presentation on topic proper use of time

10 Powerful Tips For Time Management Presentation

• By Herwin Jose
• July 12, 2024

Key Takeaways

• Value Audience’s Time: Efficiently manage your presentation duration to demonstrate respect for your audience, ensuring they gain worthwhile knowledge within the allotted time.
• Ensure Structure and Continuity: Strategize the timing of each segment to guarantee seamless transitions, addressing all crucial points without haste or overlooking significant data.
• Involve the Audience: Foster engagement by inviting questions, feedback, and interactive components to retain audience interest and participation.
• Employ Visual Supports and Stay Brief: Utilize visual aids to emphasize key points and concentrate on core concepts, sidestepping superfluous details to improve clarity and efficacy.
• Rehearse and Stay Adaptable: Practice thoroughly to polish delivery and enhance self-assurance, and be ready to modify the presentation as required to sustain interest and tackle unforeseen obstacles.

What is Time Management Presentation

Time management in presentation refers to the ability to effectively allocate and utilize the limited time available to deliver a clear and concise message to the audience. It involves planning and organizing the content of the presentation in a way that ensures all key points are covered within the allotted time frame. This includes setting a clear agenda, prioritizing information, and practicing to ensure smooth transitions between topics.

Effective time management in presentation also involves being mindful of the audience’s attention span and adjusting the pace of delivery accordingly. It is important to strike a balance between providing enough detail to convey the message effectively and avoiding unnecessary information that may detract from the main points.

The Significance of Time Management in a Presentation

Effective time management is crucial in a presentation as it demonstrates consideration for the audience’s time. When attendees come to a presentation, they expect to receive useful information within a specific timeframe. Failing to manage time properly can result in a disorganized and chaotic presentation, leaving the audience feeling dissatisfied and frustrated. Furthermore, proper time management in a presentation helps maintain the structure and flow of the content. By carefully planning the timing of each segment, the presenter can ensure a seamless transition between topics and avoid hastily covering important points. This creates a more coherent and engaging presentation that is easier for the audience to follow.

10 Efficient Tactics for Time Management during a Presentation

Time management during a presentation is crucial for ensuring that you are able to effectively convey your message and engage your audience . Here are 10 efficient tactics to help you make the most of your time during a presentation:

1. Set clear objectives:

When preparing for your presentation, take the time to clearly define your goals and objectives. Consider what you want your audience to take away from your presentation and what actions you want them to take as a result. Having a clear understanding of your objectives will not only help you stay focused during your presentation, but it will also guide your content and delivery.

Additionally, consider the needs and expectations of your audience. Tailor your presentation to address their interests and concerns, and think about how you can engage them throughout the presentation. This will help you keep their attention and ensure that your message resonates with them.

It’s also important to have a clear structure for your presentation. Organize your content in a logical and coherent manner, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. This will help you communicate your message effectively and make it easier for your audience to follow along.

Practice your presentation beforehand to ensure that you are comfortable with the material and confident in your delivery. Rehearsing will help you identify any areas that need improvement and allow you to make any necessary adjustments before the actual presentation. By taking the time to prepare and plan ahead, you will be better equipped to achieve your objectives and deliver a successful presentation.

2. Create a detailed outline:

A well-organized outline is like a roadmap for your writing. It helps you to structure your thoughts and ideas in a logical order, making it easier to stay focused on your main topic. By breaking down your main points into subtopics and organizing them in a clear and coherent manner, you can ensure that you cover all the key points you want to address in your writing.

An outline also helps you to see the overall flow of your writing and identify any gaps or areas that need further development. It can serve as a guide to keep you on track and prevent you from going off on tangents or getting lost in irrelevant details.

In addition, a well-organized outline can save you time and effort in the long run. By planning out your writing in advance, you can avoid the frustration of having to backtrack or rewrite large sections of your work. It can also help you to write more efficiently, as you can easily refer back to your outline to see what points you still need to cover.

3. Practice, practice, practice:

Rehearsing your presentation multiple times is crucial for ensuring that you are well-prepared and confident when it comes time to deliver your speech. By going over the material repeatedly, you will become more familiar with the content, allowing you to speak more fluently and confidently. This familiarity will also help you anticipate any potential questions or challenges that may arise during your presentation.

In addition to improving your familiarity with the material, rehearsing multiple times will also help you refine your delivery. You will have the opportunity to work on your pacing, tone, and body language , ensuring that you are engaging and effective in your presentation. By practicing multiple times, you can identify areas where you may need to make adjustments or improvements, ultimately leading to a more polished and professional delivery.

The more you rehearse your presentation, the more comfortable and confident you will become. This will not only benefit you as the presenter, but also your audience, who will appreciate your preparedness and professionalism. So, make sure to dedicate ample time to rehearsing your presentation multiple times to ensure that you are well-prepared and ready to deliver a successful speech.

4. Use visual aids:

Visual aids such as slides or props can be incredibly beneficial when presenting information to an audience. By incorporating visual elements into your presentation, you can help to reinforce key points, make complex information easier to understand, and keep your audience engaged and interested.

Slides can be used to display important data, statistics, or visuals that support your message. They can also help to break up the monotony of a presentation and provide a visual reference for your audience to follow along with. Props, on the other hand, can add a tactile element to your presentation and help to make abstract concepts more concrete. For example, using a physical object to demonstrate a process or concept can make it easier for your audience to grasp and remember.

5. Keep track of time:

Setting a timer or using a clock during your presentation is essential for keeping track of how much time you have left. By monitoring the time, you can pace yourself accordingly and make sure that you cover all the key points within the allotted time frame. This will help you avoid rushing through your presentation or running out of time before you have finished. Additionally, having a visual reminder of the time remaining can help you stay focused and on track, ensuring that you deliver a clear and concise presentation.

6. Be concise:

When giving a presentation, it is important to stay focused on the main points and avoid going off on tangents. Tangents can distract your audience and make it difficult for them to follow your message. Additionally, including unnecessary information can clutter your presentation and make it less effective.

To keep your presentation concise and to the point, it is important to stick to the key points. This means identifying the most important information that you want to convey and structuring your presentation around those key points. By focusing on the main ideas, you can ensure that your message is clear and easy to understand.

One way to stay on track during your presentation is to create an outline or script that outlines the key points you want to cover. This can help you stay organized and ensure that you are not including unnecessary information.

7. Engage your audience:

Encouraging audience participation is a great way to keep your audience engaged and interested in your presentation. By asking questions, you can gauge the level of understanding and interest in your topic, as well as encourage critical thinking and discussion among your audience members. Soliciting feedback allows you to receive valuable input and insights from your audience, which can help you improve your presentation or address any concerns or questions they may have.

Incorporating interactive elements, such as polls, quizzes, or group activities, can also make your presentation more dynamic and engaging. These interactive elements can help break up the monotony of a traditional presentation format and keep your audience actively involved in the learning process. Additionally, interactive elements can help reinforce key points or concepts, as well as provide a fun and memorable experience for your audience members.

8. Practice active listening:

When giving a presentation, it is important to pay close attention to your audience’s reactions in order to ensure that your message is being effectively communicated. By observing their body language, facial expressions, and verbal responses , you can gauge their level of interest and engagement with the material.

If you notice that your audience is becoming disinterested or distracted, it may be necessary to adjust your presentation style or content to re-engage them. This could involve asking questions , incorporating interactive elements, or providing real-life examples to make the material more relatable.

On the other hand, if you see that your audience is highly engaged and interested in what you are saying, you may choose to delve deeper into certain topics or provide additional information to further enhance their understanding. By being attuned to your audience’s reactions, you can tailor your presentation to meet their needs and ensure that your message is effectively received.

9. Be flexible:

Being prepared to adapt your presentation on the fly is an essential skill for any presenter. It is important to be able to read the room and adjust your presentation accordingly. If you notice that your audience is losing interest, you may need to change up your delivery style, add in some interactive elements, or provide more engaging visuals.

Similarly, if you are running out of time, you may need to cut out certain sections or condense your content to ensure that you are able to cover the most important points. Being flexible and able to make quick decisions on the spot will help you keep your audience engaged and ensure that you are able to effectively communicate your message.

It is also important to have a backup plan in case of technical difficulties or other unexpected issues that may arise during your presentation. By being prepared to adapt and make adjustments as needed, you can ensure that your presentation is successful and leaves a lasting impact on your audience.

