answer. The speaker leaves the audience hanging with this question.

The speaker has no intention of expecting an answer from the audience and neither does he want one. He just wants the audience to consider what he said and reflect upon it.

Rhetoric is used in many forms and speakers use rhetoric in their speeches for a powerful effect. Here are 4 ways how you can use rhetorical devices in your speech to make it powerful.

Example of a rhetoric remark

 “In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism, or do we participate in a politics of hope?” President Obama in 2004 Democratic National Convention Speech

The funny remark

One of the best thing that helps make your speech effective and interactive is humour. It lightens the environment and works as a tool to break the ice between the speaker and the audience.

Adding humour to your speech will make the audience lively and enthusiastic. If you leave the audience laughing at the end of your speech you will leave on a positive note and they will most probably leave with a good impression of you and your words.

Humour can be one of the strongest tools in a speech, especially for a closing remark, if used correctly.

Qualified speakers frequently make use of humour all through their speech and then at the end strike with a humourless thought and leave the audience serious. Such a sudden change has a powerful impact.

Example of a funny remark

In this speech by Dananjaya Hettiarachchi he uses humour to close a speech by successfully summing up the title and summarizes the content of his speech.

The factual remark

In this type of remark, the speaker ends with some facts related to his speech and presentation. Adding facts as the closing boosts your speech. Facts presented in the form of tables, graphs and diagrams are easy to understand and visually appealing.

At times facts can seem boring if not presented appropriately. To know what facts to add and what not to add in a speech follow our article on ’11 Steps to Add Facts in A Speech Without Making It Boring’.

Example of a factual remark

Given below is a paradigm of a pie diagram. The speaker can fill in his facts according to the theme and research of his presentation.

Call-to- action

This is the most common remark and can be utilized in most of the closing remarks. Call- to- action is simply requesting your audience to take a step forward and take action towards the theme of your speech.

Make your CTA direct and don’t hint at it, this may induce confusion.

Why is it a must, you may ask? This is because the audience may have listened to your entire speech but until and unless you won’t take the initiative and be upfront not everyone is compelled to take action.

Example of a call-to-action

Leonardo DiCaprio in this speech is asking the audience and people to take action to put a price tag on carbon emissions and eliminate government subsidies for coal, gas, and oil companies.

The Activity Remark

This closing remark can be one of a kind for the audience. In this kind of a remark the speaker can undertake an activity that will help the audience understand the theme of the speech with an act of creativity.

For instance, the speaker can make use of his talents to showcase his message through them. Like singing, doing a trick or playing a quiz with the audience.

Example of a activity remark

Sparsh Shah a 13 year old boy who ends his inspiring speech with a song and rap wants to tell the audience that nothing is impossible in life. He uses music as a closing remark to end his speech in a heartening way.

Scenarios for closing remarks 

Closing remarks for a meeting/conference.

Meetings are often compulsory as compared to presentations or speeches. They can be called at any time and are mostly informal. Whereas, a conference is formal and has a specific time and place, where it is conducted.

But in both of them, the purpose is to plan and execute. So end your closing remarks with action.

For example- Reiterate the actions that need to be executed so that the actions will remain fresh and can be recalled easily.

Here is a pro-tip, do not drag the meeting/conference over time and then rush up to close the conference. This will make no room for your closing remark and many things will remain unsaid even if you manage to close the meeting/conference in a rush.

Closing remarks for a school activity

As the heading suggests the closing remark for a school activity will be for school kids so try not to use too many technical terms or make it complicated. Keep the remarks simple and fun.

Here the speaker can use the Activity remark mentioned in the types of closing remarks. It is creative, engaging and hence the kids will connect more to fun activities rather than to boring long remarks.

For example- The speaker can use the Q & A method to end or play a quiz and include all the points mentioned in their speech/activity.

Closing remarks after a workshop

Workshops come with an intent to teach and for the audience to learn. So make your closing remarks interactive. You can ask questions like ‘What is your take-away from this workshop?’

This will let the audience ponder over what they learnt during the entire span of the workshop.

One more way to end is by requesting the audience to fill out the feedback form and cater step by step guidance.

Closing remarks for a webinar/Zoom meeting

Since a zoom meeting/webinar is a virtual platform, there are chances the speaker might not see all the audience or ‘participants’ of the meeting but everyone can see the speaker.

So this may also fall as a disadvantage in the speaker’s case but don’t let this demotivate you.

In your closing remark, you can add a poll that is a feature of zoom to know how many of them are listening. Before closing the webinar, leave your Twitter or Facebook handles so that if the audience has questions they can connect with you on these platforms.

Closing remarks for a ceremony speech

A ceremony is more of a large scale event with too many decorations, music, and arrangements.

Keep in mind though, these things are not what the audience will want to leave with, so what you say last will be the end of what they take-away. Therefore, in a ceremony, you can use any one of the types of closing remarks mentioned above.

For example- You can use ‘The expository remark’ where you can share your own story to make your closing remark relatable and two-sided.

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Some last words

Closing remarks are important in speech writing because without a closing remark your speech will seem unfinished. To leave on a happy note the speaker must organize his speech with the perfect end and time it accordingly.

Closing remarks can be of varied types but using the appropriate closing remark according to the situation and time can make a huge difference in your speech.

Still looking for inspiration? Check out this video we made on closing remarks:

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38 Top Opening and Closing Remarks for Meetings

By: Grace He | Updated: March 18, 2024

You found our list of opening and closing remarks for meetings .

Opening and closing remarks for meetings are statements that introduce and wrap up workplace get-togethers. The purpose of these remarks is to set the tone of the subject matter and summarize topics covered during the meeting. Examples of opening and closing remarks for meetings include quick welcomes to attendees, announcements explaining the reason for the meeting, and conclusions that wrap up the content covered.

Utilizing opening and closing remarks is among the top public speaking tips for employees . You can use conference jokes or conference quotes as your opening or closing remarks. These icebreaker jokes are a great addition to your conference agenda .

This list includes:

• short opening remarks for a meeting
• opening remarks for a virtual meeting
• chairman opening remarks in a meeting
• opening remarks for a seminar
• sample closing remarks for a meeting
• sample closing remarks for an event
• simple closing remarks

Here we go!

Short opening remarks for a meeting

• Welcome, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to attend our meeting this morning. This meeting will address some announcements we think you will find interesting. We have a lot to cover, so we will get started without further ado.
• Good morning, folks. We appreciate you blocking out your calendar so we can discuss some important topics with you. We promise to get through this as quickly as possible so you can get back to your day.
• Hey, everyone! Great to see so many shining faces in the room, especially for the early hour! Apologies for calling this meeting on such short notice. We have some significant announcements to make, so we will get right to it.
• Hi, team. Thank you for making an effort to be here today. Some serious developments occurred over the weekend, and we wanted to inform you of the details before you heard any worrisome rumors. Here is everything we can tell you so far.
• Hello, all! Glad you could make it on such short notice. We have some exciting news to share, and we just could not wait to spill the beans! Rather than wasting any time, we can get right to the good stuff.
• Good afternoon. Thanks for making time to be here today. As you know, we hit some important milestones this week. We thought sharing the success and discussing what comes next would be helpful. Away we go!
• Greetings, everybody! Here we are at another super exciting monthly meeting, our chance to share the highs and lows we all have been through since the last time we met. Would anyone like to get things started for us?
• Well, hey there! It has been a long time since our last meeting. We have all been quite busy, as you know. We have a lot to catch up on, so how about we jump right in and get started?

