Motivating Conclusion

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. It should clearly tie in the main point and drive them home with finality.   It is unnecessary to just restate the theme but it should draw attention to it.  You're main goal is to move your audience to action.  Many a great talk went no further than the walls of the meeting room or conference 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.

Conclusions can show your listener what to do, why do it and how to do it.  Whatever subject you are discussion you want to stimulate them to some type of action and/or persuade them to a certain viewpoint.

For this reason, not only making clear the purpose of your talk is key but the conclusion should have strong conviction. This can be done with short sentences with appropriate pausing. No matter how you say it, your reasons for acting should be given, including the benefits your listener will receive.

Consider that your conclusion should be of proper length. How do you determine that?
Depending on the amount of time you have for your speech.  If you have a 5 minute speech, allowing enough time for an introduction, development of the points you want to convey and a conclusion, you may choose to devote a minute in conclusion.

Ever see a speaker walk off the stage and you did not expect his exit?  A conclusion should not catch the audience unawares. Not only should the words spoken point obviously to the end of the talk, but they should also have a note of finality. What you say and how you say it should end your discussion. If you are a beginning speaker, it is often best to make your conclusion shorter than you feel might be needed. Make it simple, direct and positive.