How to end a presentation

Communication coach Alexander Lyon explains that a conclusion should be short, usually no more than 20 to 30 seconds for a five-minute talk, since it adds no new information 1. He breaks a strong ending into three parts [1]:

1. Signal the end and restate your message: Use a cue like "in conclusion" or "in closing," then restate your main point 1.
2. Recap your main points: Briefly summarize what you covered 1.
3. Land the clincher: Come back to the prompt, question, or attention grabber you opened with, so the talk ends close to how it started and feels complete 1.

Once you deliver that final line, stop. Lyon's advice is to end immediately without adding another word 1.