10. End on a strong note:

When wrapping up your presentation, it is important to leave your audience with a clear takeaway or call to action . This serves as a final opportunity to reinforce your message and ensure that your audience remembers the key points you have made. By providing a clear takeaway, you are giving your audience something to reflect on and take away with them after the presentation is over.

A call to action, on the other hand, prompts your audience to take a specific action based on the information you have presented. This could be anything from signing up for a newsletter, making a donation, or implementing a new strategy in their own work. By providing a call to action, you are encouraging your audience to actively engage with your message and take steps towards making a change.

Ultimately, leaving your audience with a clear takeaway or call to action at the end of your presentation ensures that your message has a lasting impact. It helps to solidify the key points you have made and motivates your audience to take action based on the information you have shared. So, next time you give a presentation, be sure to end with a strong takeaway or call to action to leave a lasting impression on your audience.

1. What does the term ‘time management slideshare’ mean?

Time management slideshare refers to a presentation or slideshow that focuses on strategies, tips, and techniques for effectively managing one’s time. These slideshows typically cover topics such as setting goals, prioritizing tasks, creating schedules, eliminating distractions, and improving productivity.

2. What is the significance of time management in a Leadership Address?

Time management is a key component of successful leadership. It allows leaders to make the most of their resources, set a positive example for their team, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By prioritizing time management in a Leadership Address, leaders can effectively guide their team towards success.

3. Is time management considered a leadership competency?

Time management is indeed considered a crucial leadership competency. Effective leaders must be able to prioritize tasks, set goals, and allocate their time efficiently in order to achieve success. Without proper time management skills, leaders may struggle to meet deadlines, make important decisions, and effectively delegate tasks to their team members.

4. What are the four kinds of time management in a Presentation?

• setting a clear agenda and timeline for the presentation.
• pacing the presentation effectively.
• prioritizing key points and information.
• Allowing for flexibility and adaptability.

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Mastering Speaking Time Management: Elevate Your Presentations

Rosie Landry

As a journalist who has delivered countless presentations, I know firsthand the importance of effective time management during public speaking engagements. It can be challenging to strike a balance between engaging your audience and staying within your allotted time frame. However, mastering speaking time management can take your presentations to the next level.

Table of Contents

In this guide, we will explore key time management strategies for speakers, the art of pacing and timing, and ways to effectively incorporate visual aids and multimedia while staying on track. We will also discuss how to handle time limitations and adjust on the fly, as well as strategies for practicing efficient time management during speech preparation.

Key Takeaways:

• Effective time management skills can improve the impact of your presentations.
• Setting clear objectives, creating a structured outline, and utilizing time management tools are practical strategies for managing time effectively.
• Pacing and timing, engagement with the audience, and dealing with unexpected changes are crucial aspects of speaking time management.
• Efficient preparation and continuous self-evaluation can help improve time management skills.

The Impact of Effective Time Management in Public Speaking

As a professional speaker, I know that time management plays a critical role in delivering a successful presentation. If you’re struggling to keep on schedule, your message may get lost, and your audience may lose interest. Effective time management skills not only help you stay within the allotted time but also give you the confidence you need to deliver a great presentation.

One of the biggest challenges speakers face is balancing the time allotted to each topic with the need to engage the audience. When you have a lot to say, it’s easy to get carried away and run out of time. Conversely, if you don’t have enough material, your presentation may feel thin and unengaging, leading to audience disinterest.

By mastering time management techniques, you can ensure that your presentation is engaging, informative, and delivered within the given timeframe. These techniques include setting clear objectives, creating a structured outline, utilizing time management tools, rehearsing, and pacing and timing your delivery correctly.

The ability to manage time effectively can make a significant impact on the success of your presentation. Not only does it help you stay on schedule, but it also demonstrates your professionalism and preparedness for the event. By keeping your audience engaged and delivering a well-organized speech, you leave a lasting impression on your listeners.

As we move forward in this guide, we’ll discuss some key time management strategies that can help you elevate your presentations and improve your overall speaking skills.

Key Time Management Strategies for Speakers

As a speaker, effective time management is essential for delivering a successful presentation. Here are some practical strategies you can use:

• Set Clear Objectives: Before starting on your presentation, establish clear objectives and time limits for each section. This will help you stay on track and avoid going over time.
• Create a Structured Outline: Organize your presentation into a structured outline. This will help you maintain a good pace and avoid getting sidetracked. Use bullet points or numbered lists to break down your ideas and ensure that each point is addressed within the allotted time.
• Utilize Time Management Tools: There are many time management tools available to help you stay on track during your presentation. For example, you can set a timer or use a stopwatch to monitor your progress. Use a countdown clock to give yourself and your audience a clear indication of how much time is remaining.
• Rehearse and Practice: Rehearsing your presentation is essential for effective time management. Practice your delivery and timing until you feel comfortable with the material. This will help you identify any sections that may need extra time or attention, and allow you to make adjustments before the actual presentation.
• Be Adaptable: Despite your best efforts, unexpected situations can still arise during your presentation. It’s important to be adaptable and make adjustments on the fly to stay within your allotted time. For example, if a question from the audience takes longer than expected to answer, be prepared to adjust the pace of your presentation to accommodate for the extra time.

By applying these time management strategies, you can deliver a more effective and engaging presentation while ensuring that you stay within your allotted time.

The Art of Pacing and Timing

As a speaker, maintaining a consistent pace and timing is essential to keeping your audience engaged and interested. However, pacing and timing can be challenging and require constant attention and adjustment. Here are some effective techniques to master the art of pacing and timing:

1. Utilize Pauses

Pauses can be a powerful tool to emphasize points, allow your audience to reflect, and create a sense of anticipation. However, overusing pauses can also lead to boredom and disengagement. Practice incorporating pauses strategically throughout your presentation, and gauge audience reactions to adjust timing as needed.

2. Gauge Audience Reactions

Pay attention to your audience’s non-verbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, to determine if you are pacing and timing effectively. If the audience appears restless or disengaged, it may be time to speed up or change tactics. If they seem bored or uninterested, a well-placed pause or change in tone can recapture their attention.

3. Be Adaptable

Even with careful planning and preparation, unexpected situations can arise during a presentation that can impact timing. It is important to be adaptable and able to adjust on the fly while maintaining the core message. Practice flexibility in your pacing and timing to handle any situation that may arise.

Overcoming Time Pressure and Nervousness

One of the most common challenges speakers face is managing time pressure and nervousness during a presentation. While these pressures can be overwhelming, there are several effective strategies you can use to stay calm and focused.

Here are some tips to help you overcome time pressure and nervousness:

• Practice, practice, practice: The more you rehearse your presentation, the more confident you’ll feel on stage. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, or ask a friend to listen and provide feedback.
• Breathe deeply: Take a few deep breaths before you start your presentation to calm your nerves and clear your mind.
• Use time cues: Create a timeline or use time cues to help you stay on track during your presentation. This will help you manage time pressure and avoid going over your allotted time.
• Visualize success: Close your eyes and visualize yourself delivering a successful presentation. Imagine yourself speaking confidently and engaging with the audience.
• Be flexible: Be prepared to adjust your presentation if you encounter unexpected time constraints or issues with the audience. Stay calm and flexible to ensure a smooth delivery.

“Remember, nervousness is normal and even experienced speakers feel it. The key is to manage your nerves and be confident in your preparation.”

By applying these tips, you can manage time pressure and nervousness effectively and deliver a memorable presentation.

Incorporating Visual Aids and Multimedia Effectively

Visual aids and multimedia can be powerful tools in engaging audiences and reinforcing key messages in presentations. However, they can also consume valuable time if not incorporated effectively. Here are some tips for making the most of visual aids while also managing time:

• Choose visual aids that are relevant and enhance the message you want to convey. Avoid using excessive graphics or animations that may distract the audience.
• Prepare your visual aids early in the process to allow ample time for testing and refinement. This will help avoid unexpected technical difficulties during the presentation.
• Structure your presentation to allow for seamless transitions between visual aids and other components. This will help maintain a consistent pace throughout.
• Utilize multimedia that enhances the message without adding unnecessary complexity or length to the presentation. Keep videos and audio clips short and to the point.
• Practice incorporating visual aids and multimedia into your presentation to ensure smooth execution and timing.

By following these tips, you can successfully incorporate visual aids and multimedia without overextending your time and losing the audience’s attention.

