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Speaker Time Limits
Logic: get your message across without irritating your
audience
Picture this. You are running a public event, and have
engaged a speaker for an informal talk before you really get down to business. The speaker
does not disappoint. You watch as the audience is moved from humour to tears,
listening to the life experience of the person in front. There is, however, only
one problem.
Fifteen minutes is the allotted time. At the twenty-five minute mark, your
speaker is still approaching their crescendo. By thirty minutes, the rest of the
evenings activities are quickly being reorganized in your mind. We could drop
the coffee?
My question: who is the mythical figure that gives
license to a speaker to run over their allotted time? I have seen folks so
wrapped in their own topic, or their own voice they go on and on. I was a
meeting a few years ago when one person ran over the 15 minute time by an hour!
In all honesty, make a reasonable effort to stick to your allotted time. Work
out what you need to say, get up and do it, and then, please, sit down! If you feel your topic deserves more time, argue that point before you
speak. I would argue that people will remember you and your subject better if
you are well organised and stick to the time. I am yet to see a topic that
cannot be covered in 15 minutes. Yes, 3 hours might be better if you are
lecturing to a class at university, but please stick to the time!
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