Most presenters don’t know how to stop talking.

Why?

Because they don’t know that it’s a technique that must be practiced.  Needless to say, they’ve never practiced it.

Do you practice stopping?

Have you even thought of it?

And yet the solution is so simple.  And it is incredibly satisfying to an audience.

How to Stop Talking

The first thing to recognize, as we’ve discussed here before, is that your conclusion is an almost verbatim repeat of your introduction.

“In conclusion, we can see that . . . ” and then repeat your introduction.

You bring your audience around to the initial points that drew them into your story.  We do this because the audience is stirred by the recognition of your initial points and is grateful for your repeating them.

Crescendo in your repeat of your introduction.  Bring it down when you reiterate your assertion of substantiation.

Slow your pace as you go.  Intersperse with pauses.

Then bottom out with your final words of appreciation and call for questions.

“I thank you for your attention.  We’ll take the first question now.”

Couple these words with an optional spread of arms to visually indicate that you welcome questions.

Some version of the above is all you need.  So simple and yet so forgotten and/or neglected.

Give it a shot and see how relieved you now know how to stop talking.

For more on achieve personal competitive advantage in your presentations, consult the Complete Guide to Business School Presenting.