Bookends Matter

Whether you inherently know it or not, a great keynote speaker starts with a bang and ends with an explosion. They grab the audience’s attention, reel them in with the message and give them something to truly gnaw on for the rest of the meeting or conference.

But how do they do it? Time and time again? Here are the elements of a strong beginning and an even stronger ending that motivational and keynote speakers should be using all the time.

Elements of a Great Beginning

They enter the stage with total confidence.

Before they say a word, a presenter that is worth their salt will take command of the stage with their body language. Everything about them will look just right – they will stand straight, have a spring in their step and exude the positive energy the audience is waiting for.

Most engaging keynote speakers start with a hook or an engagement tactic.

What is a hook? Typically something like:

• Asks a question
• Tells a story
• Uses humor effectively or
• Gives expert testimony

To be the most impactful or memorable keynote speaker, they need to start with something engaging that is unique to them. NOT some old-age quote or for goodness gracious the “Starfish Story” we’ve all heard as this can have the opposite impact of an engaging speaker. . . .we tune out. It sounds like what we’ve heard before. What will your keynote speaker do in the first 30 seconds that will have the audience members leaning in, looking up and hungry for more of this engaging, inspiring and entertaining presentation.

Elements of a Great Ending

The keynote speaker can finish strong in different ways. 

There are many ways to close a great speech, but here are some speech closing formulas that will help create a memorable close.

• Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis: Thesis stands for something that is widely believed in. Antithesis is a negation of this theory. Synthesis is a new theory that reconciles these two opposing viewpoints. This closing is very effective when considering innovative and company culture changing thought process.Thesis: Man does contribute to greenhouse gases. Antithesis: Man does not contribute to greenhouse gases. Synthesis: Man agrees to cut down his greenhouse emissions through the Paris Treaty.
• The “Feel – Felt – Found”:  Recapping how the audience might feel as it relates to this keynote speech topic or challenge. That the keynote speaker had felt the same way at one point. However, through this learning process and ability to overcome adversity, we have found that all us can have a similar perspective or take similar action and benefit because of it.

• Triad: a group or set of three connected people or things. Here are a three famous triad quotes:
  

  “I came, I saw, I conquered.” –  Roman Dictator Julius Caesar
  “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” – President Abraham Lincoln
  “Duty, Honor, Country.” – General Douglas MacArthur

• Tribute: a statement that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration of someone. A professional emcee can act as the conduit for several individuals paying tribute to a retiring company executive or a person who has won a significant award for their work. The presenter can close the meeting with a special tribute of their own, summarizing why this person deserved all the accolades they have received.

They rehearse this moment.

Since the closing is the last thing the audience will hear, a great speaker will treat it like a performance. They will use pauses effectively and not rush the ending. They will use humor to resonate the message and inflection to assure the audience members that they must take action now.

Their endings may seem natural and “off the cuff”, and that is their intention.

About Jon Petz

Whether you need a keynote speaker or event emcee, Jon Petz will start strong and finish stronger! He understands the need to provide engaging, relevant and gripping content to your audience. Call Jon at 614.456.3072 or fill out his contact form to start with a discussion and end with hiring him!