Opening remarks for a virtual meeting

• Good morning to everyone on our video call today. We have participants joining today from locations all over the world. Before we get started, we would like to take a moment to share our appreciation for everyone lining up their schedules across the time zones in this way. We understand how difficult it was to coordinate this meeting so all major stakeholders could attend. We promise to make it worth your while. If anyone on the call knows of a colleague who cannot attend, please feel free to share our discussion with them when you can. You should have a meeting deck in your email to help you follow along. Feel free to open it, and we will get started.
• Cyberteam: Assemble! Cheers to our remote crew, tuning in from the various workspaces around town and throughout the country. It is truly incredible that technology allows us to get together, even if only in digital form. You may have heard about some developments across several departments. We will address those topics and field any questions or concerns you may have. We will also discuss future developments in as much detail as possible. Much of what we will cover is still in the works, so we do not have as much information for you as we would like. However, we promise to do our best to get you up to speed and keep you informed as we learn more.
• Good afternoon, team. You may have seen the email announcing our new project calendar. This timeline includes tasks spanning multiple teams, so we have a coordinated effort. We wanted to get everyone on a call to brainstorm ways to approach our rollout of various tasks. Depending on the needs, you may find your name on multiple lists, or you may not appear on any lists. Our hope is to distribute the work as fairly as possible among the team to minimize potential overload. Because you are the players involved, we want you to have a say in how we assemble the list.
• Hello, everyone. Thank you for firing up your cameras and getting online this morning. We have a few special announcements to go over as well as updates on items we left in limbo during our last meeting. We also have a special guest joining us today. This guest speaker has information about making the most of your remote work experience. I know we have discussed workplace wellness in the past, and I thought we should hear from an expert on the subject. They will hop on for the last 30 minutes, which gives us the first 30 minutes to cover everything else. I will dive right in so we can have time for Q&A before our guest appears.
• Hey, crew! We have gotten away from our meeting schedule as of late, and for a good reason. Great job on catching up on the backlog! Now that we are ahead of the curve again, I would like us to pick back up on our semi-monthly schedule to stay informed in a more unified setting. I think it is also a good idea for us to see one another’s shining faces every so often so we can remember what we all look like! More sincerely, our remote team needs face-to-face interaction, which is what these meetings are all about. I will put new items on our calendars to keep us on track through the end of the year.

Chairman opening remarks in a meeting

• I am pleased to be speaking to all of you today. As the leader of this board, it is my duty to bring us together when necessary. This task can be challenging, considering our other obligations. I would like us to take this opportunity to review developments that occurred since our last meeting and cover several lingering action items.
• Good morning, fellow board members. It is a privilege to address you all this afternoon for such a fortunate occasion. It is not often that the board has the opportunity to honor the accomplishments of its own members. Today, we will celebrate the successes of a long-standing trustee who has reached the pinnacle of personal and professional achievement. Before we start, please join me in welcoming our esteemed member with a round of applause.
• Thank you all for attending. As chairman, I would like to begin this meeting by reviewing the minutes from our last session before covering our new agenda. You all know how quickly the new corporate strategy is unfolding. We have a growing list of issues to address, so we should get started.
• I would like to extend a warm welcome to all in attendance today. As your newly appointed chairman, I think it best to begin this meeting by introducing myself and explaining my background before having each member do the same. Once introductions are complete, we will review the charter and attend to any new business.

Opening remarks for a seminar

• Welcome, everyone, and thank you for being with us today. For those who may not know, this seminar is our opportunity to share our latest developments and explain how this progress will lead us into our next phase. We have laid out a roadmap that puts us on solid footing the whole way through. We are eager to share the details and get your input on what improvements we can make. As key stakeholders in the business, your viewpoints count as much as anyone on the team. We hope you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts.
• There are few moments in which our group can assemble for a subject as important as improving our culture. We feel the need is critical enough to halt operations and bring us all together. This company remains dedicated to the well-being of every employee, but dedication means nothing without action. We have created a seminar-style meeting that presents information intended to help make the most of your experience in the workplace. This is your space, after all, and we will do all we can to create an enriching culture for all of us.
• I can think of few workplace developments less stressful than learning new software. Unfortunately, we have outgrown our old platform and have no choice but to move to a bigger and better model. After a great deal of deliberation, we have chosen a package that will make your current work much easier while also accommodating future growth. To get a head start on learning, we have put together this seminar with a representative from the software company. This speaker will provide an overview of the system and its functions before going into detail about how each feature fits in with our current system. Please feel free to ask questions and share your insight as we proceed.

Sample closing remarks for a meeting

• We have covered a lot of material in a short time. If you need more details, you can schedule one-on-one time with your supervisors, who will have additional information shortly. Please write down any questions that arise so you can get answers and feel settled about our next steps.
• I hope you enjoyed our brainstorming session. We are off to a great start and should have a great second meeting. I will add an item to the calendar to continue with our planning phase. If everyone will kindly send me their notes, then I will create a master folder we can all access. I will also email today’s meeting minutes out so we can create a living document as we go. More to come!
• As you can understand, this meeting is only a first step. We will continue business as usual until we receive further word about new developments. Once we know more about the acquisition, we will put together another meeting for updates. You may have questions and concerns before then, which you may discuss with your manager, of course. To avoid creating unnecessary anxiety, we would ask that you refrain from speculating on details we have yet to disclose. I appreciate your cooperation.
• I hope you can all agree that it is important for our team to spend quality time together outside of our usual tasks. These team building meetings are a perfect forum for showing off other sides of our personalities and connecting in fun and exciting ways. This meeting is the first of many! To ensure everyone feels a sense of ownership, I would like you all to send me your ideas for events we can include in future meetings. If you know of any games or icebreaker activities we should include, please send me a note or drop by my office to chat. The more input we have, the better variety of activities we can draw from.

Sample closing remarks for an event

• We hope you enjoyed attending our event as much as we enjoyed putting it together. As always, we are ready to assist our clients in any way possible. If you have concerns after you head out, please get in touch with your account manager or a supervisor and let us know how we can help. We truly appreciate serving you and cannot wait to see where we go together next. Thank you for coming!
• Thank you for coming to our get-together. We know breaking away from your busy day can be challenging, and we do not take it for granted. That said, it is always great to see our team come together for time away from the daily grind! We would not be able to do what we do without you. You are all integral to this organization’s success, and we are grateful to have you.
• We have come a long way since the last time we were all together. The organization has grown considerably, and we know more growth will come. We hope we have clarified what comes next for this company and how we intend to achieve our goals. The agenda may seem ambitious, but we have no doubt that the people in this room are the right people to make the effort successful. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and dedication to our cause. We hope to see you again next time.
• Before we all head out, I would like to thank everyone who showed up tonight. You really came through and made this event a smashing success! I would also like to give a shout-out to our event team, who put together everything from decorations to catering without falling behind on their daily tasks. This team is phenomenal, and the credit for such a winning event goes to them. Please join me in showing our appreciation for all they have done.

Simple closing remarks

• Thank you all for coming. Enjoy the rest of your day!
• This meeting went quicker than expected, so I will give you 30 minutes back.
• Apologies for this meeting taking longer than scheduled. I appreciate you taking the extra time needed to finish up.
• If you have any questions after the meeting, please feel free to come to my office.
• Anyone needing more information can reach out to the contacts listed on the calendar item for this meeting.
• We have much more to discuss, so I will schedule a follow-up meeting for a week from now.
• As you can see, we have some serious challenges ahead of us. But I know that our usual team spirit will help us rise to the occasion.
• This topic is highly sensitive, so we ask that you treat it with the proper discretion.
• As a thank-you for your time and attention, there are treats in the breakroom. Feel free to drop by and grab a few!
• You all put the “dream” in “dream team.” Thank you for your incredible effort and amazing output during such a demanding time!

