Tom Antion has some helpful words on the subject of closing a presentation:
One of the worst mistakes you can make as a public speaker is talking too long.
Not only will you send some folks to never, never land, you will make some of
them downright mad. It doesn't matter if your entire speech was brilliant and
the audience came away with information that will change their lives. If you talk
too long, they will leave saying, "That speaker just wouldn't quit." Don't let
this happen to you! Say what you have to say and sit down. Before you do, give
them a well thought out closing.
The last thing you say may be the most remembered. You must put as much time
into selecting and practicing your closing as you put into any other part of your
presentation. Just like your opening, your closing does not have to be humorous.
It could be motivational, challenging, thoughtful, respectful of the length of
the presentation, or it could restate your point in a different way. This ending
segment will have a strong influence on what the audience takes home with them
when you are done. Please, at sometime during your talk ask the audience to do
something. Many a great NO ZZZZZs talk went no further than the walls of the meeting
room because the audience wasn't moved to action. If you haven't ask them to do
something by now, the closing is your last chance.
If the subject is appropriate, I happen to be fond of humorous closings for several
reasons. If you leave them laughing and applauding, you will exit, but an extremely
positive impression about you will remain. Another good reason to leave them laughing
is that the room will not be deadly silent as you are walking back to your seat.
I hate when that happens. I do love laughter and feeling good; finishing a speech
humorously gives me and the audience an opportunity to feel great. Speeches that
are for entertainment purposes only should generally leave the audience laughing.
Finally, if the subject is not appropriate to end with laughter, you could end
with a touching story or quotation that leaves the audience thoughtful and quiet.
Even the most serious public speaking subjects can benefit from humor, but the
humor should be sprinkled throughout the body of the presentation. Don't put it
at the end because closings are powerful and the audience will think your overall
attitude toward the subject is flippant.
This same technique can be very effective in ending a mostly humorous speaking
engagement. Have them laughing all along while you make your points. Then finish
seriously. This contrast will create a great impact. It will convey the fact that
you believe in a lighthearted approach to the subject, but the results are very
serious to you.
Don't be afraid to use humor when you speak in public. Just make sure you learn
to do it right.
They Remember the Last Words You Say