Many people are of the opinion that speaking over and above the specified limit while giving a presentation will fetch them more points. Well, that’s an absolute NO-NO! It is of utmost importance to stick to the time limit that has been allotted to you. But, sticking to the time is also an art, and here are some tips that would surely help you master this art:
PLAN YOUR ‘TALKING TIME’ BEFOREHAND
If you think that you can master the art of time on the spot while presenting, you are going wrong! Jotting down a detailed plan of your ‘talking time’ is very important to ensure that you don’t bore the audience. Keeping into account the questions that might come from the audience and other delays can help you learn this art.
START TIMING EARLY
Preparing long materials and then realizing that you are way beyond the allotted time limit will waste lot of your time and effort. Hours of editing and rehearsals will drain a lot of energy out of you. Hence, its always advisable to keep a check on the time as soon as you start working on the content of your presentation.
BIFURCATE YOUR PRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO TIME
Divide the topic of your presentation into various sub topics and prepare a timeline for each of the sub topics so that you don’t exceed the given time limit. For example, introduction – 3 mins, Part 1 – 5 mins, examples- 5 mins etc. Doing so will help you keep a check side by side and would relieve you from the worry that you will cross the time limit.
REFRAIN FROM WAFFLING
Sticking to the idea of just making the bullet points for your presentation may land you in trouble. This idea may lead to waffling if you think that the audience isn’t comprehending your point well. Hence, its very important that you jot down concrete points and deliver your speech flawlessly. you may also use interactive tools and platforms like Hypersay
SET TIME GOALS FOR EACH SEGMENT
Break down your presentation into segments and assign specific time limits to each. Determine the relative importance of each segment and allocate time accordingly. If possible, keep an eye on a clock or timer discreetly placed within your view. This will help you prioritize content and ensure a balanced delivery. Be mindful of the time and avoid getting carried away with a particular point or slide
HANDLE INTERRUPTIONS
Handling interruptions during a presentation is important for maintaining focus, professionalism, and audience engagement. By addressing interruptions promptly and efficiently, you can minimize their impact on the flow of your presentation and demonstrate your ability to handle unexpected situations. Stay composed and manage unexpected interruptions, technical issues, or audience interactions efficiently. Adapt by adjusting your pace or skipping non-essential content to get back on track without losing valuable time.
ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE EFFICIENTLY
Engaging the audience is important but be mindful of time constraints. Interact with your audience strategically by incorporating relevant questions or discussion points that encourage participation without derailing the presentation. Balance engagement with time management to keep the presentation on track. If your presentation includes a question-and-answer session, allocate specific time for it within your overall time frame. Encourage the audience to ask questions but also be mindful of keeping the session concise
BE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTIVE
Even after doing so much, you might witness that you are falling short of time. Hence, it’s important that you are adaptive to changes so that you don’t miss out on some of the points completely. Use shortcuts to cut across the slides that you want to skip, this way your audience won’t even know that you skipped out on content.
