Start and End Your Presentation Effectively

Here’s a secret to awesome presentations: If you know how to start a presentation strong and end it powerfully, you’ll command attention and be memorable.

You can mess up any presentation, no matter how good, useful, or well-researched your content may be. The key to success lies in delivering it with confidence. Opening a presentation confidently means you’re off to a good start.

Imagine going up on stage, your shoulders hunched, head bowed. At the podium, you clear your throat and say:

“Yeah. Hi. I’m Jake. (Laughs nervously.) Um… Is this on? So…”

You notice the audience cringing in their seats. You wish you could just disappear!

At the end of your presentation, you say:

“So, yeah… I mean, that’s what I think,… And, uh, yeah… Questions? Or, um…”

You shrug, put your head down, hunch your shoulders, and shuffle off the stage. The audience gives you polite applause.

All your research, preparation, and hard work have gone to waste! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Presentations need not give you the frights or turn your stomach into a knot.

The secret is knowing how to start a presentation strong and end it powerfully. That’s exactly what we’re going to explore today.

You’ll also feel more confident when you use professionally-designed slides like the ones from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver.

How to Start a Presentation Strong by Leveraging Unpredictability

Starting a presentation strong means being unpredictable. Research shows that when we know what to expect from a cue, we don’t pay attention to what follows. However, when we don’t know what to expect, we pay more attention. That’s why we love movies with a twist: the unpredictability engages us more deeply.

How can you incorporate unpredictability at the start of a presentation?

There are several ways to achieve this. Your choice will depend on your topic, the circumstances, and your presentation style. Here are techniques to start your presentation strong:

1. Make a Bold Claim

Everyone knows the “I Have a Dream” speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. The speech doesn’t begin with “I have a dream.” That’s the climax. It starts with a bold statement:

“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”

At the time, this claim was groundbreaking, capturing the audience’s attention from the very start. If you’re confident your presentation will have a measurable impact, don’t save that claim for the end. State it at the beginning with confidence.

2. Contradict Expectations

Another way to start your presentation interestingly is by contradicting expectations. This classic technique engages your audience’s attention right away. Consider how Sir Ken Robinson does this in his well-known Ted Talk:

“It’s been great, hasn’t it? I’ve been blown away by the whole thing. In fact, I’m leaving.”

This unexpected statement catches the audience off guard and piques their interest.

3. Stimulate Curiosity

Stimulating curiosity is a powerful method to begin a presentation. The human brain thrives on curiosity, and research has shown that curiosity prepares the brain for better learning.

You might announce that you have a secret to confess, like Dan Pink does in a famous Ted Talk:

“I need to make a confession, at the outset here. A little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret…”

This confession arouses curiosity about what he did, compelling the audience to pay attention.

4. Ask Questions

Another effective approach to start a presentation is to ask questions. Starting with questions surprises the audience and encourages them to think. Simon Sinek exemplifies this technique by asking:

“How do you explain when things don’t go as we assumed? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all the assumptions?”

This prompts the audience to engage with the topic and pay attention.

5. Spin a Surprising Story

Telling a compelling story, especially one that surprises, is one of the most captivating ways to start a presentation. Stories have always been a means of engagement for humans.

For example, Brené Brown opens her Ted Talk about vulnerability with a humorous story about how she was classified for an event, ultimately leading to her identifying as a “researcher-storyteller.” This delightful introduction intrigues the audience and keeps them hooked.

How to Hold the Middle Together With Pauses and Visuals

Before we delve into how to end a presentation powerfully, it’s crucial to discuss strategies for maintaining your audience’s attention in the middle of your presentation.

If you’ve watched the presentations mentioned earlier, you’ll notice two key elements: pauses and visuals.

1. Pause for Effect

Effective speakers know how and when to pause. After making a significant claim, pause to allow your audience to absorb the information. A well-timed pause adds weight to your words, ensuring the audience remains engaged.

2. Aid the Flow With Visuals

Visuals are crucial in presentations as they help clarify ideas and keep the audience engaged. They direct the audience’s focus, preventing distractions.

To create a persuasive PowerPoint presentation, consider utilizing templates from Envato Elements, which offer a range of customizable options.

How to End a Presentation Powerfully by Being Memorable

Remember that initial example of a speaker ending their speech with a murmur? That’s not how you should end your presentation! Instead, aim for a powerful conclusion that resonates with your audience.

When concluding your presentation, you should choose a strategy that aligns with your topic and personal style. Here are a few effective methods:

1. Call the Audience to Action

To inspire your audience to take action, offer them a clear call to action at the end of your presentation. Brené Brown exemplifies this by stating:

“There’s another way, and I’ll leave you with this.”

She then explains how the audience can apply the principles she discussed, effectively guiding them towards actionable steps.

2. Paint a Vision of the Future

Another powerful way to conclude is by painting a vision of the future based on your presentation. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is a prime example of this technique. He leaves the audience with a hopeful and memorable vision of unity and freedom.

3. Use a Contrarian Example

Ending your presentation with a surprising or contrarian example can leave a lasting impression. Sir Ken Robinson effectively employs this technique by quoting virologist Jonas Salk, prompting the audience to reconsider their view of humanity’s impact on the earth.

Start and End Your Presentation With a Bang!

To ensure your presentation captivates your audience, start and end it with a punch. Begin with a bold statement, a contradiction, or an intriguing story. As for your conclusion, make it memorable by calling your audience to action, painting a vision, or using a contrarian example.

Whatever strategy you choose, aim to leave a lasting impression. If you’re working on a presentation, think carefully about how to start strong and end powerfully. What quote, story, or example will hook your audience’s attention and keep it until the last moment?

Remember to Hold Attention With Great Visuals

While the beginning and end of a presentation are crucial, don’t neglect the middle—where most of your content resides. Enhance your confidence with a well-crafted slide deck, utilizing one of the many PowerPoint templates available in Envato Elements.

If you prefer a pay-as-you-go option, explore GraphicRiver’s selection of premium PowerPoint templates that can be customized to suit your needs.

Editorial Note: This post was originally published in 2016. It has been comprehensively revised to ensure it is current, accurate, and up to date by our staff—with special help from Lexi Rodrigo and Brenda Barron.