What do you do if you're struggling to keep your speaking time in check during an event?

If you're struggling to keep your speaking time in check during an event, use these strategies: Practice and Time Your Speech: Rehearse your presentation multiple times, aiming to stay within the allotted time. Use a Timer: Have a discreet timer or clock visible to keep track of your progress. Prioritize Key Points: Focus on the most important points, and be prepared to cut less critical content if necessary. Monitor Audience Cues: Pay attention to audience reactions and adjust your pace accordingly.

If you care for what your topic, there will always be more interesting things to say than you have time to say them. But a great way to plan for the time available is to reverse the usual process: Rather than putting everything in and then deleting stuff, start with only one thing. Really: only *one* thing. What is the most important thing that your audience needs to understand? And then fill it up with next thing etc. … until you’ve arrived at your time limit. What’s left out is the least important stuff (even though it might matter to you personally, it’s obviously not that relevant for your audience).

Absolutely! Just as Luke 14:28 encourages us to "first sit down and estimate the cost" before building a tower, the same wisdom applies to preparing for a speech. By meticulously planning your content and timing each section, you create a clear roadmap that guides your presentation. This not only ensures that you cover all essential points but also helps you manage your time effectively, allowing for a powerful delivery that resonates with your audience.

Practicing and rehousing your speech is important to helping you being able to deliver it. However don’t place too much stress on this as sometimes improvising works depending on the subject matter

If you have a presentation that must be delivered in 5 minutes (just an example) and you're struggling to keep to that time, practice doing it for someone who knows nothing about it in 2 minutes, then 1 minute, then 30 seconds. At the end discuss which "version" worked best. You'll probably find that there are lots of useless information in the long versions.

One way to manage speaking time would be to have a timer as well as a member of the audience that you will be speaking to, provide you with a signal when you have 1 minute left to wrap up your speech. It’s important to also practice delivery and leave room for possible questions if time is not allotted for questions in the program.

Just as Psalm 19:1 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands," visual aids in a presentation can similarly reveal the essence of your message in a powerful and engaging way. By strategically using slides or charts, you create a visual timeline that not only enhances understanding but also keeps you aligned with your intended pace. Allocating slides to specific segments of your talk helps maintain a steady rhythm, ensuring that each point is given its due time without overwhelming your audience.

1 Timothy 4:15 advises, "Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress," regular rehearsal of your speech can significantly enhance your delivery. By consistently practicing, you not only refine the flow and timing of your speech but also deepen your connection with the content, allowing you to present it more naturally and confidently. Recording your sessions provides a mirror to see your progress and areas needing improvement, much like how we grow through reflection in our spiritual lives.

Practice! Practice! Practice! Mastering your speech as well as punctual delivery relies greatly in how much work you put into your preparation. Regular practice beats unnecessary nerves and reduces your tendency for making mistakes, which eat into one's time. Practice infront of friends and family, get them to give you feedback, and apply constructive criticism in improving your speech. In the long run, it only gets better – an upward trajectory.

Practice in front of a real person! Don't just talk to a video camera, talk to a friend who can note when you're speeding up/slowing down, or which aspect of your speech is dragging.

It is crucial to understand which aspect of the speech is taking more time. Analysing which part of the speech should be explained further and which should be cut short can save time. Having a separate session for Q&A can help us not to confuse the time with the actual speech. We can get help from friends, family and peers to practice and point out mistakes.

Practicing regularly can be your best friend. Rehearse your speech often to get comfortable with its flow and transitions, allowing you to adjust your pace naturally. Recording yourself gives you a valuable opportunity to assess your timing and delivery. Remember, practice isn't just about memorizing; it's about improving your ability to effectively communicate your message within your allotted time.

This is one time where a wrist robot (aka Apple Watch or similar) can be your best friend. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes less than you have - when the alarm goes off you can take stock of where you are in the material. If you think that will throw you off (very fair!) ask the room monitor to give you a sign when you have 10, then 5 minutes remaining.

Leaving adequate time for questions from the audience is important if the program or event allows for questions from the audience. It’s important to find out before the event to be able to better manager your speech time.

“Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth.” - Mike Tyson This quote very aptly describes the challenges of public speaking. You may have planned it all but you still cannot accurately predict the direction a speech would go. One extra question from audience, one over-explanation of a concept and you enter the risky zone of stretching beyond allotted time limit. Be open to adapt to such situations. Think on your feet and prioritise important points. Cut down on frills and additional examples. If you’re using a presentation, be ok with skipping some slides. Even after all adjustments, if you see you are going to exceed your time, acknowledge it. Mention that you’d need a little extra time and now wrap up within the same.

If you're struggling to keep your speaking time in check during an event, it means you didn't practice timing yourself as you give your speech beforehand. If you're given 60mins, practice your speech, saying all the important things, sharing the stories and giving the call to action in 50minutes. Then you can have 10minutes to reiterate a point made earlier, make a light digression or reemphasize the action plan. If you are struggling to keep your speaking time in check because of other hitches or glitches, look through your notes and carefully select what to skip so you can still deliver the core and crux of your speech.