Do you have an hour-long presentation? Are you in the middle of a presentation when you realize that your start was late or they ask you many questions and your time is running out?
No matter what topic you have to expose, always be flexible and willing to shorten or lengthen the time, it depends on each case. Here are some points that will allow you to ensure that your presentation always meets the needs of the time that you have determined:
1-Use a time scheme
When creating an outline of your presentation, include the estimated time next to each of the sections, a brief summary, put bullets on the page or if there are two, it will be easier for you to program the estimated time of your speech.
Practice your presentation and write down the estimated time each time you advance, for example, two minutes for the opening, five minutes for the first topic, seven minutes for the second topic, etc., at the end, add up all the time you have Note down and determine if you should add or remove any of the sections that lengthen your speech beyond the time allotted to you.
If you have to seriously modify a point to get to the time given to you, and your presentation is negatively affected, you may want to develop each point separately, with short, medium or longer intervals, according to the importance of each topic. you want to develop.
2-Take into account the priority of the information
If you realize when you are giving your speech that your time is running out, you may have to suddenly change the content you had established a little. If you have important points that are at the end of your presentation, and you still need to develop some topics, perhaps it is time to speak them, before they tell you that your time is up. Change the order of your presentation.
When writing your presentation, practice it, it is always a good idea if you imagine what it would be like to handle this type of situation. The design of your outline should make it easier for you to see which are the most important issues. If you have to put aside some essential issue, and you want to make a good impression, write your email address on a blackboard so that those interested can send you their emails and you can send the information that is pending.
3-Hand out some brochures
There is usually some information that we want to share, but that does not necessarily have to be included in the live presentation. You might have some charts or graphs that you don't have the time or technology to show live.
Use brochures wisely. The material does not have to be reviewed during your presentation, you can leave it on a table at the exit of the auditorium so that people can grab it when it leaves. If you leave them on the seats for them to see before you start, it may happen that the audience does not pay much attention to you because they are reading and will not hear your opening.
The brochures should always include information so that they can contact you, such as a telephone number, an email address or that of your website. Make sure all resources and references are clear and easy to read, whether it has graphics or too much white space. Don't overload the brochure with too much information, keep it concise and in line with your presentation. Otherwise, they will end up in a trash can.
It is important that you take care of every detail of your presentation, either with the words you use or with the projection of images. The sound must be perfect, everyone must be able to hear you, from the first row to the last, don't forget that they are there because they are interested in what you have to share with them, which is your knowledge. No matter how much time you have, whether it is a lot or a little, always prepare as if it were your best exhibition.
