How can you stay on topic and manage your time during public speaking?

1 Know your purpose

Before you start writing or rehearsing your speech, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you want to influence your audience. Your purpose will guide your content, structure, and delivery of your speech. It will also help you avoid irrelevant or unnecessary information that might distract or confuse your listeners. Write down your main goal and the key points you want to convey in one sentence, and use it as a reference throughout your preparation and presentation.

2 Plan your structure

A well-structured speech will help you stay on topic and manage your time efficiently. A common structure for public speaking is the introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should capture the attention of your audience, establish your credibility, and preview your main points. The body should develop your main points with evidence, examples, and explanations. The conclusion should summarize your main points, restate your purpose, and end with a strong call to action or a memorable message. Use transitions and signposts to connect your ideas and guide your audience through your speech.

3 Practice your delivery

The best way to improve your public speaking skills and confidence is to practice your delivery. You can practice alone or with a friend, a coach, or a recording device. The more you practice, the more familiar you will be with your content, structure, and timing. You will also be able to identify and eliminate any filler words, pauses, or tangents that might interfere with your clarity and coherence. Practice your speech out loud, with the same tone, pace, and gestures that you would use in front of your audience. Try to stick to your allotted time, and adjust your speech if necessary.

4 Use visual aids

Visual aids can enhance your public speaking by adding interest, variety, and support to your message. They can also help you stay on topic and manage your time by providing cues and reminders for your main points. However, visual aids should not replace or overshadow your speech. They should complement and reinforce your verbal communication. Choose visual aids that are relevant, simple, and clear, and avoid overloading them with too much text, graphics, or animation. Make sure you know how to use them effectively, and practice with them beforehand.

5 Monitor your feedback

During your public speaking, you should pay attention to the feedback you receive from your audience and yourself. Feedback can help you gauge the effectiveness of your message, the interest of your listeners, and the quality of your delivery. You can use feedback to adjust your speech accordingly, by emphasizing, clarifying, or repeating certain points, or by speeding up, slowing down, or skipping some parts. You can also use feedback to improve your public speaking skills for the future, by noting what worked well and what needs improvement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?