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You know that “THANK YOU” or “QUESTIONS?” slide that appears at the end of any presentation.
I have a confession - I HATE IT!
Pictures of children, pets, or your most recent trip to Hawaii are worse. They have no relevance to your topic (unless your topic is “How pets are making children happier in Hawaii”)
We have been giving and attending presentations since the birth of time. They do not serve any purpose. So, of course, we thank the audience for their time and attention, and of course, we would welcome any questions.
But that is a precious waste of real estate and attention.
The beginning and the end of the presentation are when we are most likely to have the audience’s attention.
Repurpose that last slide and show something meaningful -
Provide a high-level view of your topic
Summarize everything you have said. But maybe instead of putting more words on a slide, use pictures, sketches, or animation to assert the same contents visually for the other “visual” half of the audience
Call for action. You presented an idea - encourage initiative on it
Unanswered questions. What is still unknown in that space?
Your contact information
Something profound (if your topic demands it)
Predictions for the future. Where is this field headed?
Thank you for reading. Any questions?