Tips to Create a Powerful Message – Part 3

These past two blogs, I shared the first 2 of 5 anchors to create a powerful message. If you haven’t read those yet, please take a few minutes now to go back and read part 1 and part 2 first before you read this one because they are full of juicy goodness you don’t want to miss.

Now each step can be implemented individually, so you don’t need to have all five steps to have a powerful message. However, they are the foundation of a powerful message–the 5 anchors that you can master and use each one as you learn it.

So let’s dive in for Step #3:

Step 3 — End with a Powerful Close

Most people tend to fizzle at the end of their speech instead of ending with fire! The close is often overlooked and dismissed because most speakers are so committed to the content that they get to the end and are like, “Oh it’s the end.”

Think about being at a concert with a mega artist like Tina Turner or Janet Jackson or Beyonce. They don’t end with a fizzle. They don’t end with a song nobody knows or that wasn’t a hit, right? They end with a song that everyone knows the words to and can sing along. They might give you some new stuff or sing some more obscure songs in the middle, but at the end, they come out and do the big hits. Sometimes even several encores. They end with the fire. That’s exactly how your message needs to end.

I’m going to let you in on some of the secret sauce and take you behind the curtain on powerful speaking to become unforgettable. When you open your mouth or when you present in front of people, your close is the audience’s last impression of you.

I’ve witnessed so many great speeches that kept me engaged and excited until the end, then they fizzled. And every time this happens, I’m screaming silently inside my head, “No, no, no, no, no…don’t make that the last thing you say.”

Tips for Designing a Powerful Close

Leave them wanting more. You have already given them great content and great value, so leave them wanting more from you. How do you do that?

My favorite technique is called the disappearing close. Now this is not a beginner’s move. This is a gladiator move. This is when you know you have contributed so much…delivered so much value…and left a fingerprint on the audience that you don’t need to be part of the closing experience.

Here’s an example: Tell the audience you want them to turn and find at least three people in the room and go up to them and say, “I’m ready for the next best version of me. Are you ready?”  Or, another example of a disappearing close is, “I want you to go find a partner and tell that partner three things they can expect from you.”

You can create a one-on-one or a walk around the room. Or you can guide the conversation and have them repeat after you, “I stand in front of you to become the best version of myself.”

It’s super powerful and creates a solid connection.

The second technique is closing with a poem, quote, challenge or question. When you close with a poem or quote that is juicy and delicious or a statement that another person made, that drops your audience down into their heart.

I used to always close with a quote from my grandmother who said, “When you get to the end of your journey in your later years, you’re supposed to sit in your rocking chair and share stories with anyone who will listen. So baby, you need to make sure that story you’re going to share is going to be real good. So now I want you to go out and make a great story.” People would say, “Oh man. I love that. I’m going to go make my great story.”

Sometimes I would end with a statement like, “Remember you guys, nobody can do you like you can do you.” Then a quote, “Benjamin Franklin says comparison is and will always be the thief of all your joy. Don’t compare. Just be who you are and go do you.”

You can also end with a call to action or a challenge. “I challenge every one of you to go play big. I challenge you to speak up, stand up, show up and pray up. I challenge you to step up in a way you’ve never stepped up before. And as you do, I’ll be cheering you on.”

You can also end with a question–a rhetorical question with a bunch of “What ifs.” For example: “So I’ll leave you with this. What if you showed up like you’ve never shown up before? What if you dance as if nobody’s watching you? What if you love as if your heart has never been broken? What if you sing as if you’re always on key? What if you shine as if everyone can handle your shine? What if you gave us the best version of you?

I cannot stress enough the importance of a powerful close. It makes all the difference in the world. When you’re anchoring your message, your close is a critical component. So remember, don’t fizzle. Leave your audience on fire. Leave them the way you want them to remember you. It doesn’t have to be snazzy or loud. Just make it good and make it sizzle.

What was your biggest takeaway? What did you need to hear today?  Please comment below and let me know what you learned about how to close effectively. I love reading your comments. I love seeing your engagement with each other and hearing what hit home for you. So, stay close and get ready for Step 4 coming next week.

This is your home. We are your tribe. And I am your Sister in Prosperity and Possibility. I believe in you and I love you. I truly do.