Preparing opening and closing remarks will provide definitive starting and ending points for your meetings. You can set the tone while alerting attendees to the main topic as well as sharing a list of agenda items. These remarks also create an opportunity to open your meeting with a warm welcome and close on a note of gratitude and encouragement.

Next, read about virtual workshop ideas and virtual brainstorming ideas , and team meeting tips .

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FAQ: Opening and closing remarks for meetings

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about opening and closing remarks for meetings.

What are opening and closing remarks for meetings?

Opening and closing remarks for meetings are introductions and conclusions that bring a sense of organization to your agenda. You can use opening remarks to announce the topic of your meeting, while closing remarks will provide a wrap-up and alert attendees to any follow-up meetings or actions needed.

Why are good opening and closing remarks important?

Good opening remarks are important because they set the tone for the meeting, set goalposts, and keep listeners engaged. Similarly, good closing statements summarize essential topics, establish goals for future sessions, and provide calls to action.

What are some good opening statements for meetings?

Some options for good opening remarks include quick reasons for the meeting and brief rundowns of topics you will cover. Choosing an opener that matches the tone of the topics you want to address is essential.

How do you create good closing remarks for meetings?

Preparing good closing remarks can be as simple as reiterating information already covered and assigning the next steps. Additionally, these remarks should leave meeting attendees with a sense of understanding and accomplishment. Examples of some good closing remarks include thank yous to workers for attending, confirmations of the following steps, and reminders of follow-up items.

Author: Grace He

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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Closing Remarks for Presentations (in 2024) with Tips & Examples

Last updated on February 25th, 2024

Two aspects of a speech or presentation hold immense importance to ensure that you are able to leave a lasting impact on your audience, i.e. the opening and closing remarks. Using the right words can help you leave on a high note and needless to say, failing to do so can make your presentation forgettable and in some cases, regrettable.

How to End a Speech? Sample Closing Remarks and Tips for Presentations

The type of closing remarks you add to your presentation will depend upon the environment, the topic of the speech and the kind of audience you are addressing to. Let’s take a look at some sample closing remarks that you can use, along with some basic tips for concluding your presentation in an appropriate manner. You can use these examples below for inspiration, to learn how to end a speech.

Example of Formal Closing Remarks

You might want to end your presentation formally with comments like these:

• It’s been a pleasure being with all of you today, thank you.
• Thank you all for your patience, I wish you all a very good evening. Good Bye.
• It’s been an honor to be among such accomplished individuals and to be able to present my perspective before you all, thank you and good evening/day.
• Thank you all for being here today and taking the time to patiently listen to what I had to say, I wish you all a blessed day.

Below is an example of a formal closing remark by Bill Gates at the Harvard Commencement.

FREE PowerPoint Templates for Presentations Download presentation templates with attractive designs, layouts and styles. Thousands of slides & templates to choose from.

Funny Closing Remarks

You can also add a touch of humor to make things more interesting with a closing remark like these:

• “It is finally time to end the excruciating pain I have all given you, time to get some caffeine! Thank you!”
• “It’s been a pleasure torturing you all with convoluted statistics and wordy speeches, have a great day!”
• “Now that we have that out of the way, time for me to get back home before my parents ground me!”
• “I hope you were all unable to understand anything I said! Confused? Good! Have a good day”

Note: Such a closing remark might be suitable where you have been able to keep your audience laughing throughout the presentation session and the audience might be in the right mood to receive such a remark in a lighthearted manner.

Even when you crack a joke, make sure to follow it up with a formal comment like ‘Thank You’, ‘Good Bye’, ‘Good Evening’ or ‘Have a Great Day’. Say it with a smile, to make sure you don’t look rude or the audience does not misunderstand you in anyway.

While the below comment by Will Ferrell wasn’t a closing remark but it serves as a good example as to how you can end your presentation with some humor.

The presenter can support the close of the presentation with some visual slides. The thank you slides provided by SlideModel for example can be a good fit for this purpose. Read the full review from fixthephoto.com.

Tips for Adding Closing Remarks to Your Presentations

There are a number of ways by which you can add closing remarks to your presentations. Below are some methods you can use for leaving a major impact on the hearts and souls of your audience.

1. Adding closing remarks with the conclusion

This can be done to closely knit your conclusion with a closing remark which might inspire your audience. Crafting a compelling conclusion is an art in itself; understanding how to conclude a project effectively can be essential for creating a lasting impact. This tip is especially useful when drafting an effective conclusion for project.

2. Keeping the closing remarks separate from the conclusion

Sometimes it’s best to keep your closing remarks aside from the conclusion to avoid confusing the audience. This might be suitable when your closing remarks are meant to stand out apart from your conclusion. For example, your conclusion might be neutral but your closing remarks might provide your perspective on the topic and what you think is the best course of action.

3. Closing remarks and a summary of your presentation

When your closing remarks are closely tied to your conclusion/summary, you can use this method. Summarizing information can help the audience gather their thoughts and be reminded of essential aspects of your presentation, followed by a closing remark which resonates with the summarized content. You can effectively summarize your presentation by utilizing an online summarizer. A text summarizer can help to encompass the main points of your presentation and tie your closing remarks.

4. Using amazing facts to inspire your audience

This can be a very handy approach, i.e. to use a mind boggling fact to inspire the audience and to direct them towards your preferred opinion.

5. Call to action

Almost every type of presentation has a call to action. It is unlikely that a presenter in some way or the other will not be encouraging the audience to act, be it a sales presentation, motivational speech or a presentation about social issues. It could be as simple as adding a QR Code that links to your  digital business card , thereby giving them an opportunity to contact you.

6. Reiterate Your Main Message

Your closing remarks should reinforce the main message or takeaway from your presentation. This helps in embedding the core idea in your audience’s mind, reminding them of what you want them to remember most.

7. Create an Emotional Connection

Closing remarks that tap into emotions can leave a lasting impression. A touching story, an inspiring quote, or a call to personal action can help create this emotional resonance, making your presentation more memorable.

8. Ensure Clarity and Brevity

While crafting your closing remarks, remember to keep them concise and clear. Avoid using jargon or complex sentences, and aim for straightforward language that your audience can easily comprehend.

9. End with a Call to Action

If applicable, give your audience something to do after your presentation. Whether it’s visiting a website, reading a book, or making a change in their life, a call to action gives your audience a practical next step. You can use the Call-To-Action to end your speech. Pro Tip: Do not forget to add your phone number and business email address as a part of your call to action.

10. Thank Your Audience

It’s always polite and effective to thank your audience in your closing remarks. Showing appreciation for their time and attention helps to foster a positive relationship and leaves a favorable impression. Use Thank you slides when you end your presentation.

11. Use Visual Aids

To enhance your closing remarks, consider using visual aids such as slides or infographics. These can summarize your main points, reinforce your message, and make your remarks more engaging and impactful.

12. Practice Delivery

Your closing remarks aren’t just about what you say, but also how you say it. Practice your slideshow and the presentation delivery to ensure you convey your message with confidence and clarity. Consider your tone, pace, and body language, as these can significantly affect your audience’s perception of your remarks. You can use tools like the Presentation Coach to rehearse your presentation.

Final words

We hope it will help you deliver a memorable presentation by ending it with proper closing remarks. Make sure that your audience feels satisfied after hearing the end of your speech. Ending on an optimistic note may leave a lasting impression on them, which is what matters the most in such professional events like interviews and presentations.

About Farshad

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38 Top Opening and Closing Remarks for Meetings

Meetings are more than just gatherings; they're opportunities to inspire, engage, and leave a lasting impression. Your choice of opening and closing remarks can make a significant impact on the success of your meeting. In this article, we'll explore 38 top opening and closing remarks that will help you set the tone, convey your message effectively, and create a memorable experience for your attendees. From professionalism to warmth and from motivation to gratitude, we've got you covered.

