Here is a very useful technique from a high school guidance counselor.
When my daughters were attending high school and planning to go on to college, both parents and kids were invited to attend a nighttime “lecture” telling us all about what lay ahead in the college application process.
It was led by Guidance Counselor Neil Clark and he did one thing in his presentation that was simply brilliant. I think we should all adopt this in its exact form or at least in its spirit.
He would welcome everyone, make a silly joke of some kind and then say something like this: “It is now 7:10 we will end exactly at 8:30. We have a lot of material to cover so let’s get going.”
He would then launch into his content, hand out handouts, ask and field questions and at exactly 8:30 he would end.
Additionally, he would remind us throughout of his pledge: “It’s now 7:45. We are on track. I am going to keep my promise. At 8:30 sharp – we are done.”
I have heard it often said that the two most egregious sins a speaker can make is to 1) be boring and 2) run long. We can discuss the first in many future emails, but the run long thing is critical. No audience member ever complained if you end before your time.
You may have the most spectacular content but if you run long you are jeopardizing the entire experience for your listeners. They may start throwing things. A gentle reminder: this is where the phrase “get the hook” originated.
It is a matter of respect for your audience. Neil diffused the fear of a dragged-on presentation in everyone’s minds right off the bat.
And then he kept that promise.
A very powerful technique.
Here’s a good deal: Download “3 Mistakes that Are Ruining Your Presentations” https://ready2speak.com
Tom
P.S. If you must run long — ask permission. Maybe 10 minutes before the scheduled end of your presentation ask the audience if it is ok to go a bit over. They will almost always say yes. But don’t push it – just go for a little while more.
It’s a matter of respect.
