Cut your communication short — now, shorter

Some time ago, I heard someone speak for 45 minutes.

It was far too long.

Now, admittedly, I have the attention span of a Golden Retriever, but I strongly believe the presentation would have been much better had it been cut in half – and had a theme.

I’m messing with you.

It had a theme. However, by minute 35, the audience was resenting the theme, and the speaker, and their lives. That’s what happens when you bore people in 2023. It’s not pretty.

Most content is getting shorter – news stories, social media posts, videos – but speeches and presentations have proven stubbornly resistant to the mix.

Room to “breathe”

It’s as if those given a specific window of delivery time believe they need to fill every second. They don’t. In fact, it’s far better if they don’t.

To be fully effective, to really hit the mark, presentations need room to “breathe.”

They require pauses and space, time perhaps for the unplanned recognition of a beloved audience member (Seniors and kids are best), or some spontaneous, self-deprecating humour, or, on occasion, the repair of stubborn technology.

Most of all, though, presentations require speakers who are relaxed, cool, and in the moment – not rushing to get through a too-long narrative.

If you’re planning to address others, aim to keep it short.

Well-organized brevity communicates certainty and confidence. Here’s some time-limiting tips to keep in mind:

Write long, but don’t speak that way

Great communication is all about making the right decision about what goes in, and what stays out. When drafting your remarks, write long to include all relevant information, then cut short – ruthlessly – to include only the material that’s key to your audience’s understanding of your story.?

Is it still too long? Go back at it again. This thing isn’t going to get leaner on its own!

Structure simply

Organize your remarks under the categories of Introduction (context), Body (no more than three main points), and Conclusion (wrap-up and call to action.) If you’re pressed for time, reduce the amount of information you include to support your main points.

Short can be memorable – long, not so much

Short is the future, and the best of the past.

The vastly successful TED Talks limit speakers to no more than 18 minutes. That’s a good ballpark for most business presentations.

If you’re given a 30-minute window for your address, go for 18 to 20, leaving plenty of time for pauses, asides, and Q and A. If you get done early, no one will object – I guarantee it.

In fact, your credibility will likely be enhanced.

On Lincoln, and Everett

On November 19th, 1863, at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, US President Abraham Lincoln spoke a mere 272 words.

The ‘Gettysburg Address’ constitutes one of the greatest speeches in all of history.

The previous speaker, orator Edward Everett, had gone on for two hours.

The next day, Everett wrote to Lincoln, “I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.”

Go short.

Jim Gray is a Strategic Communications Advisor, Coach, and Writer.