What’s wrong with the way many training programs close? There may be no close; people are asked to give a hurried evaluation of the program; and nothing happens to reinforce the key ideas of the program. Any good presentation has an effective opening, a relevant middle, and a strong close. Too often a training presentation has no close at all. The presenter simply runs out of time!

A major issue for trainers involves transfer of the learning or skill back to the work place. In Bob Pike’s Creative Training Techniques Handbook, Pike lists the six components of memory—including primacy (that which came first—the opener) and recency (that which came last—the closer). People remember beginnings and endings.

Closers are important not just because people remember endings. Pike recommends that every closer serve one of three purposes: to tie things together (revisit content); to form a basis for making action plans; or to celebrate the close of the training event. Additionally, closers often motivate participants to practice what they have learned when they return to the work place.