The Law of Primacy and Recency
ByFirst and Last -
If you want it to Last!
For any presentation, people are more likely to remember the first and last parts.
This is one reason it is so important to give lots and lots of consideration to your Speech Opening and Speech Closing. This is what your audience will remember, so it best be something very germane to your message, and so they ‘Get It!’
Because of the primacy effect, it is important information be presented correctly the first time. The first thing presented makes a huge impression that is often hard to override. (There’s only one chance to make a first impression!) Check and double check that your opening statements are true and ‘on message’. If what you state in your opening is not correct, and you correct it later in your talk, many people will remember your first statement.
Of the two effects, the closing effect carries more weight for your message than the recency effect because the last thing the audience hears and experiences, is the first thing they’ll remember! . It should be – Outstanding!
Examples:
- Closing arguments attorneys give. (You’re better to be last.)
- Final statements in a campaign speech.
- Last lyrics of a song.
Taking these facts a bit further, it’s usually a better position to be the last person being interviewed for a job, and the last speaker at an event.
Picture Credit: Rowan Manahan – Dubllin, Ireland
About the Author:
Fred E. Miller coaches, speaks and writes about Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
314-517-8772
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com
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Fred, that’s a great point. I had forgotten about this one. I’m currently writing a series of simple tips on Communication in my blog, and I’ll mention this and reference your article.
This also brings to mind another principle that I use, and that relates to something I call cadence – raising and lowering the tone and pace of the presentation to help make things stick. Not sure if I’ll write about that one in my series, since it’s more about communications in general.
Keep up the good work, my friend.
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