When we present information, people pay more attention to the first thing we say. It’s called the Primacy Effect. And just as important, they are more likely to remember the last thing we say. It’s called the Recency Effect.
The key to finishing strong is to conclude with a “next step.” My colleague, Holly Conner, works with leaders individually on presentation skills. She advises us is to be specific. She says the “next step” could be a recommendation, a timeline or a request. For example, conclude with “My ask is…,” “Our next step is…” or “What I recommend…”
As Holly says, don’t make your colleagues or audience guess as to what you need. If you ask for what you want with “next steps,” you’re more likely to get it.
