Obey Stop Signs and Become a Great Speaker

An observation I have had for some time is the inability of some people to bring a conversation or presentation to a conclusion.

I have a most annoying relative who talks continuously but never brings the conversation to a conclusion. I am sure you know similar people.

How to be a great speaker, Show business:

How often have you read a book or watched a movie that should have finished much sooner but did not?

Think of the number of times you have spent hours watching a movie or TV series only to be disappointed by the ending. Ten-episode series on TV that would have been much more exciting and memorable had they finished sooner.

Writers:

Some years ago, I read a newspaper article that explained that successful authors advise that when writing a book, the first thing they did was to write the last sentence.

Stop:

Great writers and moviemakers have learned this critical skill.

“Start with the end in mind.”

Stephen Covey

When I start coaching people for a specific presentation, we always start at the end.

One of the essential skills I coach a speaker to develop is how to bring their presentation to a conclusion.

Do this by telling the audience how they will benefit from taking your suggestion on board, and then STOP.

Pause and say:

I have time for questions; who has the first question?

By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie

See more stories by Andrew here.