Engaging the Audience without Overextending Time

As a speaker, engaging your audience is crucial but it can also be a challenge when it comes to managing time. To ensure that audience engagement enhances your presentation rather than consuming excessive time, here are some effective strategies:

• Be clear about the purpose of audience engagement and limit it to that purpose.
• Encourage audience participation through interactive exercises and questions that are directly related to your presentation content.
• Allocate a specific amount of time for audience engagement and stick to it. If you are receiving a lot of questions, consider asking the audience to submit their questions in writing so you can answer them all at once at the end of your presentation.
• Stay focused on your presentation goals and do not allow audience interaction to become a distraction.

These strategies will help you engage your audience effectively without overextending your time limits.

Handling Time Limitations and Adjusting on the Fly

As speakers, we always strive to deliver our message effectively within the allotted time frame. However, sometimes unexpected situations arise, such as technical difficulties, interruptions, or a shorter than anticipated speaking slot. In these cases, it’s crucial to be able to adjust on the fly while maintaining the core message.

One effective technique is to have a backup plan in case of unexpected situations. This could mean having a condensed version of your presentation prepared or being able to skip certain sections without compromising the overall message.

Another strategy is to prioritize the most critical points and deliver them first. This ensures that even if the presentation is cut short, the most important information is still conveyed. It also allows for flexibility in adjusting the remaining content to fit the time available.

It’s essential to remain calm and composed when facing time limitations and unexpected changes. Take a deep breath, assess the situation, and make quick decisions in real-time . Remember that the audience is there to hear your message, and as long as you maintain the core message, they will still benefit from your presentation.

In summary, handling time limitations and adjusting on the fly requires preparation, flexibility, and composure. By having a backup plan, prioritizing critical points, and remaining calm in unexpected situations, speakers can maintain control over their presentation while still delivering an effective message.

Practicing Efficient Time Management in Speech Preparation

As a journalist, I always make sure to allocate enough time to prepare for any speaking engagements I have coming up. Effective time management is crucial in ensuring that my presentations are well-organized, impactful, and delivered smoothly. Here are some practical tips for practicing efficient time management in speech preparation:

• Organize your research and content gathering: Start by creating an outline of the key points you want to cover in your presentation. This will help you stay focused and avoid spending too much time on irrelevant topics.
• Allocate time for rehearsal and refinement: Practice makes perfect! Be sure to schedule enough time for rehearsing your presentation and making any necessary adjustments.
• Create a structured outline: Use your outline to create a detailed structure for your presentation. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you cover all key points within the allotted time.

Remember, time management is crucial not just during the presentation itself, but throughout the entire preparation process. By following these tips and practicing efficient time management, you’ll be able to deliver a polished and impactful presentation that will leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Evaluating and Improving Time Management Skills

As with any skill, mastering speaking time management requires practice and self-reflection. Here are some tips for evaluating and improving your time management skills:

• Track your performance: Keep a record of your time management performance during presentations. Note where you succeeded and where you struggled, and look for patterns that may indicate areas for improvement.
• Seek feedback: Ask colleagues or trusted friends to provide feedback on your time management during presentations. Solicit both constructive criticism and positive feedback, and use the information to adjust your techniques.
• Experiment with new strategies: Don’t be afraid to try new time management techniques and experiment with what works best for you. Keep what works and discard what doesn’t.
• Prioritize continuous improvement: Make it a goal to continuously improve your time management skills. Use each presentation as an opportunity to test new strategies and refine your techniques.

By committing to regularly evaluating and improving your time management skills, you’ll be on your way to becoming a master of speaking time management in no time.

The Importance of Mastering Speaking Time Management

As a professional copywriting journalist, I understand the crucial role of effective time management in delivering powerful presentations. As a speaker, your ability to manage time can determine the impact and success of your message. By mastering speaking time management, you can elevate your presentations, captivate your audience, and achieve your objectives.

FAQ on Speaking Time Management

Q: why is speaking time management important in delivering effective presentations.

A: Speaking time management is crucial in delivering effective presentations because it helps speakers stay organized, maintain audience engagement, and ensure that they cover all key points within the allotted time. By managing their time effectively, speakers can enhance the impact of their presentations and deliver a clear and concise message.

Q: What are some key time management strategies for speakers?

A: Some key time management strategies for speakers include setting clear objectives for the presentation, creating a structured outline, utilizing time management tools, rehearsing and practicing, and being adaptable to unexpected situations. These strategies help speakers stay on track, maintain a consistent pace, and effectively manage their time during presentations.

Q: How can speakers overcome time pressure and nervousness during presentations?

A: Speakers can overcome time pressure and nervousness by practicing effective time management skills and implementing strategies such as staying focused, utilizing relaxation techniques, and developing a strong understanding of their content. By managing these pressures, speakers can maintain composure and confidently deliver their presentations within the allotted time.

Q: How can visual aids and multimedia be incorporated effectively without impacting time management?

A: To incorporate visual aids and multimedia effectively without impacting time management, speakers should choose and prepare visuals that enhance their message without taking up excessive time. It is also important to address potential technical challenges in advance and have contingency plans in place. By ensuring a seamless integration of visuals, speakers can effectively manage their time during presentations.

Q: What strategies can be used to engage the audience while maintaining control over time?

A: Strategies to engage the audience while maintaining control over time include effective audience interaction, managing questions and discussion efficiently, and ensuring that engagement enhances the overall presentation rather than consuming excessive time. By implementing these strategies, speakers can create a dynamic and interactive presentation while staying within the allotted time.

Q: How can speakers handle time limitations and unexpected changes during their presentations?

A: Speakers can handle time limitations and unexpected changes by adjusting the content on the fly, making effective decisions in real-time, and ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining the core message. By staying flexible and prepared for unexpected situations, speakers can effectively manage their time and deliver a successful presentation.

Q: Why is efficient time management important in speech preparation?

A: Efficient time management in speech preparation is important because it helps speakers stay organized, allocate time for research and content gathering, create a structured outline, and allocate time for rehearsal and refinement. By managing their time efficiently throughout the entire preparation process, speakers can deliver a well-prepared and polished presentation.

Q: How can speakers evaluate and improve their time management skills?

A: Speakers can evaluate and improve their time management skills by tracking and analyzing their performance, seeking feedback from trusted sources, and implementing strategies for improvement. By continuously evaluating and refining their time management techniques, speakers can enhance their skills and deliver more effective presentations.

Q: Why is self-evaluation and continuous improvement important in time management skills?

A: Self-evaluation and continuous improvement in time management skills is important because it allows speakers to identify areas for growth, track progress, and adapt their techniques to suit their individual needs. By prioritizing self-reflection and seeking opportunities to improve, speakers can elevate their time management skills and deliver more impactful presentations.

Q: What is the importance of speaking time management?

A: Speaking time management is essential for delivering effective presentations. It helps speakers stay organized, maintain audience engagement, and ensure that they cover all key points within the allotted time. By mastering time management skills, speakers can enhance the impact of their presentations and deliver a clear and concise message.

About the author

I’m Rosie Landry, your friendly guide through the exciting world of practical management here on this blog. Here, I delve into everything from practical tips to complex theories of time management, combining scientific research with real-life applications. When I’m not writing about time management, you can find me with my nose in a gripping mystery novel, creating culinary delights, or out exploring nature with my faithful golden retriever, Marley. Join me as we discover how to take control of our time and enhance our lives together. If you need to reach out, do so here.

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Presentation Tips

How to Manage Your Time During a Presentation

You’ve been offered a 60-minute timeslot to present to a group of stakeholders but have 90 minutes of content you want to cover — or worse yet, only 30 minutes. How do you make your message resonate with your audience while not feeling rushed or pressed for time? We offer our best tips for managing your time during a presentation while keeping your audience engaged and talking points heard.

Rehearse and then rehearse again

At a minimum, you should be practicing your presentation between five and 10 times. The goal is not to repeat the same dialogue word for word each time but rather find ways to say something differently or more succinctly each time. You’ll want to not only figure out how long each slide will take to cover, but also when and where to pivot if things don’t go as planned. Stick to the rule of thirds: Spend one-third of your time planning, one-third designing, and one-third rehearsing.

Be ready to cut it short

Life happens, especially when others are in control. Maybe participants are late getting back from a session break, the presenter before you runs long, or the inevitable technical issue happens. If you outline your presentation with key points and sub-points, you should be able to skip along more quickly by only covering the key points when short on time. What’s more, it’s better to engage your audience and encourage questions throughout than finish the presentation. By coming across as the expert in the room, you open the door to scheduling time at a later date with those who want to discuss points not covered during the allotted time.