33 replies
  1. Linda Mills
    Linda Mills says:

    I really needed to hear that about my close now I am getting ready to write a sizzle for my close not a fizzle I want to be remembered. Thank you Lisa my baby sister. Love you girl

    Reply
  2. Sarah
    Sarah says:

    Hi Lisa
    Finishing with a fire and telling a story builds on rapport with your clients or listeners , excellent information for my videos and speaking events to never forget.
    Thank you

    I love you

    Reply
  3. Izabella Frederiksen
    Izabella Frederiksen says:

    Lisa you are amassing, thank you, thank you, thank you, for sharing so mach great information with os.
    Love your videos
    Love you
    You are the best

    Reply
  4. Monalisa Jangano Mutimutema
    Monalisa Jangano Mutimutema says:

    Thanks so much Lisa a real eye opener , will definitely use this in my next event, content , story and great close that leaves all on fire . Great lesson indeed , l needed this thank you my Sister. Be blessed always

    Reply
  5. Helena
    Helena says:

    Thank you so much for this eye opening content. I am slowly but surely starting to think about public speaking. And you have made the journey easier.
    Lisa, thank you for what you do. Thank you for you.
    Lovingly,
    Helena

    Reply
    • helena de la Paz
      helena de la Paz says:

      Certainly Lisa, your work is eye opening! “I opening” too, in the sense that it encourages and propels me into doing the work! And the eyes of our hearts are also opening through and because of your work. Again, thank you.

      Reply
  6. Anne
    Anne says:

    Wow Lisa. This was fantastic! I’ve always felt icky at the end of a presentation and now I have so many options 🙂 I look forward to ending my next one with FIRE not a fizzle:-)

    Reply
  7. Colleen Purtill
    Colleen Purtill says:

    Yes I needed to hear about ending with a powerful close, in addition to customizing content for the audience and making a clear distinction between content and stories. Thanks so much Lisa!

    Reply
  8. Zoé
    Zoé says:

    I am learning a lot, Thank you Lisa!
    Make a powerful end, YES, YES!
    It is a juicy conversation.
    I am at the beginning of my journey to being a good speaker.
    With all the techniques you graciously share with us, I am going to be an unforgettable speaker!
    Your closing is always a WAOW moment!
    I can’t wait to learn the next anchor to create a powerful message.
    I love you Sis

    Reply
  9. Marie-Daphné
    Marie-Daphné says:

    Thank you so much Lisa. When I started doing engagement sessions with senior manager on anti-racism, diversity & inclusion, I used a story telling approach as a way to have them feeling comfortable sharing their own story. You tips and advice are timely as I am building a very good reputation in creating good consciousness around diversity and inclusion!

    Reply
  10. Lady Jerome
    Lady Jerome says:

    Thank you for such great tips. I use two methods you spoke about. Will use others. You are my FTD friend though distant. My personal and business mantra is ‘Making People Possible ‘. You are making me possible. In Jamaica we say,’ Mi ready fi duh road’ I am ready to go Global. Blessings always.
    Lady Jerome (I have a boy’s name). Thank God it is a natural icebreaker.

    Reply
  11. Barbara
    Barbara says:

    Thanks Lisa. I love your tips. I always thought that everything you say is content. What I am hearing that there is content and there is dressing – and it makes sense. Thank you

    Reply
  12. Nathanael
    Nathanael says:

    You have opened up my eyes. It is true what you have been saying about a great artist you went home singing. The last song is always the best. Thanks for the advice

    Reply
  13. Anca Vasiliu
    Anca Vasiliu says:

    Thank you Lisa! Leave your audience on fire, this is so great. I knew about the “call to action” but didn’t ever think about a poem or a quote.
    Thanks for sharing this info with us.
    Be blessed.

    Reply
  14. Petula Glave
    Petula Glave says:

    Hi there, A massive, huge, gigantic thank you for creating this mini series. I don’t think I have every seen so much value in helping people to create their dream business and with free resources that could help anybody to get out there and be the best possible version of themselves and leave people speachless to want more. Thank you

    Reply
  15. Denise Grant
    Denise Grant says:

    Thanks again, Lisa. More powerful tips. My biggest take away is the many ways in which you can close and leave an impact. Amazing!

    Reply
  16. Denise Grant
    Denise Grant says:

    Hi Lisa, more powerful tips. My biggest take away is the many ways in which you can close and leave an impact. Thank you once again.

    Reply
  17. Ngozi
    Ngozi says:

    Thank you so much Lisa for this eye opener on the different ways to end your message that’ll will make it powerful and making the speaker unforgettable. I’ve always wondered how best to do that.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

0