Effective Introductions and Conclusions

1Effective Introductions and Conclusions

Introduction MatrixStepGoalAudience ResponseAttentionTo get attentionI want to listen.RapportTo establish a positive relationshipI like the speaker.RelevanceTo show topics value to the audienceI will benefit.CredibilityTo show qualificationsThe speaker is knowledgeable.AgendaTo prepare audience for body of presentationI understand the objectives of the presentation.Getting AttentionOpen with material to orient the audienceWhat you will tell them: specific points/areaYour experience with the topicEstablish your credibilityWhy should the audience believe you?Explain your expertise

Maintain Audience Interest Develop trust beyond credibilityInclude credible information/facts for supportLook confidentPostureVoiceMaintain eye contactPronounce words correctlyAvoid um and like and you know

Conclusion MatrixStepGoalAudience ResponseSummaryLong-term retentionThe major ideas are clear to me.Show concrete resultsGive audience a sense of satisfactionI learned helpful information.Unify presentationTo give presentation a sense of closurePresentation was unified.Effective Conclusions6Multiple strategies for conclusions, depending on purposeRecap the important infoClose with a reference to the intro and the purpose of the presentation

Introduction to which closing will be connectedTopic: Salary comparisons with and without adjusting for inflationIntro: (Assume that everyone knows the speaker as the company director of accounting). John (VP) asked me to put together some projections based on maintaining current salaries and based on adjustments that account for inflation. Although marketing usually provides this type of info, John wanted to see it from an accounting POV and in terms of the tax strategies we can employ.Closing Connected to IntroTopic: Salary comparisons with and without adjusting for inflation

Signal closing: To recap or Drawing everything together, I see two options: Closing: Utilizing plan X will yield ABC profit margin despite XYZ. Utilizing plan M will yield DEF profit margins because of XYZ, while compensating for 3% inflation. Are there any questions I can answer?

Transitions

PurposeMaintain audience attention and understandingMeaningfully connect main pointsAssist audience in moving to next point

Examples of meaningless transitionsUmStating the topic or subtopicMoving to next PPT slide and continuing with the point or sub-point to be madeNextOkay or All rightSighing

Examples of meaningful transitionsThe three most important things you need to know are 1, 2, and 3. (signpost)The most important thing to remember is . . . . (spotlight)In addition to the benefits of X and Y, costs must be considered. (bridge)

12