Arrive early

The best way to avoid the unavoidable is to show up early to your designated location so setup doesn’t factor into your presentation time, and if it doesn’t take that long, give that time to the next presenter for their setup. Simply put, if you’re arriving or finishing on time, you’re running late. Plus, the added bonus of arriving early is you get to know your audience a little bit and find out what’s at the top of their mind. These are golden moments you can integrate into your presentation.

Be realistic

During rehearsal, you’ll quickly get a sense if your presentation is too long or too short. Be realistic about your personal speaking habits. Do you tend to speed up when you’re actually presenting? Do you pause a lot? Do you know if this audience loves to ask questions? Consider those real-world situations as you try to edit your deck. Some extra tips: Don’t linger on a slide for too long; make your point and move on to keep your energy high. Along the same lines, don’t try and cram everything you know into the presentation. Stick to your key points and anecdotes to make sure people are really absorbing the content. Think quality, not quantity.

Never count on a clock being in the room to manage your time in the moment of your presentation. Have your phone (silenced, of course) on the podium ready to glance at, appoint someone in the back of the room to give you cues when you are running out of time, or even discretely glance at your watch while taking a sip of water. Even though you’ve rehearsed enough to know how the time will pan out, taking an obvious break to check the time can be a big distraction.

What time constraints do you run into when making a presentation?

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How to get your timings right when presenting

November 11, 2019, share this post.

Do you often run overtime when presenting? Maybe it’s time you adjust your overall time management skills and rethink your presentation strategy.  

Start by improving the way you manage your overall timings and making sure you start and finish your speech on time. This will earn the respect of your audience members and of the event organisers.

Another thing to consider is the 10-minute attention span rule – a concept developed by biologist John Medina from the University of Washington School of Medicine. According to Medina, people’s attention plummets after 9 minutes and 59 seconds. Therefore, you’ll need to add some variety to your content. 

Consider changing the tone in your voice, moving to a different spot, asking your audience a question or even using a polling system. Each of these activities serves the same purpose: to give your audience a mental break. We have a great podcast explaining more about this rule – listen to it here . If you follow this rule, your audience will follow you!

Get the timing right

Once you know the length of your presentation and how much time you have to present it, carefully plan out how long you’ll allow for talking and answering questions. Then, you can do a detailed outline of your presentation and decide on the structure and timings for each section. 

For example, if you’re delivering a one-hour presentation, you could divide your time as follows: 40 minutes talking time, 15 minutes for questions, and 5 minutes for any last-minute delays or interruptions. Then slot in four different interactive activities after every 10 minutes of speech to ensure your audience is still engaged. Don’t forget to also include timings for any interactive polls, videos and audio files. 

Your audience’s time is precious and you shouldn’t take it for granted! 

Whether you use Prezi or PowerPoint, you can use the Presenter view feature to see the timer and clock while you present. Another great timekeeping tool is your wireless controller. If you use the Logitech Spotlight wireless clicker, for example, you’ll notice that there’s a countdown timer that buzzes at 5 minutes and 2 minutes before the end of your presentation. 

However, bear in mind that live presentations often take longer than scheduled. It’s easy to get carried away and talk for longer when you’re on stage, so be flexible. Decide beforehand which section(s) you’ll drop if you run out of time and make a note of the slide number that is right after the section that you’re taking out, so you can skip straight to it. 

In the video below, Certified Prezi Expert Russell Anderson-Williams explains how to keep the momentum of your presentation without losing the crowd’s interest.

Practice, practice, practice

It’s important to practice your presentation out loud and time yourself. If possible, try to also record yourself and watch or listen to it, however painful this might be. You’ll pick up on any ‘Ummms…’ and ‘Aaaaas…’ and improve the pace and impact of your presentation. Great speakers always rehearse beforehand – more than once!  

Your presentation may be amazing and your presenting skills top-notch, but that doesn’t mean that you should keep talking for ages. Your audience will soon start to switch off. 

Once your speech runs over the allocated timeframe, you’ll soon notice your audience getting fidgety and losing interest. All those great ideas you’ve presented could end up with less of an impact. Your audience’s time is precious and you shouldn’t take it for granted.

For more presenting tips, sign up to our Newsletter and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

If you’d like to discuss your presentation needs, email us at [email protected] to arrange a free consultation. 

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• Delivery , Preparation

Speakers: It's About Time (and How to Manage It)

Mannerofspeaking.

• January 22, 2012

Time management is an essential skill for any public speaker. It should be part of any communications skills training course.

I previously wrote a post about why speakers should stay on time when giving a speech or presentation, and how failing to do so is a sign of disrespect. I encouraged speakers to finish on time or, if possible, before their allotted time is up.

In recent months, a few presentations that I attended ran over time (in one case, significantly over time). So I thought that I would revisit the issue of time management. After reflecting on the matter, I have put together the following list of time management tips to help you manage your time when speaking in public.

1. Practice with a timer

This is the best way to know if your material is suitable (time-wise) for the occasion. If you have 30 minutes but find that you can only cover half of your material within that time, you have a problem and need to rethink the presentation. Better to rethink it before the day of the event rather than find yourself in a difficult situation on stage.

2. Have a plan to cut material

Logistics will not always be within your control and your speaking time might be unexpectedly reduced. If you are told, 20 minutes before you begin speaking, that your scheduled one-hour presentation must now be delivered in 45 or even 30 minutes, can you adjust quickly and calmly? You should know which material to cut. If you have a slide presentation, you should also be able to open Slide Sorter (in PowerPoint) or Light Table (in Keynote) and know exactly which slides to skip.

3. Double down

Prepare two versions of your presentation, one long and one short. This way, a quick switch can be made if the situation calls for it. I especially recommend this approach if you have a speech or presentation that you deliver on a regular basis.

4. Prepare a detailed handout

Having a document (not a copy of your slides) that contains all the necessary information about your subject will allow you to focus on what is most important during the presentation. You will not feel compelled to cover every possible point.

Not only will this make for a better presentation, it will make for a shorter one as well. And if, for whatever reason, your speaking time is cut, you can simply state that although you will not be addressing Topics X and Y, they are covered in detail in the handout that you will distribute.

5. Arrive early

Make sure that the room is set up properly and that all necessary equipment is working. Having technical difficulties just before you start is not only stressful, it can also eat into your allotted time.

6. Reconfirm your speaking time

Before starting, it is always a good idea (as well as polite) to reconfirm  your speaking time  with your host or the event planner.

7. Let the audience know of any time changes

If the previous speakers have run over time and you have to cut your presentation from one hour to 40 minutes, let your audience know that in the interests of time you will keep your remarks to 40 minutes. Doing so will put many members of the audience (who will likely be annoyed at the previous speakers for going over time) at ease, especially if yours is the last presentation before lunch or a break.

Proper time management will also put you in many people’s good books. But be professional about it. Don’t mention that speakers went over time or delays the organizers had in starting the event; the audience will know anyway.

8. Monitor your time during the presentation

You should have a clear idea as to where you should be in the presentation at a couple of key points, especially half time. If you reach the half way point and are behind on time, you will need to think about cutting, which should not be too problematic if you know what to cut (Point 2) and have details on the cut material in your handout (Point 4). For ideas on how to monitor your time, see Point 9.

9. Wear a watch

The room in which you speak might not have a clock on the wall, or the clock might not be easily visible. I recognize that it is not very elegant to be checking your watch on a regular basis while speaking. However, there are a few things that you can do to be more subtle about it.

(a) If you are speaking at a lectern, or have a table to which you will return during the talk (for e xample, to pick up a prop) place your watch on the lectern or table with the face up so that you can quickly check it.

(b) If there is nowhere to place the watch, wear it with the face on the inside of your wrist. Some of the most natural hand gestures are ones in which the palms face upwards. During those gestures, the face of watch will be towards you. You will not have to turn your wrist the other way around to check the time.

(c) Be sure that the sleeve of your shirt/blouse/suit is loose enough that you don’t have to struggle to slide it over the watch. This tends to be more of an issue for men who typically have bulkier watches than women. If that’s the case, consider buying a simple watch with a thin face for your presentations. Alternatively, you can leave the sleeve of your shirt unbuttoned (provided it does not look out of place).

