Presentations have a cadence: promotion, registration, MC opening, speaker delivery, and then the closing that shapes the final memory. In many well-run events (industry associations, chambers of commerce, corporate briefings, webinars on Zoom or Microsoft Teams), the MC and the person giving the vote of thanks are separate roles. If you’re the one thanking the speaker, you’re not doing “admin” — you’re delivering a short, public, brand-defining moment at the very end, when recency bias is at its strongest.
Why is thanking the speaker a “last impression” moment leaders should take seriously?
Because the vote of thanks is a mini-presentation that heavily influences what people remember about the event — and you. At the end, the audience is thinking about trains, inboxes, and the next meeting, so whatever happens now becomes the emotional “closing scene.” In Japan, formality and role clarity matter more than many Western settings; in the US, audiences expect crisp confidence; in Australia, they expect practical brevity without self-importance. This role can add to or subtract from your personal and professional brand because people are judging your competence, tone, and respect for others. Done well, it elevates the speaker and the host organisation. Done badly, it jars and feels amateurish, even if the talk was strong.
Mini-summary / Do now: Treat this as a 60-second closing performance. Decide in advance: respectful tone, one insight, clean handoff.
How do you prepare to thank a speaker without sounding generic?
You prepare by listening for one audience-relevant idea and capturing it as a tight, quotable takeaway. The trap is turning your thanks into a vague “Great talk, learned a lot” filler. Instead, listen with intent: what point will most resonate with this audience (executives vs frontline, sales vs HR, B2B vs consumer)? If you can get the slides or outline beforehand, your job gets easier because you can anticipate themes and pick the strongest one. In a multinational (Toyota, Rakuten, Unilever), this might be strategy alignment or governance; in a startup, it might be speed and execution; in a professional association, it might be standards and reputation. You’re not summarising the entire presentation — you’re spotlighting the single idea that makes the room feel it was worth attending.
Mini-summary / Do now: Write down three candidate “best points” during the talk, then circle the one with highest relevance to the room.
What’s the biggest mistake people make when thanking the speaker?
They compete with the speaker by rambling, summarising too much, or using the moment to promote themselves.You’ve seen it: the applause dies, people stand up, and the “thank you” person launches into a speech about their own opinions. That wastes time and feels self-centred — especially at the end when the audience is mentally leaving. The vote of thanks should be short, sharp, and terrific. In Japan, over-talking can feel disrespectful to the schedule and group; in the US, it reads as self-promotion; in Australia, it reads as waffle. The audience wants closure, not another keynote. Your credibility rises when you demonstrate discipline: one reference to value, one audience-focused insight, and then you hand back to the MC or close the event cleanly.
Mini-summary / Do now: Keep it under 60–90 seconds. One insight only. No “second presentation,” no personal agenda.
How does the Thierry Porte example show the power of a great vote of thanks?
A brilliant thank-you can outshine a weak presentation and instantly boost how smart and credible you seem. The story is memorable because the main talk was a disaster: the presenter scrolled a tiny-font document on screen and effectively read it aloud, damaging the firm’s brand. Then Thierry Porte (then President of Morgan Stanley Japan, later at Shinsei Bank) delivered short, intelligent remarks thanking the speaker — and those remarks created a stronger impression than the talk itself. Years later, the details faded, but the judgement remained: “this guy is really smart.” That’s the leverage of a well-executed closing: you can’t always control the main speaker’s quality, but you can control how the event lands. That landing affects networking, reputation, and trust.
Mini-summary / Do now: Aim for “intelligent and concise,” not “complete.” Your goal is a strong impression, not a full recap.
What is the TIS model and how do you use it to thank a speaker professionally?
TIS gives you a reliable structure: Thanks, Interest, then Formal Thanks — so you’re respectful, relevant, and brief. Start with Thanks using the right level of formality. In Japan, honourifics matter: “-sama” signals a different respect level than “-san,” and professions like bengoshi (lawyer) may be addressed as “Sensei.” Next, Interest: choose one element of the talk most likely to have resonated with the audience (not necessarily your favourite). Finally, Formal Thanks: if the MC will wrap up, hand back smoothly; if you must close, use the speaker’s full name and title and invite applause. This model works across Asia-Pacific, the US, and Europe because it respects time, hierarchy, and audience attention.
Mini-summary / Do now: Script three sentences: (1) thanks, (2) one audience-relevant insight, (3) formal thanks + applause/handoff.
How do you close cleanly and hand back to the MC without awkwardness?
You close with a deliberate applause cue and a clear baton pass so the event ends professionally. A weak finish creates drifting energy: people shuffle, the room fragments, and the host looks unprepared. Your final line should make the next action obvious: either “Please join me in thanking [Full Name, Title]” while you start applauding, or “Thank you again, and I’ll now hand back to our MC.” In hybrid events, a clean close also helps online attendees understand the session is ending, which matters for recordings, Q&A wrap-ups, and sponsor messages. Think like an event producer: the close is choreography. When it’s crisp, the whole event feels higher quality — even if the talk had imperfections.
Mini-summary / Do now: Prepare your last two lines in advance: one applause invitation + one handoff/close sentence.
Final summary
Thanking the speaker isn’t a throwaway task — it’s the final brand moment of the event. Use TIS (Thanks–Interest–Formal Thanks), keep it under 60–90 seconds, reference one audience-relevant insight, and close with a clear applause cue and handoff. That’s how you land in the top 1% of professionalism.
Quick actions for leaders
Ask for the slide deck/outline before the talk if possible Write down 3 strong points during the talk; pick 1 for your thanks Use TIS and script three sentences Practise your last two lines (applause cue + handoff) Keep it short, sharp, and terrificFAQs
A great vote of thanks should be under 90 seconds. Keep it brief so you elevate the speaker without delaying everyone’s exit.
You should not summarise the whole talk. Highlight one point that likely resonated most with the audience.
In Japan, formality and titles matter more. Use appropriate honourifics (e.g., “Sensei” for certain professions) and avoid casual shortcuts.
The applause cue is part of your job. Start clapping as you invite applause to create a clean, shared closing moment.
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Author Credentials
Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie “One Carnegie Award” (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results.
He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō (ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin (プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban “Hito o Ugokasu” Rīdā (現代版「人を動かす」リーダー).
Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan’s Top Business Interviews, which are widely followed by executives seeking success strategies in Japan.
