In our series about public speaking tips, we are sharing with you today the next useful advice.

Put the punchline first: What is a punchline, you might want to ask? It is a profound statement, usually the word, sentence or exchange of sentences which is intended to provoke a thought in the listeners. It is a powerful sentence that reveals the point of the speech, what it is you are really going to focus on.

Any presentation should have a clear thesis stated up front so that listeners can easily follow and interpret the comments that follow. We have seen many times presenters ramble through a speech with the audience wondering to the very end about the point of the comments. Giving a good business speech is not like telling a good joke. Don’t save the punch line for the end.

How do you prepare your punchline? There are several aspects to consider. Firstly, make sure it is straight to the point, clear and focused. You don’t want to have an explanation to follow your punchline but rather for your audience to grasp it immediately. Secondly, make it provocative. You want to trigger the audience’s  interest and curiosity so that they want to listen more of what you are going to say. Lastly, make sure to include some humor where possible. Not every talk may allow and the circumstances for humor might not be appropriate, but if it fits, a humorous punchline is what will guarantee your the success performance.

Have a presentation coming up? What’s your punchline? We’d love to hear.