1. The Warm Welcome

A warm welcome sets the tone for a positive meeting. Begin with a friendly greeting, acknowledge the importance of the gathering, and express your enthusiasm for the discussions ahead. Make your audience feel appreciated and comfortable.

2. The Purpose Statement

State the purpose of the meeting clearly. Explain why everyone is gathered and what you aim to achieve. This helps attendees focus on the main objectives and ensures a productive discussion.

3. The Icebreaker

Break the ice with a light and relatable anecdote or trivia related to the meeting's topic. Icebreakers help create a friendly atmosphere and encourage engagement.

4. The Quote of Inspiration

Incorporate an inspiring quote that resonates with the meeting's theme or objectives. A well-chosen quote can motivate and set the right mood for the meeting.

5. The Agenda Overview

Provide a brief overview of the meeting's agenda. Highlight key topics, speakers, and the expected flow of the discussion. This ensures that everyone is on the same page.

6. The Call to Order

If you're chairing a formal meeting, a simple "I call this meeting to order" is a professional and effective way to start. It signals the beginning of official proceedings.

7. The Gratitude Note

Express gratitude for everyone's attendance and contributions. Acknowledge the effort and time invested by participants, showing your appreciation.

8. The Vision Statement

Share the long-term vision or goal that the meeting aims to support. Aligning the current discussion with a broader vision can inspire attendees.

9. The Progress Recap

If it's a recurring meeting, briefly recap the progress made since the last gathering. It keeps everyone informed and engaged.

10. The Interactive Question

Pose a thought-provoking question that encourages participants to think and engage. This can be a great way to kick off discussions.

11. The Motivational Story

Share a brief motivational story or anecdote that relates to the meeting's objectives. Stories can inspire and engage attendees.

12. The Problem-Solution Framework

Introduce a problem or challenge that the meeting aims to address and then present it as an opportunity for solution. This framework fosters problem-solving and innovation.

13. The Empowering Statement

Empower your audience by reminding them of their roles and contributions. Let them know that their participation is essential for the meeting's success.

14. The Team Acknowledgment

Recognize the collaborative effort of the team. Highlight the strengths and skills of your group members and the importance of teamwork.

15. The Ethical Reminder

Reiterate the importance of ethical conduct and respectful interactions during the meeting. A reminder of professional conduct is always beneficial.

16. The Key Takeaway Preview

Give a sneak peek of the key takeaways attendees can expect by the end of the meeting. This keeps participants focused on the value they'll gain.

17. The Roadmap Presentation

Offer a roadmap of what to expect throughout the meeting. Outline the flow, segments, and breaks to keep everyone oriented.

18. The Participant Engagement

Encourage participants to engage actively. Let them know that their contributions are valued, and their involvement is crucial for a successful meeting.

19. The Appreciative Conclusion

End the meeting on a positive note. Express your gratitude once again, summarize the key points, and convey your confidence in the team's abilities.

20. The Future Vision

Share your vision for the future and how the meeting aligns with long-term goals. This provides a sense of purpose and direction.

21. The Call to Action

End with a clear call to action. Specify the next steps, assignments, or tasks that need to be addressed after the meeting.

22. The Reflection Moment

Encourage participants to take a moment to reflect on what they've learned or discussed during the meeting. This promotes mindfulness and retention.

23. The Pledge of Commitment

Ask attendees to commit to the meeting's objectives and put their best effort into achieving the desired outcomes.

24. The Professional Closure

End with a formal closing, such as "I now declare this meeting adjourned." It signals the conclusion of official proceedings.

25. The Gratitude Recap

Summarize the gratitude expressed throughout the meeting and emphasize the value of teamwork and collaboration.

26. The Personal Acknowledgment

Acknowledge each participant individually, thanking them for their contributions and involvement during the meeting.

27. The Challenge Statement

Challenge participants to apply what they've learned in their roles or departments. Motivate them to make the meeting worthwhile.

28. The Collaborative Pledge

Invite attendees to pledge their commitment to collaborate effectively and support one another.

29. The Milestone Celebration

Celebrate any achievements or milestones reached during the meeting. Recognize hard work and dedication.

30. The Action Plan Overview

Give an overview of the action plan that will follow the meeting. This ensures clarity and alignment on the next steps.

31. The Inspirational Closing

End with an inspiring quote or message that leaves attendees motivated and looking forward to the future.

32. The Decision Recap

Summarize the key decisions made during the meeting and emphasize their importance.

33. The Commitment Request

Request a commitment from attendees to actively participate in post-meeting tasks and assignments.

34. The Team Encouragement

Encourage your team by recognizing their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the meeting's goals.

35. The Progress Reminder

Remind participants of the progress made during the meeting and encourage them to maintain the momentum.

36. The Next Meeting Preview

Preview what attendees can expect in the next meeting. This keeps them engaged and looking forward to future discussions.

37. The Recognition of Challenges

Acknowledge the challenges discussed during the meeting and emphasize the team's ability to overcome them.

38. The Lasting Impact

End with a reflection on the lasting impact of the meeting's discussions and decisions. Inspire attendees to carry the meeting's significance with them.

In conclusion, your choice of opening and closing remarks can shape the outcome of your meeting. These 38 remarks are designed to help you inspire, engage, and make a lasting impression on your audience. Whether you're fostering teamwork, expressing gratitude, or motivating your team, there's a remark for every situation. Use them strategically to ensure your meetings are not only productive but also memorable. Make your mark, set the tone, and create exceptional meetings that leave a lasting impact on everyone involved.

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Closing remarks from the Conference

November 15, 2020 by Lynnette

Action Duchenne 2020 International Conference Closing Remarks by Florence Boulton, National Director

It has been truly a great couple of days. Thanks so much for all your kind wishes and positive encouragement. This makes me very proud of the team, and all who contributed to making this a great conference.  Please join me in thanking them all.    

On behalf of the staff team, and the Board of Trustees, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to our amazing volunteers, Ambassadors, Patrons, in particular Harry Hill for adding a sparkle of fun and humour to yesterday’s session.  Thank you to all our wonderful speakers, and our sponsors and exhibitors, without whom this conference would not have been possible. And especially to you, our Duchenne families from across the globe, this is your conference, your network, and you make this as lively and interactive as you did. 

Supporting you

We, as a community have experienced one of the greatest challenges over the past few months. Experiencing lockdown and living with Duchenne has been so hard on you, I feel it is very important to acknowledge my deepest respect for you all, and to emphasise that 

We are here. Truly here for you all. We will continue to support you through your darkest times, sharing advice, knowledge, and of course, a shoulder to cry on when you need it. My hope is that each and every one of you can leave the conference feeling empowered, positive, and fully supported by Action Duchenne and each other.

Please do follow us on social media, sign up to our newsletter, and get involved in our projects.  We are making sure that there is the chance for everyone to be a part of this inspiring and welcoming community, I urge you to take these opportunities and get involved.

It is a true privilege to be a part of this community, and over the next few months and years, I hope that together we can build stronger connections with other patient organisations, government agencies, NHS and care organisations, researchers and biotech companies in the UK and worldwide, I can see opportunities to increase our influence, enhance our reputation and gain greater recognition for the work we do!

I have one final thing to ask of you before I close this year’s event. Please complete the post-conference survey . Your feedback will help us to shape the way we work with you in the future, and continue to ensure the content you receive from us continues to stay on point, and helps you to navigate these difficult times, and to support you every step of your journey.

For now, please block out sometime in your diary for our 2021 international conference, and I look forward to seeing you in person in Hinckley Island Jury’s Inn Hotel, on the 5th and 6th of November 2021!