(d) You can also use a smartphone for which there are all kinds of timing applications. A smartphone has the advantage of having a bigger face that is easier to see from a distance. The disadvantage is that a smartphone is bigger than a watch and cannot be worn. Only use a smartphone as a timer if you can place it on a lectern or table. Taking it out of your pocket in front of the audience is cumbersome, noticeable and might give the impression that you are checking your messages.

(e) Another alternative is to have someone at the back of the room signal you at set times during the presentation (half time, 15 minutes left, 5 minutes left, etc.).

10. Allow time for questions

Some speakers encourage the audience members to interrupt with questions at any point during the presentation. This approach is good for demonstrating confidence, being responsive to the concerns of others and building rapport with the members of the audience. However, it can throw off your timing. If you are going to take this approach, be sure to build in some buffer time. If you prefer taking questions at the end, I recommend that you stop your prepared presentation just before the conclusion and entertain the questions. Then, while there is still time left, stop taking questions and finish on a strong note.

11. Invite people to approach you afterwards

If you are running out of time but there are still questions, invite people to continue the conversation with you during the next break. It’s simple, efficient and shows respect for the next speaker.

12. Seek permission to go beyond your allotted time

Sometimes, the audience will want to hear more from you about the subject. If you are one speaker among many at special event, you should not go over time. Instead, continue the conversation at the break (Point 11).

However, if you are the only speaker, the polite thing is to confirm with the organizer and audience whether continuing would be permissible and, if so, for how long. You can do this while on stage. If you do continue, allow those people who only planned for the originally scheduled talk to leave if they must. Once they have left, continue with those who have remained.

Ultimately, good time management is a sign of respect for your audience.

Like this article?

Many amens here, John. I’ll just mention two. Detailed handout (but not a copy of your slides). This is great advice! It’s not about protecting intellectual property–it’s about avoiding the slideument! Slides should support a speech, not be able to replace it. If you try to make the slide show act as a handout, it will wind up with too much detail for effective slides, but not enough detail for an effective handout. Along those same lines: I contend the “out loud” portion of a presentation works best at giving the big picture or setting context, while the handout portion (and, to some degree, the slides) work best for helping the audience master detail. Your advice aimed at controlling time fits that scheme wonderfully. In addition, a tip: there are several apps for an iPad that will display a clock or timer full screen. Change the settings so the screen won’t go dark after a time, prop it up near the edge of the stage (or just lay it flat–don’t step on it, though), and let it run. Easy to see for the speaker, and unobtrusive for the audience. You can do the same with an older laptop that you don’t know what else to use it for. 🙂 http://online-stopwatch.com has a downloadable timer just for such usage.

Many thanks for the comment, Donn. With you all the way on avoiding the dreaded “slideument”. Many thanks also for the tip about the iPad, which is the logical next step up from the iPhone or other smartphone. Funnily enough, I have often used the online stopwatch site you recommend to practice my own speeches and presentations. I should have thought of it for the post, so thanks for calling it out. John

They say great minds think alike. 🙂 I’m finding a lot of my students don’t use that Web site any more because the phone-based timers are so ubiquitous, but that simple little site has a much easier-to-use timer than most of the smart devices. 🙂

Question: If you start late because of an-over run on the agenda, should you still finish on time? Or is the total time the important objective?

It’s tricky but important question, Conor. Thanks for raising the issue. Recognizing that there are no absolutes and that each situation will present is own set of circumstances, here are my thoughts: 1. A key factor will be whether you are the only speaker or one in a series of speakers at an event. 2. If you are the only speaker (and were delayed because, for example, there was a problem with the room or the participants were delayed because of another meeting they were in) I think that you have more flexibility. Nonetheless, I would recommend confirming the time and seeking permission to go beyond the scheduled time (by the clock, not in terms of the duration of your presentation) at the outset. See Points 6 and 12. If you get the go-ahead, terrific; if not, you will have to cut material. See Points 2, 3 and 4. 3. It is a thornier issue if you are one of a series of speakers. My gut reaction is that you should finish on time; otherwise, you are just pushing the problem down the road. Cutting into the next speaker’s time or the break time is never ideal. 4. Here again, though, the situation is not black and white. If you are the main attraction of the event, I think that you will have greater leeway than if you are “one among equals”. Indeed, people might feel cheated if you don’t deliver the goods. 5. If you are going to cut your speech to finish at the scheduled time, see Points 2, 3 and 4 and let the audience know your intention at the outset (Point 7). If you get the go-ahead to speak for your total originally scheduled time, you should also let the audience know, or have the moderator let the audience know. Notwithstanding the above, I think that the sign of a true professional is someone who can adjust to the reduced speaking time without diminishing the impact of the message. You then have the double bonus of delivering a solid presentation and coming in under time. You will definitely make a positive impression on audience and organizers alike. Cheers! John

John, as far as practicing with a timer goes, one important point your readers should understand is the fact that a speaker’s practice time and actual time might differ. Of course, you must factor in the occasional question from the audience (which you address in #10), but also other interruptions like applause (hopefully!). And then there’s the very real possibility that, because of nerves, you’ll actually speak faster during your presentation than you did when practicing. Or, for whatever reason, maybe you speak faster when practicing than when on stage. It all has to be taken into consideration.

All great points, Dave. Thanks for the comment. In an ideal world, we’d get to practice under the exact same conditions as the real presentation. Of course, this is practically impossible just as it’s impossible for a sports team to replicate the championship game before they actually play it. Recognizing that how you practice might not be the same as how it “comes out in the wash” is a very valid point. John

Hi John, Thanks for these tips. I have always found the digital stopwatch software useful, it can be set as per the alloted time before presenting. This gives a visible reminder when the time ends. Another tip that I have picked up from a Productivity Guru is to note down the key slide numbers. When using PowerPoint, you can jump directly to a particular slide by pressing that number on your keyboard, rather than doing a slide forward. That way the audience will not know that you skipped slides, this definitely adds flair to your presentations.

Excellent suggestions, Chitra. Thanks for the insights. Being able to skip slides in a seamless way would certainly be a big plus. I am not a fan of numbering one’s slides on the slides themselves. (I find them distracting and they can result in some audience members keeping count instead of focusing on the message.) Still, there is no reason why a speaker cannot know the key slide numbers for each section of the presentation. And even if one has used a remote to change the slides, I think that any minor departure in having to punch in the number on the keyboard is far outweighed by the benefit of not having to flip through a bunch of slides to get where you want to go. Cheers! John

Thanks again, John. I will also try the #3 suggestion: Prepare two versions of your presentation – long and short. I think it is a good idea to be prepared with a quick and dirty version of the regular presentations.

Hi John, Thanks for these tips. I have found the digital stopwatch software useful, that can be set as per the alloted time as they start presenting. This gives a visible reminder when the time ends. Another tip that I have picked up from a Productivity Guru is to note down the key slide numbers. When using PowerPoint, you can jump directly to a particular slide by pressing that number on your keyboard, rather than doing a slide forward. That way the audience will not know that you skipped slides, this definitely adds flair to presentations. Chitra

This is a very comprehensive evaluation and I am sure it will be well received by anyone who has had to deal with this situation. I am completely with you on this. I will provide a link to this on my blog and share this with my club members. Thanks for putting this together. One question: on the event organiser side of things, what is the best protocol for notifying a speaker that they have significantly gone beyond the allotted time? Do you ever cut them off? If so, how does one do so in a gracious manner? Your input is appreciated.

Hi Paul and thanks very much for the comment. I am glad that you find the post useful and appreciate your sharing the the link on your blog. Be sure to read some of the other comments as others have contributed some great ideas. As to your question: An event organizer or moderator has an obligation to the audience (and other speakers) to ensure that the event stays on schedule. Many people think that letting a speaker go 5 or 10 minutes over time is no big deal; however, if you do this for the first three speakers, then you are already potentially a half hour behind. And then you have to start trimming breaks, adjusting schedules, etc. So the first part of my answer is never let a speaker go over time, especially not significantly over time. Let the speakers know beforehand that you will signal them at certain points to let them know how much time is remaining. If, notwithstanding all your efforts, the speaker reaches the time limit and continues to push forward, then unless it is obvious that he or she is wrapping up and will finish momentarily, you have to cut it off. It might feel uncomfortable and you might think it rude, but the reality is that you are not doing your job as moderator if you don’t stop them. It is easier to stop a speaker if he is in the middle of entertaining questions. After he finishes answering one, jump in and say that unfortunately you have to move and that the speaker can answer more questions at the break. If the speaker is still in his presentation, I would cut in and say something along the lines of “Bob, this is terrific stuff and I’m sure there is more to cover, but we have to keep to schedule so I’m going to stop you here. You can have a minute for concluding remarks if you like.” Something like that, anyway. And then make sure he sticks to that one minute! Hope this is helpful. Cheers! John

Reblogged this on JSZTest .

