According to Anne B. Freedman – There’s no universal agreement on whether or not to say “Thank you” when you’re finished your speech. Many professional (paid) speakers do thank their audiences at the end. Toastmasters International, a leading public speaking leadership organization, advises member speakers not to say thank you; it contends the audience owes you, the speaker, a thank you, with its applause, especially if you are not being paid for speaking!