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The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

Remarks by President   Biden at the North America’s Building Trades Unions National Legislative Conference

Washington Hilton Hotel Washington, D.C.

12:40 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Whoa!  Holy mackerel.  (Applause.)  Whoa!  (Applause.)  Hello, hello, hello!  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please have a seat.  Whoa!  (Applause.)

Whoa!  What a welcome.  I’m going home.  (Laughter.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Building Trades.  God love you all.  (Applause.)  No, I really mean it.

And Shawn, thank you for your friendship, your partnership.  And it’s been an incredible honor — and I mean this from the bottom of my heart — an incredible honor to be endorsed by the Building Trades.  (Applause.)  I mean it.  You’re the best.

Not a joke.  It’s not a joke.  You’re the best in the world.  That’s not a joke.  You’re the best in the world.  You know, you had my back in 2020.  And because of you, I’m standing here as President of the United States of America — because of you.  (Applause.)  And that’s a fact. 

Because you, in 2024, we’re going to make Donald Trump a loser again.  (Applause.)  Are you ready?  Are you ready?  (Applause.)

I’m so damn proud to be with you.  And I really mean it: I’m proud to be with you.  All my — my relatives, my grandpop and everybody else up in — were — they’re all gone now, but in Scranton, they — my — I had an uncle who used to say, “Joey, you’re belt buckle to shoe shole [sole] union.”

Well, let me tell you something.  I’m proud to be the most union pres- — pro-union president in American history.  And it’s because of you.  You’re proof what have — I’ve always known.  Not a joke. 

I’ve always known that Wall Street didn’t build America.  The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class.  (Applause.)  That’s a fact.  That’s a fact.

Folks, being with you today reminds me of where I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware.  I was up in Scranton last week. 

It’s great to have the mayor of Scranton, by the way, Paige Cognetti.  Where are you, Paige?  She’s here today.  I don’t — it’s a big crowd out there, but you’ll — if you see her, you’ll know her.  (Laughter.)

Look, in Scranton, I learned a basic value set that all of you learned as well, no matter where you’re from.  I learned that money doesn’t determine your worth.  I learned that all anyone wants is just a fair shot — a fair shot of making it.  Don’t block the road for me.  Give me an even shot. 

My dad, I swear to God, used to have an expression.  He’d come home from — after he closed — he’d come for dinner and then go back and close his — the shop.  My dad would say, “Joey a job” — and I mean it sincerely — “a job is about a lot more than a paycheck.  It’s about your dignity.  It’s about respect.  It’s about being able to look your child in the eye and say, ‘Honey, it’s going to be okay’ and mean it.”

That’s what we’re all about: dignity of all workers — the dignity of workers.  (Applause.)  I mean it.

And we all grew up — (applause) — we all grew up with folks who sort of looked down on us because of what our dads did.  They weren’t in business.  They weren’t executives.  They weren’t something special.  But they are special. 

You know, but people like Donald Trump learned a different lesson.  He learned the best way to get rich is inherit it.  (Laughter.)  He learned that paying taxes is something working people did, not him.  He learned that telling people “you’re fired” was something to laugh about.

Not in my household.  Not in my neighborhood.  (Applause.)  I mean it sincerely.  No joke.  Especially being fired because you had no protection. 

Folks, I guess that’s how you look at the world from Mar-a-Lago, where Trump and his rich friends embrace the same failed trickle-down policies that have failed working-class families and union families for over 40 years.

But if you grew up where we grew up, nobody handed you anything.  Being told you were fired wasn’t entertainment.  It was devastating.  It was a nightmare.

And, folks, we all know people like Trump who look down on us, don’t we?  We all know somebody we grew up with like that.

Well, folks, where I come from, it matters.  When I look at the economy, I don’t see it through the eyes of Mar-a-Lago, I see it through the eyes of — through the eyes of Scranton and working people like all of you and my family.

You know, we know the best way to grow an economy is from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down.  My dad used to say not a whole hell of a lot trickled down on his kitchen table in that top-down policy.

When we do that, when we work from the bottom up and the middle out, the poor have a ladder up and the middle class does well.

And, by the way, the wealthy still do very well if they just start paying their damn taxes.  (Applause.)

So, it’s either Scranton values or Mar-a-Lago values.  These are competing visions of the economy at the heart of this election — competing visions of what we look at and see as Amer- — as America.

Folks, one of the reasons I ran for President was to rebuild the backbone of the middle class, and we have.  We’re following my blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America.  And guess what?  It’s working. 

You’re building that America.  You’re — in this room — are building that America.

For example, thanks to my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more than 51,000 new manufacturing projects have been announced so far, and we’re just beginning.  It’s just beginning.  (Applause.)  It’s just — just starting.  (Applause.)

Roads, bridges, ports, airports, clean water systems, available high-speed Internet all across America and built by the Building Trades.  (Applause.)

Remember when President Pr- — Trump promised us — (laughs) — I’ve got to be careful.  (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Say it!  Say it!

THE PRESIDENT:  He promised us “Infrastructure Week.”  Well, I tell you what, it took four years; he never built a damn thing.  Nothing.  I’m serious.  (Applause.)  Are you surprised?

I’m sure — I’m making sure the projects, like project labor agreements, so highly skilled workers have a voice on the job. 

But even before Trump was president, Trump preferred non-union workers in his real estate projects.  And I don’t want to get into the stories.  But anyway.  Even he — even in that he didn’t keep his word.  He just asked contractors, vendors, and small businesses.  And — and if you read the press, if any of it’s true, he never paid them — a whole hell a lot of them.  The guy has never worked a day in a working man’s boots. 

By the way, he gave me a pair of boots as a gift, by the way.  (Laughter.)  I know how to put them on.  I still sometimes cut the yard.  The Secret Service doesn’t let me do it anymore.  (Laughter.)

Folks, I’m making Davis-Bacon requirements stronger to guarantee prevailing wage.  (Applause.) 

By the way, we’re making them stronger.  (Applause.)  That will — (applause) — that alone will increase wages for more than a million construction workers. 

Trump’s MAGA allies are trying to take it away now.  But it’s not going to happen on my watch.  (Applause.)

Since — since the 1930s, the law has said when the federal government spends taxpayers’ dollars on a project, it can only buy American products to do it and use American workers to get it done.  That’s “Buy America.”  Donald Trump failed to uphold that.  But not anymore.  My administration uses American products and American workers.  That’s why it’s going.  (Applause.)  I mean it.

Because, folks — (applause) — it’s — it’s not a joke.  It’s not a campaign line.  The God’s truth is you’re the best workers in the world.  That’s a fact.  You’re the best workers in the world. 

When I went out to South Korea to get them to beg- — start to build back those computer chips here in America, I said, “Why are you wil-” — and they decided to do it, invest- — investing billions of dollars.  I said, “Why are you doing it?”  He said, “Two things: You have the best workers in the world, and you have the safest place in the world to do it.”

Well, folks, when I think climate, I think jobs.  I think union jobs — good-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree. 

You’ve attracted nearly $700 billion in private-sector investment in advanced manufacturing, in semiconductors, clean energy, and so much more here in America, creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, Building Trades jobs.  In fact, construction of new factories has more than doubled in our administration.

Meanwhile — (applause) — meanwhile, Donald Trump still thinks windmills cause cancer.  (Laughter.)  That’s what he said. 

And, by the way, remember when he was trying to deal with COVID?  He said just inject a little bleach in your veins.  (Laughter.)  He missed; it all went to his hair.  (Laughter.)

Look, I shouldn’t have said that.  (Applause.)  I probably shouldn’t have said that.  (Laughter.)  You guys are a bad influence on me.  (Laughter.)

Trump and his MAGA allies want to repeal the most significant investments in climate ever — the work that — that you risked your lives doing lots of it.  You know, it — and he wants to risk all those jobs.  Are you surprised?  I’m not.

