Do this calculation every time you speak in public
Whenever you have a speech or presentation to deliver, there’s a calculation that you should always do beforehand. Multiply the time you have to speak by the number of people whom you anticipate will be in the?audience. The result is the true amount of your speaking time. Because, however long you speak, each person in the audience is spending that much time with you.
Thus, for example, if you are going to speak for 45 minutes to 20 people, the calculation would be: 45 x 20 = 900 minutes or 15 hours of total time. If you are going to speak for 30 minutes to 50 people, the calculation would be: 30 x 50 = 1,500 minutes or 25 hours of total time.
In 2016, I gave a 1-hour workshop to 1,000 people at the?Toastmasters International Convention in Washington. So that was 1,000 hours of total time! For a single person, it would be 25 weeks of work, assuming a 40-work week.
I have written about this calculation?elsewhere, but the concept is so important that I made a video about it.
Knowing the true amount of your speaking time should change your perspective whenever you have a speech or presentation. People will never get that time back and so you have to make whatever you say worth their while.
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2 年I have never thought about it in this manner. Thanks.
SpeechMentors
3 年Hi John, now multiply that number by an hourly rate. This gives you an idea of the cost. Ask yourself, am I adding value to everyone or is my presentation a sunken cost? It helps me to put things in perspective of my own responsibility to the audience. I am enjoying your posts and contributions. Many are welcome reminders of things I have learned and should continue to apply in my own presentations.
Rather than true amount of time, instead I call it the reach of your speech (in units of person-minutes). See my June 7, 2021 Joyful Public Speaking blog post titled Your Speech Has More Reach Than You Might Think: https://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2021/06/your-speech-has-more-reach-than-you.html
Very good point! This also applies to the meeting: length of the meeting * number of participants.. Meetings are expensive, so does giving speeches.
Visual facilitation, visioning, and strategy; author; painter, sculptor, and gallerist. Creative partner with deep roots in business and organizational growth.
3 年So similar to a single piece of artwork that is seen by thousands. As speeches frequently are when viewed as a recording. The art of speaking is exponential.