How to Thank a Speaker Professionally — The Executive Guide to High-Impact Closings

Every presentation has a cadence: invitations go out, participants register, the MC opens the event, the speaker delivers the message—and then comes the closing. This last stage is often overlooked, yet it shapes the final impression of both the event and the person giving the vote of thanks.

When you are the one designated to thank the speaker at a business event in 日本企業 or 外資系企業, you are effectively giving a mini-presentation of your own. Your clarity, conciseness, and professionalism directly influence how people perceive your competence and leadership.

Mini-Summary: Final impressions last longest; your vote of thanks becomes part of your personal and professional branding.

Many people:

• Summarize the entire speech (which makes them appear competitive)

• Talk too long while the audience is mentally leaving

• Make it about themselves instead of the speaker

• Sound formulaic, generic, or unprepared

The worst offenders turn a short, simple closing into a self-promotional monologue. Audiences resent this, and it undermines credibility.

Your role is not to repeat the presentation—it is to elevate the speaker, honour the audience’s time, and close the event with dignity.

Mini-Summary: Unfocused or self-centered closings damage the experience and harm your professional reputation.

At one event, the main speaker—a banker—committed a fatal error by scrolling through tiny-font text displayed onscreen and reading it word-for-word. The presentation damaged the brand of the firm.

But then Thierry Porte—then President of Morgan Stanley Japan—delivered the thank-you remarks. His comments were short, intelligent, concise, and far more impressive than the actual talk. You don’t remember the details years later, but you remember the impact. You thought:

“This person is smart. This person is polished.”

You exchanged business cards immediately.

This single moment demonstrated the power of a well-executed thank-you speech and how it can strengthen your personal and professional positioning.

Mini-Summary: A smart, concise closing remark can elevate your credibility—even more than the main presentation.

Dale Carnegie’s プレゼンテーション研修 emphasizes simple, actionable frameworks. The TIS model is one of the most reliable structures for thanking a speaker at high-level events.

Adjust your level of formality based on:

• Your relationship with the speaker

• The event type

• Japanese etiquette norms

Examples in Japan:

• “Suzuki sama” (more respectful than san)

• “Suzuki Sensei” for lawyers, professors, doctors, or other respected professions

• Use titles and full names when needed

This signals respect and cultural intelligence—essential in Japanese business settings.

Mini-Summary: Start with culturally appropriate thanks that show respect without being excessive.

Choose one part of the talk that:

• Resonated most with the audience

• Demonstrated the speaker’s expertise

• Provided value or insight

• Fit the theme of the event

Do not summarize the entire talk—doing so looks competitive and wastes time. Pick just one high-impact idea or moment.

Mini-Summary: Highlight a single compelling insight that reinforces the value of the presentation.

If the MC will close the event, simply thank the speaker formally and hand the baton back.

If you are responsible for closing:

• Use the speaker’s full name and title

• Invite the audience to applaud

• Lead the applause yourself

Example:

“May I ask everyone to join me in again expressing our warm appreciation for Dr. Greg Story for his excellent presentation today.”
(You begin clapping to signal the audience.)

This creates a polished, synchronized close.

Mini-Summary: End with a formal, respectful acknowledgment and lead the audience into the final applause.

Few professionals are trained in the micro-skills of moderating events, introducing speakers, or giving thanks. As a result, the bar is astonishingly low. By mastering the TIS model, you immediately place yourself in the top 1% of professionalism at business events.

This skill strengthens your standing inside your company, with clients, and across your industry.

Mini-Summary: Because most people perform these roles poorly, mastering them becomes a competitive advantage.

• Closing remarks shape the audience’s final impression of both you and the event.

• Avoid summaries and self-promotion; highlight one insight instead.

• Use culturally precise forms of address in Japan (sama, Sensei).

• Apply the TIS Formula: Thanks → Insight → Formal Thanks.

• Small moments like this significantly strengthen your personal brand.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.