Its all about the timing

Who turned the clock...? I'm sure you know how the sentence goes on. We have put together a few helpful tips and tricks for optimal time management to ensure that you don't get shocked when you look at time during your presentation. This is just as important as the content of a presentation!

Start on time. Finish on time.

Always start and finish your presentation on time! After all, the audience organizes its day around your presentation. Of course it can happen again and again that plans shift or events start later. Here it would be important to coordinate briefly with the organizer whether you should shorten your presentation or keep it in full length despite delays. If the schedule of your presentation changes, inform your audience as soon as possible and stick to it.

Time management during the presentation

Many presenters make the mistake of spending too much time on the first presentation topics and then put down an info sprint towards the end of the presentation. This is not only extremely exhausting for the audience, but also reduces the success of the presentation. Because the sudden flood of information simply overwhelms the listeners and promptly switches to a "pull-through".

To create an optimal schedule

At the beginning of your presentation you should plan a few minutes to attract the attention of your audience. The same applies to the end, to deal with questions. You should also assign about 30-40 seconds to your final action call. It is best to divide the rest of the presentation into temporary sections. In this way you do not run the risk of getting lost during the presentation.

Assuming you have 30 minutes for your presentation and want to accommodate five key pieces of information, your presentation plan might look something like this:

  • Awaken interest: 90 seconds
  • Info overview: 3 minutes
  • First key info: 4 minutes
  • Second key info: 4 minutes
  • Third key info: 4 minutes
  • 4th key info: 4 minutes
  • fifth key info: 4 minutes
  • Questions: 5 minutes
  • Conclusion: 30 seconds

Rehearse your presentation process

The most important thing for an optimal timing is that the sequence is perfectly rehearsed! You may find that some sections require more time than you thought. It can therefore be helpful to start rehearsals early in the planning phase in order to avoid excessive material preparation.

That way you always know you're on time:

TIPP #1:Avoid looking at your watch at all costs! Instead, it is better to place a watch visible to you in the room so that you can control the time without the public noticing. As an alternative to a clock, you can activate a countdown timer app on a tablet.

TIPP #2:Another possibility would be to ask a trusted person in the audience to give you a discreet signal at certain intervals.

TIPP #3:It is particularly easy and effective to wear a timer on the wrist or belt, which indicates the time at certain intervals via a vibration alarm.

Further helpful tips and tricks for your perfect presentation can be found at HERE!