Here's how you can balance quality and deadlines as a public speaker.

Prioritizing key points ensures both timely delivery and content excellence. Begin by identifying the most impactful messages that align with the speech's objectives and audience needs. For example, when preparing a presentation on leadership, prioritize discussing core principles such as communication, decision-making, and team-building, while acknowledging that time constraints may limit the depth of each topic. Focus on delivering high-quality content for these prioritized points, while being mindful of time management to meet deadlines. By prioritizing essential points and allocating sufficient time for preparation, speakers can maintain a balance between quality and deadlines, ensuring a compelling and timely presentation.

Making it related and relatable can ensure the positive impact your words can create in your audience. Making it related means add your real life experiences and encounters into your speech while ensuring it is relevant with respect to the idea you are discussing on. Relatable means, while contemplating on serious and complicated issues and ideas make sure the audience understand the concept while relating with their own life and experiences. This will help in engaging the crowd better and improve the quality of your discussions. When we include more events and experiences into obscure concepts, you can explain it better in less words and thus help to complete it in the stipulated timeframe.

Quality depends on content and delivery - ensure that the content is based on thorough understanding of the subject, audience needs, and is delivered with authenticity. Visual aids and interactive sessions can help engage the audience for an efficient delivery of the presentation or speech.

To balance quality and deadlines, prioritize the key points of your speech. Focus on the core message and essentials, avoiding overload with information. By defining priorities, you simplify content, covering important aspects within the allotted time.

Identify the core message and the most important takeaways for your audience. Focus on delivering these key points clearly and effectively.

Develop your speech to be succinct. Use clear and straightforward language to convey your ideas without unnecessary complexity.

The ultimate question is: how long should a speech be? I know there's ample research on optimal length; even TEDx has conducted extensive studies suggesting it should be of a certain duration. However, the rule I adhere to is that 'the speech should be as long as it needs to be, while remaining coherent and focused.' Sometimes it's longer, sometimes it's shorter. Whatever length we feel is necessary to effectively convey our point is the main criterion, in my opinion. This isn't an exact science. Nonetheless, this doesn't imply we have the liberty to be excessively long and tedious. Some topics demand lengthier speeches, while others require concise delivery. It's crucial to exercise sound judgment in determining the appropriate duration.

Prioritise refining the key sections of your presentation—those that convey the main messages and conclusions. Use these focused rehearsals to sharpen your delivery and ensure these pivotal parts are impactful.

Practice your speech multiple times to ensure smooth delivery. This will help you manage your time and refine your presentation.

Practice, practice, practice. Recording your practice sessions is invaluable. Viewing yourself from a third-person perspective has been incredibly valuable in my experience.

Support your talk with relevant visuals that complement your message. Ensure they are high-quality and add value to your speech.

To PowerPoint or not to PowerPoint, the ultimate question. When presenting data, graphs, and charts, I find it valuable to utilize it. I prefer having a visual aid in my hand while presenting. "Show, don't tell" has always been a good practice I've followed. Additionally, incorporating music, sounds, and appropriate lighting, especially at the beginning of the speech, can make or break the experience in my opinion

Integrate questions or prompts related to your topic to make your presentation interactive, encouraging audience participation. This approach not only holds attention but also allows you to gauge understanding and adjust on the fly, ensuring your message resonates effectively.

Interact with your audience in a way that is meaningful and adds to the presentation. Use questions, anecdotes, or demonstrations to maintain interest.

It's all about eye contact. When we speak in front of an audience, we're essentially addressing individuals, one person at a time. Crafting the story as if it's meant for one person creates a more intimate and engaging experience for everyone present

Be prepared to adapt your speech on the fly based on the audience’s reaction and feedback. Flexibility can help you stay within your allotted time while still delivering a quality presentation.

One critical aspect often overlooked when balancing quality and deadlines as a public speaker is the importance of setting realistic expectations and boundaries. For example, if a client requests additional content or revisions close to the presentation deadline, it's essential to communicate any limitations or constraints upfront. By clearly defining the scope of work and managing expectations from the outset, you can avoid overcommitting and ensure that the final presentation meets both quality standards and deadline requirements.