I couldn’t agree more with disrespect issue you bring up with regards to going over allotted time. I was recently at a conference where the first two speakers overages caused them to bump the last speaker! Can you imagine, after all that work writing and practicing and then not even getting to give the speech? I recently finished a college course on public speaking and ran into similar problems with trying to get my speeches timing right. So I wrote a speech timing app to help me practice. Its totally free. It also sends alerts to your Android Smart Watch (Wear) so you get a little vibration on the wrist letting you know where you are in your speech.

Thanks for the great post!

Thank you for the comment Patrick. What happened at that conference was unacceptable. It was disrespectful to the speaker who did not get to speak and it was disrespectful to the audience that did not get to hear the speaker. The fault lies not only with the two speakers who went overtime, but with the moderators / organizers who did not keep them in line.

Congratulations with your app. I like the feature that links to the watch. Unfortunately, I cannot use it as I have an iPhone, but I have something similar that I often use.

Please help, this is what i get when seeking you speech timing app. – We’re sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server. I do have mac and i phone. How can i get your app? I struggle with sticking to time when public speaking. i do have apple watch.

Hope to hear from you

Thanks Miroslav Australia

Hi Miroslav. I don’t have a speech timer app myself, but if you go on the App Store and search “Speech timer”, you will find several options. Good luck with your presentations!

Thank you for the very helpful tips John. I’d like to add another for those who practice with a stopwatch as you recommended. Break your entire presentation into small chapters or talking points. As you practice each chapter, record how long it takes you present that part. At the end, you will have a time stamp for each chapter. That information can help you determine what to cut or what to cut down if you have create more material than the time allotted for you to speak.

Great tip, Marc! Thanks for sharing it. I explored this issue further in another post called The Short Version , but your advice on knowing the approximate time for each section is something that will be very useful for people. Cheers!

Great tips John. Number 4 about having a detailed handout really resonated with me. For the audience, I think that would go a very long way towards making up for the fact that your time was cut.

Mind you, either having a plan cut out slides at the last minute (tip #2) or making 2 versions of the deck (#3) sound a bit risky. Readers here might not have heard of this alternative: You can prepare in advance by using custom shows to make 2 versions of your presentation but in the 1 file. (That way, there’s no need to have 2 copies of some of your slides, which could easily introduce version discrepancies.)

Thanks, Craig. I don’t see Tips 2 or 3 as being risky.

Tip 2 (knowing what you can cut) requires a mastery of your material, which every speaker should have going into a presentation.

For Tip 3 (two versions of the presentation), if you make a copy of the full slide deck, cut the desired slides and label both decks clearly, there should be no confusion or discrepancies. You then choose the appropriate version before you start once you know your time.

The “speedy” custom slide show function that you cover in your post is interesting, but based on my experience, I would bet that most people would find it technically challenging. We always have to remember that we work with presentations on a daily basis and that what is obvious to us can be confusing to others who only present rarely. In fact, I see having two versions of the presentation (my Tip 3) as a simpler way to achieve the same thing as the speedy custom slide show.

I just imagine many speakers would feel panicked if they tried to cut content from their deck at the last minute, especially as most speakers already feel nervous before a talk. So the risk of deleting the wrong content’s pretty high.

And similarly, in theory having 2 versions of the deck and clearly labelling them shouldn’t be a problem. But of course, people make mistakes – especially when they’re stressed because they have to speak in public! (Plus, if there are any late changes to the content, you have to remember to make them in both versions.)

Still, I take your point about having 2 versions of the deck as being a simpler approach for many people. In the end, I suppose each presenter can choose the approach that suits them best.

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Testimonials

John delivered a keynote address about the importance of public speaking to 80 senior members of Gore’s Medical Device Europe team at an important sales event. He was informative, engaging and inspirational. Everyone was motivated to improve their public speaking skills. Following his keynote, John has led public speaking workshops for Gore in Barcelona and Munich. He is an outstanding speaker who thinks carefully about the needs of his audience well before he steps on stage.

Karsta Goetze

TA Leader, Gore and Associates

I first got in touch with John while preparing to speak at TED Global about my work on ProtonMail. John helped me to sharpen the presentation and get on point faster, making the talk more focused and impactful. My speech was very well received, has since reached almost 1.8 million people and was successful in explaining a complex subject (email encryption) to a general audience.

CEO, Proton Technologies

John gave the opening keynote on the second day of our unit’s recent offsite in Geneva, addressing an audience of 100+ attendees with a wealth of tips and techniques to deliver powerful, memorable presentations. I applied some of these techniques the very next week in an internal presentation, and I’ve been asked to give that presentation again to senior management, which has NEVER happened before. John is one of the greatest speakers I know and I can recommend his services without reservation.

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Senior Data Scientist, Expedia Group

After a morning of team building activities using improvisation as the conduit, John came on stage to close the staff event which was organised in Chamonix, France. His energy and presence were immediately felt by all the members of staff. The work put into the preparation of his speech was evident and by sharing some his own stories, he was able to conduct a closing inspirational speech which was relevant, powerful and impactful for all at IRU. The whole team left feeling engaged and motivated to tackle the 2019 objectives ahead. Thank you, John.

Umberto de Pretto

Secretary General, World Road Transport Organization

I was expecting a few speaking tips and tricks and a few fun exercises, but you went above and beyond – and sideways. You taught me to stand tall. You taught me to anchor myself. You taught me to breathe. You taught me to open up. You taught me to look people in the eye. You taught me to tell the truth. You taught me to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. I got more than I bargained for in the best possible way.

Thuy Khoc-Bilon

World Cancer Day Campaign Manager, Union for International Cancer Control

John gave a brilliant presentation on public speaking during the UN EMERGE programme in Geneva (a two days workshop on leadership development for a group of female staff members working in the UN organizations in Geneva). His talk was inspirational and practical, thanks to the many techniques and tips he shared with the audience. His teaching can dramatically change our public speaking performance and enable us as presenters to have a real and powerful impact. Thank you, John, for your great contribution!

HR Specialist, World Health Organization

John is a genuine communication innovator. His seminars on gamification of public speaking learning and his interactive Rhetoric game at our conference set the tone for change and improvement in our organisation. The quality of his input, the impact he made with his audience and his effortlessly engaging style made it easy to get on board with his core messages and won over some delegates who were extremely skeptical as to the efficacy of games for learning. I simply cannot recommend him highly enough.

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National Education Director, Association of Speakers Clubs UK

John joined our Global Sales Meeting in Segovia, Spain and we all participated in his "Improv(e) your Work!" session. I say “all” because it really was all interactive, participatory, learning and enjoyable. The session surprised everybody and was a fresh-air activity that brought a lot of self-reflection and insights to improve trust and confidence in each other inside our team. It´s all about communication and a good manner of speaking!"

General Manager Europe, Hayward Industries

Thank you very much for the excellent presentation skills session. The feedback I received was very positive. Everyone enjoyed the good mix of listening to your speech, co-developing a concrete take-away and the personal learning experience. We all feel more devoted to the task ahead, more able to succeed and an elevated team spirit. Delivering this in a short time, both in session and in preparation, is outstanding!

Henning Dehler

CFO European Dairy Supply Chain & Operations, Danone

Thanks to John’s excellent workshop, I have learned many important tips and techniques to become an effective public speaker. John is a fantastic speaker and teacher, with extensive knowledge of the field. His workshop was a great experience and has proven extremely useful for me in my professional and personal life.

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Senior Sales Manager, Sunrise Communications

John’s presentation skills training was a terrific investment of my time. I increased my skills in this important area and feel more comfortable when speaking to an audience. John provided the right mix between theory and practice.

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Director of the Jura Region, BKW Energie AG

Be BOLD. Those two words got stuck in my head and in the heads of all those ADP leaders and associates that had the privilege to see John on stage. He was our keynote speaker at our annual convention in Barcelona, and his message still remains! John puts his heart in every word. Few speakers are so credible, humble and yet super strong with large audiences!

