The opening and closing of your presentation are your greatest opportunities to create impact with your audience. You must grab them right away and leave them changed in some way. These first and last minutes of your presentation can make or break your outcome. Why not invite them (or entice them) in…

It’s critical that you spend time scripting, practicing, and rehearsing these sections of your presentation. Never wing it. Plan it. Commit to memory. Time it. Walk it through. Practice it until you have it near perfect. Execute it brilliantly.

Here are five strategies for creating a more powerful opening and closing to your presentations:

1. Take them to the promised land;
2. Avoid palaver or idle chatter;
3. Put the good stuff upfront in the presentation;
4. Avoid the weak wind down;
5. Your energy will make all the difference.

Read more about strategies to help you better open and close your next presentation…