“An Eloquent Close: Landing Your Message with Impact”
By Ubong Essien, CSP — Dean, School of Eloquence
Every eloquent speech must land with intention.
Just as a plane cannot stay airborne forever, your speech must descend into action — and that descent is called the conclusion.
In our coaching session with Monica, I emphasized that the conclusion is not an afterthought, but rather the destination of your communication flight. After you’ve taken off with your opening and flown with your body, you must land with precision.
The eloquent close is:
- A summary: reminding the audience of what you’ve built.
- A signal: telling them it’s time to act.
- A seal: leaving a lasting emotional or intellectual imprint.
We showed Monica how to issue a call to action at the end of her speech — to inspire her audience to support her NGO efforts. This wasn’t just polite wrapping-up. It was strategic audience engagement.
“Eloquence,” I told her, “isn’t complete until your audience knows what to do with your words.”
In buffet terms, the conclusion is the dessert — the final sweetness that lingers on the palate. In aviation, it’s touchdown — smooth, strong, and satisfying.
An eloquent conclusion does not fade. It echoes.