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How to Give a Killer Presentation

• Chris Anderson

For more than 30 years, the TED conference series has presented enlightening talks that people enjoy watching. In this article, Anderson, TED’s curator, shares five keys to great presentations:

• Frame your story (figure out where to start and where to end).
• Plan your delivery (decide whether to memorize your speech word for word or develop bullet points and then rehearse it—over and over).
• Work on stage presence (but remember that your story matters more than how you stand or whether you’re visibly nervous).
• Plan the multimedia (whatever you do, don’t read from PowerPoint slides).
• Put it together (play to your strengths and be authentic).

According to Anderson, presentations rise or fall on the quality of the idea, the narrative, and the passion of the speaker. It’s about substance—not style. In fact, it’s fairly easy to “coach out” the problems in a talk, but there’s no way to “coach in” the basic story—the presenter has to have the raw material. So if your thinking is not there yet, he advises, decline that invitation to speak. Instead, keep working until you have an idea that’s worth sharing.

Lessons from TED

A little more than a year ago, on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, some colleagues and I met a 12-year-old Masai boy named Richard Turere, who told us a fascinating story. His family raises livestock on the edge of a vast national park, and one of the biggest challenges is protecting the animals from lions—especially at night. Richard had noticed that placing lamps in a field didn’t deter lion attacks, but when he walked the field with a torch, the lions stayed away. From a young age, he’d been interested in electronics, teaching himself by, for example, taking apart his parents’ radio. He used that experience to devise a system of lights that would turn on and off in sequence—using solar panels, a car battery, and a motorcycle indicator box—and thereby create a sense of movement that he hoped would scare off the lions. He installed the lights, and the lions stopped attacking. Soon villages elsewhere in Kenya began installing Richard’s “lion lights.”

• CA Chris Anderson is the curator of TED.

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14 Must-Know Presentation Tips for a Killer Presentation [in 2023]

Guru - November 8, 2022 - Leave your thoughts. 18 min read

We're all familiar with the old adage: "A good presentation is like a great conversation."

What makes a presentation great?

Is it a compelling story? Or a good connection with your audience? Or is it about an eloquent delivery by the presenter?

The truth is, there is no “one-size-fits-all solution” for creating great presentations. Every presentation is different, and every audience is different.

When you’re tasked with delivering a presentation, you want to ensure it goes off without a hitch. We all know how important it is for the audience to remember and understand the content.

So if you’re wondering how to make a killer presentation that will stand out and stay in people’s minds for a long time, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we have addressed the most frequently asked questions about presentations.

We have also compiled a list of great presentation tips to improve your deck designs, presentation best practices, and effective ways to communicate the subject to your audience.

Here’s what the article covers,

What makes a good presentation?

• 14 Must-Know Presentation Tips to give a killer presentation

What are the difficulties in making a presentation?

Spellbound your audience with these presentation tips.

When we think about presentations, we often think about the content itself. We imagine a long list of facts or figures, a well-rehearsed script, and a PowerPoint slide deck.

But what makes a good presentation? What makes it memorable, engaging, and valuable?

These are questions that any presenter should be asking themselves.

Here are the four characteristics of a good presentation:

• A good presentation makes you want to take action.
• It helps your audience engage and be interested in what you have to say. It educates and entertains at the same time.
• It puts forth information in a way that makes it easy for them to understand and process without overwhelming them.
• If you're one of those people who's always thinking, "What can I add to my own presentation?”

Well, we've compiled some best presentation tips for you that will help make your next presentation memorable—and, more importantly, help you do what you came here to do: share information with the world.

So read on to find out.

14 Must Know Presentation Tips for a killer presentation [in 2023]

Ever felt like you're struggling to make a presentation on time? Worried about how good your presentation will turn out? We have all been there.

This is why we have put together a list of great presentation tips that can make your next presentation a breeze, and we hope it helps!

Here are some tips to help you create a great presentation:

• Do proper homework on the subject
• Have a strong opening
• Follow a presentation structure
• Have a Hook!
• Tell an engaging story
• Use visual elements
• Keep it short
• Add a touch of humor
• Have a parking lot for questions
• Learn to empathize with the audience
• Keep it interactive with Call-to-action
• Incorporate Data when required
• Use Hashtags in your presentation
• Try out unique presentation templates

Tip 1 - Do proper homework on the subject

Whenever a topic is assigned to you for a presentation, it goes without saying that you understand the topic correctly.

You must do proper homework and research on the subject to ensure you know what you're talking about.

Reading articles and books, or even watching videos or podcasts, will help you understand the topic and how the presentation should be structured.

Also, if you need more background information on the topic, don't be afraid to ask for help from other people—you might find that they know more than you think!

Take notes while learning about the topic. This will help you remember key points.

Then, read your notes before you present and practice saying them aloud (this will help with timing and pronunciation).

Use a timer; this helps keep track of how long you take to say things while also keeping yourself from getting too nervous.

Do some fundamental research on your audience and their expectations about your presentation.

For instance, If they're business executives, they might be looking for intellectual information and numbers. Or, If they're a general audience, they may want more details about how your product works or how it can benefit them.

You'll be surprised how much more effective your presentation will be when you know,

Everything about the topic How crucial it is for the audience, and What the audience expects from the presentation

So only present a topic after doing loads of essential research!

Tip 2 - Have a strong opening

An excellent way to ensure that your presentation is successful is by having a solid opening. Plan the intro slides ahead so that you can set the right tone for the pitch.

Have a strong opening statement that tells your audience who they are listening to, why they're here, what they will hear from you, and anything else you want them to know!

Doing so will help keep your audience engaged and interested in what you have to say.

Be prepared for questions from your audience before you start speaking. It is not necessary that the audience must wait till the end to ask questions.

Being prepared will help you answer them well and present yourself as an expert in the field.

Tip 3 - Follow a presentation structure

The first thing you should do is decide on a structure for your presentation. This will help you ensure that you cover all essential topics and leave no gaps in what you say.

The most successful presentations start with a strong introduction, followed by a clear and concise main body, and ending with a proper sign-off.

The body presents the study's research, findings, and conclusions in an organized and engaging way.

The final section/sign-off should close with any additional information or recommendations. Not just that, it must also give the audience space to ask questions related to the presentation.

Each section can have about two or three minutes of content. This would help structure the presentation concisely and make sure to include all important information.

Use transitions between slides that move from one topic to another, rather than just jumping from one slide to another in one continuous flow.

This makes your content more manageable for your audience to follow and gives them more time to digest what they're seeing before moving on to the next thing!

Hence, remember this effective presentation tip - follow a proper structure!

Tip 4 - Have a Hook!

When you're delivering a presentation, keeping your audience's attention is essential.

But how do you make learning a little more fun? What are the best presenting tips and tricks?

Well, one way is by making sure that your presentation has a hook.

A hook can be anything from an element of surprise (like an announcement that will keep them anticipated till the end) to something unexpected (a discount!).

This will help to keep your audience engaged because they won't feel like they're reading through a textbook or manual - they'll feel like they're getting involved in your story.

Ideally, hooks are placed at the start of the presentation. It's the part that acts as a surprise for the audience, keeping them engaged and excited, and would help retain the audience's attention.

However, remember that the fewer distractions in your presentation, the easier it will be for them to see how amazing it is!

Tip 5 - Tell an engaging story

When you're creating a presentation, it’s a thumb rule to make sure your slide decks are memorable and engaging throughout.

One of the best ways to do this is by telling a story—whether that's a story about your business, your life, or anything else related to the subject.

Telling a story is the key to creating an excellent presentation.

Your audience will be more interested if they can relate to what's on your slides. So tell them a story that connects with their lives and work experiences - it may be a funny anecdote or a relatable work prank!

Let's say you're talking about how to create a product. You can start by showing an image or a video of the product. You can develop the flow by telling the product story and how it has grown through the years.

That way, your audience gets to see both sides of the coin: what this product does and how it was made.

The more details you include in your presentation, the better it will be for viewers—not only because they'll get more information but because they'll also have more context for what they see on screen.

Hence, remember to carve your presentation with a well-practiced, engaging story.

Tip 6 - Use visual elements

People love visual aids—they help them remember things better than words alone!

When you're presenting a product or service, you have to look at it from all angles—from the customer's point of view, the provider's point of view, and your own.