A lot of you don’t know that if you want to be a pipe fitter — a lot of people don’t know — if you want to be a pipe fitter or an electrician or any of the other trades here, it takes four or five years of hard work as an apprentice. Most people think you can walk up (inaudible) — you guys should talk more about this.  They think you can walk up and you just say, “I want to be an electrician,” and you get a license.  It’s four or five years.  It’s like going back to college.  It’s going — like getting a college degree.

And that’s the reason — the reason you’re the best is because you’re the best trained in the world.  You get it; I get it.  But Donald Trump has no clue.

He undermined union apprenticeships by lowering standards and lowering pay.  He ended — I ended his anti-work policy to save the building trades apprenticeships program because they’re the gold standard of the world.  (Applause.)  They are.  They actually are.

And, look — and earlier this week — earlier this week, I teamed up together to recruit young people into the building trades.  It’s — my American Climate Corps will now pa- — pave a pathway to your apprenticeship program, because it matters.  It matters.

Through my American Rescue Plan, there’s — not a single Republican voted for, I might add — I also enacted the Butch Lewis Act — (applause) — the most pro-labor law in 50 years, because of you — because of you.  That one act — that one act has already protected hard-earned pensions of over 1 million workers and retirees and counting. 

We made that happen.  While Trump promised it, he never even lifted a finger to try to get it.  Are you surprised? 

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  I — hell no, I’m not, either.  (Laughter.) 

Trump put union busters on the Nabor La- — the National Labor Relations Board throughout his administration.  I’ve appointed people in my administration that actually care about American workers, like former bui- — the building trades leader, Marty Walsh, who was a great Labor Secretary — (applause) — during my administration.  

By the way, if you ever need — if you’re ever in a foxhole, I tell you, you want Marty Walsh — (pronounced in an accent) — with you, man.  (Laughter.)  Oh, you think I’m kidding.  He’s the real deal.

You know, I’ve walked proudly on union picket lines, while at the same time, Trump bashed unions from non-union shops.  (Applause.)  Are you surprised?

THE PRESIDENT:  Look, I want to sign the PRO Act into law.  (Applause.) 

Trump said he’d veto it.  Trump said he’d veto it.  Beyond that, he supports a National Right to Work law, for God’s sake.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  No, I — think about it.  What is the single biggest killer that could happen?  A National Right to Work law.  Look, he might as well say he doesn’t support any unions.

Are we going to let him — that happen, pal?  We’re not going to let that happen.

THE PRESIDENT:  Let me ask you: Does anyone here think the tax system is fair?  Raise your hand. 

Well, Trump is proud of his $2 trillion tax cut in his administration that overwhelmingly benefited the very wealthy and the biggest corporations while exploding the federal debt.  Trump added more to the national debt than any president in a single term in all of American history — to the national debt. 

I cut the national debt so far — (applause) — and still got all those other things did by doing simple things like, you know — remember those 40 Fortune 500 company — or those — those Fortune 500 companies, 40 of them — I think, no, it was 50 — who didn’t pay a single penny in taxes and made 40 billion dol- — 4 billion — $40 billion? 

Well, guess what?  I did a terrible thing.  I made them pay 15 percent.  (Laughter and applause.)  And we cut the deficit by $70 billion. 

Look, now Trump is saying if he gets elected, he wants to give another — by the way, that tax credit of his expires next year.  Okay?  (Applause.) 

Well, let me tell you something: It’s going to stay expired and dead forever if I’m reelected.  But anyway.  (Applause.)

He wants another — he wants to give another massive tax cut for the wealthy.  And he also says he wants to cut your Medicare and Social Security, and you’re going to let him — that happen?  AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  No, he — by — AUDIENCE:  Booo — THE PRESIDENT:  By the way, these — these guys mean this stuff.  They mean it.  And the Republican caucus went ahead and said they want to do that too.

Look, folks, I remember there used to be two parties — real parties, you know.  But this ain’t your father’s Republican Party.  This is a different breed of cat.

Look, I got a better idea.  I’m going to protect Social Security and Medicare by making the very wealthy begin to pay their fair share of the — (applause) — No billionaire — (applause) — look — look, guys — no billionaire — and there’s a thousand of them in America — a thousand billionaires — no billionaire should pay less in taxes than a teacher, a nurse, a construction worker, a police officer. Guess what?  You know what their average — average tax rate for a billionaire in America is?  8.3 percent.  That’s what they pay.  AUDIENCE:  Booo — THE PRESIDENT:  I’m serious.  I’m serious.  Look, if we just charge them 24 percent in their tax, which isn’t the highest tax rate, we’d generate fi- — fifty- — $500 billion over the next 10 years, allow us to significantly cut the deficit, allow us to move all — have daycare.  Allo- — allow us to do so many things to make the country stronger.  I want to point out one thing.  It’s a little off point, but I wanted you to remember it.  I asked the Treasury Department, because I was getting all this compliment and, from some, criticism about being so pro-union — I said, “What happens to wages generally when unions have to get paid a decent salary?”  Everybody’s salaries goes up.  Everybody.  (Applause.)  You grow the economy.  You grow the economy.  You grow the economy.  Look, the bottom line is we’re doing what’s always worked best in this country: investing in all of America and all Americans.  Our plan is working.  So far, we’ve created over 15 million new jobs, including 848,000 construction jobs for a record 8.2 million across the construction industry. Folks — (applause) — and, by the way, did you know there are only two presidents in American history who left office with fewer American jobs than they entered it: Herbert Hoover and, yes, Donald “Herbert Hoover” Trump.  (Laughter and applause.)  Only two.  (Applause.) Look, folks — folks, we’re moving again.  We’re moving again as a country.  We’re beginning to gain momentum.  We have the best economy in the world, but we got a lot more to do.  But we’re moving again because you guys and women.  I mean — I’m not being solicitous.  That’s why we’re moving.  We’re building again.  And we’re just getting started.  Let me close with this.  As I travel the country, I see the amazing things you’re doing — I mean it, all over the country, in red states and blue states.  And this past June, I was in Philadelphia, Sean’s hometown.  And I married a Philly girl.  You don’t screw around with Philly people.  (Laughter.)  If I didn’t vote for every Phi- — root for every Philly team out there, I’d be sleeping alone.  (Laughter.)  You all think I’m kidding.  (Laughter.)  Look, remember when that tanker truck crashed and closed the key stretch of I-95 in Philly?  It was expected, like in the last administration, it would take months and months for anything to happen.  Well, 150,000 vehicles travel that overpass every single day.  So, what did we do?  We contacted all of you.  We organized.  You organized.  We rebuilt that.  You rebuilt that in less than two weeks, record time.  How?  Because you’re the building trades — laborers, operating engineers, cement finishers, plumbers, pipe fitters, steelworkers.  (Applause.)  So many union workers.  (Applause.) You showed up — you showed up around the clock.  (Applause.)  And you got it done.  (Applause.) By the way, that’s America.  By the way, unions are more popular today than they’ve ever been in a long, long time, not because of Joe Biden supporting them — because of you.  You always step up.  You step into the breach.  You get things done.  That’s the union movement.  That’s what it’s about. In Baltimore, we’re moving heaven and earth — or as my dad, from Baltimore, would say, Baltimore ­– Baltimore.  (Pronounced in an accent.)We’removing heaven and earth to rebuild the F- — the Francis Scott Key Bridge after its tragic collapse, and we’re doing it with you — with union labor and American steel — (applause) — and American steel. That’s America.  That’s the union movement.  (Applause.) Look, folks, I mean you’re doing — you ought to see — I mean, I’ve been to the site.  It’s incredible.  I’ve been over that bridge a lot.  I mean, I commuted every day for 36 years as a U.S. senator, when my wife and daughter were killed and I used to commute back and forth to be with my boys.  And I’ve over that — that area in Baltimore Harbor.  You — it’s incredible what you’re doing. 