It's essential to keep in mind that your presentation must build a connection with the audience. You must consider the audience’s needs and how you can meet them. The best way to bring that connection is not just through words but to incorporate visual proofs in your slide decks.

But the visual elements used must be relevant to the topic at hand.

For example, if your company is doing something great for the community, show pictures of people smiling in joy from being around you!

If you're talking about how much money you've made over the years as an entrepreneur, add pictures of dollar signs!

Finally, make sure that everything in your presentation flows together nicely.

For example, if visual element parts don't match, then consider breaking them up into two separate slides or changing how things are laid out so it doesn't feel so jarring when someone views it.

Use quality screenshots and images that are relevant to the topic at hand. This is especially important when you're speaking in front of an audience who may need to become more familiar with your product or service.

If possible, use photos or videos of people who might be familiar with your topic—people who will help convey your message more effectively than just text alone.

You don't have to go all out on the graphics, but if you can, try to use high-quality images that are easy to understand.

With online presentation makers like Animaker Deck, you get access to the stock images library; you can pick and add high-quality images for your slide decks with a simple click now!

Also, the best part is you can upload screenshots and brand images directly into the app and use them in the presentation.

Tip 7 - Keep it short

Ever wonder why some presentations are so dull? It's because they're dragging!

A good presentation should be at most 20 minutes at maximum and be structured so that even a first-time viewer can easily understand the information conveyed.

Ensure your audience knows what to expect from you and your content. Refrain from crossing the line of being boring or boringly informative. Your audience should never feel like they're being lectured.

One key business presentation tip is to convey the message to the audience most memorably and engagingly possible.

It is really in the hands of the presenter to steer the audience’s attention throughout the presentation without giving too many dull moments.

The shorter, the better. Keep your slides concise, and avoid falling into the trap of talking about things that have nothing to do with your actual point.

Tip 8 - Add a touch of humor

If you're trying to create an awesome presentation, you can do a few things to ensure it's easy on the eyes and makes people want to engage.

One of the best methods for communicating the message in a light-hearted manner and making your presentation stand out is through humor.

Try to avoid text-heavy slides! You can use witty remarks, analogies, drawings, personal anecdotes, or even memes that suit current trends.

When you tell about something that has happened to you, people may be able to associate with it even more if the story is humorous.

This way, you can easily withhold the audience’s attention through the presentation.

Tip 9 - Have a parking lot for questions

When you're creating a presentation, it's important to keep the audience engaged and excited about what's coming up next. Therefore, it is very necessary to make the presentation a two-way street.

A good way to do this is by asking questions during your presentation and allowing them to answer. This helps keep the audience interested in what they're learning and makes them feel like they're part of the conversation.

The audience should be engaged throughout the presentation and allowed to ask questions to the presenter.

However, it is also vital to ensure that the flow of the presentation is not disrupted by the bombardment of questions in the middle of the presentation.

To tackle this, the presenter can introduce a “parking lot” in their presentation.

So when the audience asks a question about a particular section in the presentation, the presenter can choose to park similar questions together and answer them all together at the end of the presentation.

This way, the presentation’s flow is not affected, and even the audience will get their questions answered.

This is an important skill to be imbibed by every presenter to ensure the audience feels comfortable and gains a good experience from the presentation.

Tip 10 - Learn to empathize with the audience

One of the most important things to remember when creating a presentation is that you are trying to connect with your audience.

Learn to empathize with the audience. You'll want to understand what they're seeing, feeling, and thinking so that you can communicate your message in a way that resonates with them.

By understanding their needs, you can create a more meaningful presentation that will resonate with them. Try to put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they think about this topic.

Are they excited? Are they bored? What are they hoping for? What do they want to see from you?

Know your audience's needs!

It would help if you talked to people with similar backgrounds as your audience and how they would like to be educated on the topic.

Before you start creating content for your presentation, think about who you're speaking to and what they need from you.

When you do this, you will not only speak more clearly, but you'll also be able to connect with them emotionally, making your message stick.

Tip 11 - Keep it interactive with Call-to-action

Have you ever been in a presentation where the speaker makes it look like a one-way conversation? It's not an intentional act of rudeness—the speaker is just trying to get their point across.

But for the audience, it might be very disappointing!

The solution? Keep your presentation interactive with call-to-action buttons that let your audience help move things along.

When something important is being discussed, ask them to take action by clicking on one of the buttons that appear on the screen.

Include a call-to-action that tells your audience what they should do next (like sign up for my newsletter!) or take action on what you've just told them (like buy my product!).

So include call-to-action buttons wherever necessary, so viewers feel like they're partaking in something meaningful rather than just watching someone talk for hours on end!

But one thing, don’t go overboard on those CTAs either. Too many CTAs can be bugging.

Tip 12 - Incorporate Data when required

Creating a presentation is a complicated task, but it's also incredibly important that you need to be able to convey information clearly and effectively.

That's where data comes in!

Data can help you make your point by giving context and supporting the main points of your argument.

Incorporate data when required to present information to the audience quickly. This will make your audience understand what you're talking about more efficiently and allow them to consume the information in a way that makes sense to them.

Use real-life examples and statistics whenever possible because people love those!

With an online presentation maker like Animaker Deck, you get access to the property section, where you can search and add charts, graphs, icons, and other properties directly into your slide decks with just a few clicks.

For example, if you're presenting an overview of how your company's business model works, include graphs or charts that show how the different parts of the model work together so that people who aren't familiar with it can follow along easily.

Or, if you're talking about something more complex, like an industry trend, use graphs or charts to illustrate key points about it, such as growth rates for specific industries over time or changes in consumer demand based on demographics.

You can also use numbers and percentages in charts when comparing different items or events.

Tip 13 - Use Hashtags in your presentation

It’s the era of social media. People are likely tweeting, emailing, or running their entire little business on their phones and sharing every life update on the internet while still doing other chores.

When used correctly, hashtags can: Persuade attendees to share your event on social media, give participants a way to continue the conversation online, and permit you to review tagged comments to evaluate consumer feedback.

You can create a hashtag for your event and use it in the presentation. Promote social media interactions with the hashtag. This will allow you to connect with other users interested in what you have to say!

You can help inspire viewers to share news, ideas, and updates about your presentation by linking this custom hashtag you created. It combines social interaction, event promotion, and word-of-mouth marketing into one.

So if you use social media in your presentation, make sure you promote the hashtag you'll use. This will ensure that people who follow your brand or business see and interact with the hashtag!

Tip 14 - Try out unique presentation templates

We know how hard it is to come up with a good pitch and how hard it is to be creative when you have no time to waste on making something from scratch.

Thanks to online presentation makers like Animaker Deck, creating a presentation online is now easier than ever.

You can access exciting presentation templates with the help of Animaker's online presentation software, hundreds of customizable layouts and branding options, free stock images, properties, transition effects, and animations.

They'll let you get straight to the point and help you win every pitch because they're so easy to use and exceptionally engaging that they'll blow your audience away!

In other words, Animaker Deck handholds you in bringing all your fascinating presentation ideas to life with its one-of-a-kind features and built-in templates, ready for you to use on the go!

Making a presentation can be a daunting task.

The difficulty lies in brainstorming the subject matter, preparing the presentation, and successfully presenting it to the audience. Overall, it is a lengthy and time-consuming process.

A good presentation must be organized and have a logical flow.

Many difficulties are encountered when preparing a presentation. This includes lack of preparation, lack of information about the subject, or worse, lack of interest in learning the subject from an academic perspective, let alone presenting it.

1st , you have to know what you're talking about. You must do your research and be able to explain the topic clearly and concisely.

2nd , you have to make a good impression quickly. You need to get your point across in a way that makes people want to listen—so they don't drift off and tune out!

3rd , your presentation must be not only exciting but also useful. If people don't learn something from your presentation, then it wasn't worth making in the first place!

Sure, you've been doing it for years—but that doesn't mean you're an expert at it. On the contrary, it's a skill that takes practice and dedication to master, and it can be frustrating when things don't go quite as planned.

So if you want to make better presentations every time, implement the above compelling presentation tips and overcome all the difficulties!

That’s all, folks!

We hope you found the above slide Presentation tips very useful, and you will never have to worry about making a presentation anymore!

Now that you know how to make an excellent presentation, it's time to start imbibing these presentation tips in your next presentation and spellbound your audience immediately!

Create a free account with Animaker Deck today to start dominating all of your presentations right away!

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