And, folks, the choice is clear.  Donald Trump’s vision of America is one of revenge and retribution.  A defeated former president who sees the world from Mar-a-Lago and bows down to billionaires, who looks down on American union workers.  It’s not just he’s not supporting; he looks down on us. 

I — no, I’m not joking.  Think about it.  Think about the guys you grew up with who you’d like to get into the corner and just give them a straight left.  (Laughter.)  I’m not suggesting we hit the president.  (Laughter.)  But we all know those guys growing up.  We all know guys like that growing up. 

My vision of America is one of hope and opportunity — the view from Scranton and working-class Americans like you. 

Here’s the future I see, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.  I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s chances, not because I’m President, because of the state of the moment.  The world needs us.

Look at we — I just signed — we just signed the bill to give support to Ukraine.  We — (applause) — we rebuilt NATO.  (Applause.)  We increased it.

Like it or not, we’re the leading country in the world.  The rest of the world looks to us. 

I see an America where we defend democracy, not diminish it.  I see an America where we protect freedoms, not take them away.  I see an economy that grows from the middle out and the bottom up, where the wealthy pay their fair share so we can have childcare, paid leave, and so much more, and still reduce the federal deficit and increase economic growth. 

Folks, imagine what we can do next.  Four —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  — more years.  Pause.  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Are you ready?

THE PRESIDENT:  Are you ready to move forward?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you.  We’re all ready.  We’re ready to move forward not back. 

Are we ready to choose unity over division, dignity over hate, truth over lies?

Are you ready to choose freedom over democ- — for democracy?  (Applause.)

We can do this.  I give you my word as a Biden, I’ve never been more optimistic about our future in my entire career. 

We just have to remember who we are.  And I mean this.  Think about it.  We are the United States of America, and there’s nothing beyond our capacity — nothing, nothing, nothing — when we do it together.  (Applause.)  We got to do it together. 

God bless you all.  God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

Thank you all.  I don’t want to go.  (Applause.)

1:05 P.M. EDT

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It's going to be a massive week for the stock market

• It's a big week for the stock market with a deluge of economic data set to be released.
• A Fed press conference, the April jobs report, and quarterly earnings will be closely watched by investors.
• Here are five major events to keep an eye on this week, according to Raymond James' chief investment officer.

It's going to be a massive week for the stock market as investors prepare for a deluge of economic data and corporate earnings results.

Raymond James' chief investment officer Larry Adam highlighted the top five things to watch this week that could have a big impact on stock market prices.

From corporate earnings to the April jobs report, here's what to keep an eye over the next five days, according to Adam.

1. "Powell's press conference could bring fireworks."

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to give a speech at 2:30 pm on Wednesday as part of the Fed's May FOMC meeting.

While the Fed is largely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, Powell could offer clues as to whether he is hawkish or dovish on future interest rate cuts. A back-to-back-to-back string of hotter-than-expected inflation reports has kept the Fed on its toes regarding potential interest rate cuts, and investors are starting to get antsy.

"Powell will likely stick to his 'data dependence' script, reiterating that rates are likely at their peak, but may need to remain restrictive for a little longer. However, Powell will need to navigate questions regarding this week's slower growth/hotter inflation flagged in the GDP report and whether the three rate cuts penciled into the March dot plot are still relevant," Adam said.

Powell could also offer more details around the Fed's balance sheet reduction plans, which could have an impact on stock prices.

2. "All eyes on the quarterly refunding announcement."

The Treasury Department is set to announce its borrowing requirements for the upcoming quarter on Monday, as well as detail the composition of issuance between Treasury bills and coupons.

A surge in tax receipts this year has left the Treasury's operating account "flush with cash" at $955 billion. That suggests less need for the Treasury to issue a deluge in new bonds this quarter, which the market would welcome.

"The good news: investor appetite for Treasurys has remained healthy. The bad news: net Treasury supply to fund the ongoing ~$2T deficits leaves plenty for the market to absorb," Adam explained.

3. "Will earnings growth deliver to keep the rally going?"

This is one of the busiest weeks of earnings releases, with just over 170 S&P 500 companies set to report their first-quarter earnings results this week. The biggest companies reporting include Amazon on Tuesday and Apple on Thursday.

So far, S&P 500 earnings are on pace to rise about 1.6% year-over-year, with the bulk of that gain being driven by mega-cap tech companies. Investors will keenly be listening for guidance from company CEOs as focus shifts to the rest of the year.

"As valuations are trading near the upper end of their 20-year range, earnings will need to be the catalyst to drive the market higher from current levels," Adam said.

4. "Manufacturing and service activity improving?"

The release of ISM Manufacturing data last month showed a surprise jump into expansion territory for the first time since October 2022. New data from the index will be released on Wednesday, with expectations that the expansion will continue into its second month. Meanwhile, ISM Services data will be released on Friday and is expected to show continued expansion for the 15th consecutive month. 

"This is important, as the services sector makes up a larger portion of the economy relative to manufacturing. In all, these figures reflect an economy that is expanding, albeit at a more modest pace," Adam said.

5. "Will the labor market's resilience last?"

Finally, the April jobs report set to be released on Friday will be closely watched by investors. The median economist forecast is for 250,000 jobs to be added to the economy. And if the unemployment rate remains below 4%, it will tie the second longest consecutive streak below 4% on record.

But there are signs of a slowing jobs market.

"The employment subsectors within ISM Manufacturing and Services readings are both in contraction territory and the number of job openings is near the lowest level since March 2021. The jobs report will provide an update on the strength of the labor market," Adam said.

• Main content

Opinion: USC got it wrong in canceling valedictorian’s speech. Here’s what the school should do now

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USC’s decision to rescind valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s invitation to speak at its commencement no doubt resulted from a range of pressures from inside and outside the university, particularly the outcry over the student’s expressions of support for Palestinians. Provost Andrew T. Guzman wrote that he acted in the face of “substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement.”

Particularly since Oct. 7, university administrators have tough jobs requiring them to balance commitments to free speech, a vibrant and respectful academic culture, and campus safety. That said, USC made the wrong decision.

University officials evidently calculated that they would prefer taking heat for canceling Tabassum’s speech to doing what they have done for over a century: giving the valedictorian the opportunity to share her insights with the USC community.

Editorial: Free speech or discrimination? Colleges need help drawing the line

Complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus have skyrocketed. Figuring out when speech is protected or violating the rights of others is no easy task.

Jan. 2, 2024

What exactly was the risk of abiding by this valuable and time-honored tradition? After all, U.S. presidents are invited to give commencement addresses at universities every year, necessitating far more security than any other speaker. Surely the threats posed to Tabassum can’t be graver than those facing a president of the United States.

Could it be that the risks motivating administrators included the prospect that the valedictorian might criticize Israel’s war in Gaza or express sympathy for the Palestinian people? If so, their tolerance for voices that roil the establishment has sadly disappeared.

We will not move past the crisis of the moment by silencing those with whom we disagree. The university is exactly the sort of place where such views must be heard. Otherwise, it is not a university.

Opinion: College campus hecklers, your disruptions don’t count as free speech

Recent incidents at SUNY Albany, Stanford Law School and Cornell show students confusing censorship for legitimate protest.

April 14, 2023

Universities should resist the toxic political culture that locks us in our echo chambers, where we are exposed only to those views that are to our liking. Students shouldn’t become passive followers who seek a diploma just to get a job. We want and need our students to be leaders; they need to encounter divergent and challenging perspectives that allow for innovation and the production of knowledge that can serve society.

An important point is often lost in the shrillness of public debate: It is legitimate to call for the liberation of Palestinians who have been deprived of the right of self-determination — which is precisely what Israel represents for Jews — since 1948, even if reasonable people can disagree about how that should be achieved. It is also legitimate to express grave concern about a war that has killed more than 33,000 people, many of them children, and displaced most of the Gaza Strip’s population.

These arguments are deeply discomfiting to many, especially students, staff and faculty who identify with Israel. And if the valedictorian were to articulate these claims in her commencement speech, it would be uncomfortable for some, perhaps many. But controversy is hardly unheard of or inappropriate in commencement addresses and decisions about who delivers them.

Graduation speakers have seized the pulpit to speak truth to power during some of the most tumultuous times in our country. At Vassar College’s 1970 commencement ceremony, it was probably uncomfortable for many in the audience, particularly the men, when Gloria Steinem declared that “much of the trouble this country is in has to do with the Masculine Mystique: the idea that manhood somehow depends on the subjugation of other people.” And many in the audience of UC Berkeley’s 1966 law school commencement were likely uncomfortable when valedictorian Michael Tigar devoted his speech to Vietnam, proclaiming: “War is the enemy of political freedom.”

But given the tedium that so often characterizes commencement speeches, controversial ones may be more in line with the rightful function of universities.

It is not too late for USC to correct its error. It would do justice to Tabassum, who is by all accounts an exceptional, passionate and compassionate student. And it would demonstrate confidence in the university as a forum that can withstand — and even benefit from — controversial and challenging speech.

David N. Myers is distinguished professor of Jewish history at UCLA. Salam Al-Marayati is the president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

More to Read

Column: Calling the police on campus protests shows that college presidents haven’t learned a thing since the 1960s

April 29, 2024

Commencement speakers launch boycott of USC satellite graduation ceremonies

April 28, 2024

UC rejects calls for Israel-related divestment, boycott driving pro-Palestinian protests

April 27, 2024

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Ministers Department of Health and Aged Care

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention - Speech - 30 April 2024

Read Assistant Minister McBride's speech at the National Suicide Prevention Conference.

The Hon Emma McBride MP Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Assistant Minister Rural and Regional Health

Acknowledgements omitted

Check against delivery

It’s an honour to be here on behalf of the Government.

We value the strong and steadfast advocacy which has come from the suicide prevention sector since we took office nearly two years ago.

This conference is a rallying point for that advocacy, and a coming together of leaders across policy, practice and lived experience.

Bringing together this mix of skills and expertise is vital to effective public policy.

As many of you know, I was a practitioner before I was a policymaker, working in acute adult mental health inpatient units at Wyong Hospital on the Central Coast of NSW.

Which is why I am committed to giving voice to those who don’t always get heard in the processes of government and that’s what you’ve been doing for 25 years. 

I thank you all for your contributions.

National Suicide Prevention Strategy

Many of you will be aware the National Suicide Prevention Office has been working to develop a national suicide prevention strategy which will build on previous advice to Government to inform concrete actions that can be taken to address the drivers of suicidal distress.

I expect they will be consulting publicly on it soon and, indeed, people in this room have already made significant contributions through consultations and working groups.

Additionally, Proud Spirit Australia is developing a sector-led National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy to set a path to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities to reduce the rates of suicide through culturally safe and responsive solutions. 

The Strategies will guide much needed action across governments and across communities.

What we have heard so far through discussions and consultations is very familiar to you.

The drivers of psychological or suicidal distress reach deep into our communities. 

They expose the fault lines in our lives and the inequalities which we, as a society, too often accept.

The reality is a confluence of economic, cultural and social determinants with individual risk factors, creating risks of suicide.

A whole of government(s) - whole of community - suicide prevention strategy will seek to address these drivers.

It’s no mean feat. The causes of distress are wide ranging and complex.   

That is why we are focusing on addressing the drivers of distress including reducing financial pressure through cost-of living relief.  

In the health portfolio, major government initiatives are helping ease pressure on Australians: bringing bulk-billing back, supporting the health workforce and growing access to free, quality Medicare urgent care services. 

I do want to speak to some specific suicide prevention initiatives which are making a difference on the ground, made possible through a billion-dollar investment in the mental health and suicide prevention system.

There’s funding for digital health services, including crisis support, helplines, and ‘peer warmlines’ where people in distress can call and speak to someone who has been in a similar situation and has a deep understanding of what the caller is going through.

We also fund webchat, clinician-supported online therapy, self-directed education programs and tools, and moderated peer support forums.

This is in addition to almost 40 separate initiatives and projects under the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program.

I know that many organisations delivering these services are represented here at this conference. Thank you for the important work you are doing.

You may also be familiar with the Targeted Regional Initiatives for Suicide Prevention program, or TRISP.  

We have seen this program deliver place-based interventions around Australia, led by community organisations who understand their regions and the challenges local people might face.

That’s why I’m pleased to announce today a renewed commitment of $21 million in the TRISP program, to be delivered nation-wide through the Government’s 31 Primary Health Networks.  It includes funding for a Suicide Prevention Regional Response Coordinator in each PHN to lead suicide prevention activities across regions and service providers.  

The one-year extension will also focus on translating learnings from the last two years of the Program into building capacity and capability within local communities to prevent suicide.

In addition to this regional approach I do want to emphasise the collaborative nature of our work with state and territory governments in rolling out suicide prevention initiatives, including the South Australian Government. 

Through the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, the Albanese Government is providing financial contributions of over $225 million towards these initiatives to 30 June 2026.

One of these is the distress brief support trials being established in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. 

These trials are designed to reflect the experience of people with lived and living experience of distress and suicide.

This model embeds prevention and early intervention by identifying people outside the mental health and suicide prevention system (s) who are experiencing significant and suicidal distress.

The new service model recognises that distress affects different people differently.

That is why a person-centred, connection-focused approach underpins the model.

The trial is based on the Distress Brief Intervention model designed and piloted in Scotland.  

While the Scottish program has focused on frontline service settings, such as emergency departments, police and ambulance, the Australian approach looks to respond to people experiencing distress in community settings.

The Scottish program does not explicitly present itself as a ‘mental health’ or ‘suicide prevention’ support. This has made the available support more accessible for people who do not see their needs in these terms. 

Taking this valuable learning into the Australian context, the Distress Brief Support trial will primarily focus on compassion, connection and wellbeing.

The trial will provide an immediate, compassionate response to people experiencing distress in the community at places such as a legal aid office.  

Individuals will be offered an option for short-term support that is non-clinical and puts connection and the person in distress at the centre of their support.

Importantly, these trial sites are being co-designed with local communities and are being established in Greater Shepparton and the City of Darebin in Victoria, and in the Tablelands Region and the City of Ipswich in Queensland.  

We are finalising the locations in New South Wales with the Minns Government and working closely with the South Australian Government to select a trial site location.

Because we know there are individuals for whom a short, targeted period of support will relieve their distress and their risk of suicide.

I look forward to these trials showing their effectiveness in finding and supporting individuals and their loved ones and showing their effectiveness in findings. 

More broadly, of course, the task of reducing drivers of distress in their structural and systemic forms is a task for us all.

As I have said, the federal Labor Government is hard at work with the policy levers we have.

I give you our ongoing commitment to listening, taking feedback, and working with you as leaders in this sector as we go about further action to reduce suicide and suicidal distress.

And I ask that you all, in your daily work and your advocacy, look for our common goals and for practical ways in which we, together, can achieve them.

Thank you again for your contributions to this work.

• The Hon Emma McBride MP
• Mental health and suicide prevention
• Mental health workforce

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