by Lorraine Ball
As a professional speaker I love when I have an hour to communicate a message . I can dive into stories, go off on tangents, and still wrap up with five minutes to spare. But when I’m limited to just 30 minutes, I tighten up. Stick to the outline, stay on point.
The shorter the presentation, the more I rehearse. In a five-minute talk, I watch the clock, cutting unnecessary thoughts to make every word count. It’s a shame that many business owners don’t apply that discipline to networking. At events, I see them ramble, missing the crucial points.
Salespeople make similar mistakes, caught up in discussions without getting to the key information. They act like they have all the time, but I, like many, have the attention span of a flea. If they don’t grab my attention in the first five minutes, it’s hard to get it back.
Do you need to rehearse everything you’ll say? Not necessarily, but having a few tight sound bites ready helps move the conversation along. Thinking about your words also improves your writing. In a world where people won’t read a lengthy blog post, crafting concise, engaging content is key.
After writing, take a break. Then, read it aloud. Listen for awkward or confusing phrases. Eliminate the unnecessary. What remains is a tight post that holds the reader’s attention.
When sharing on social, don’t just announce a new blog post. Find the most interesting phrase and share that. Choose wisely—every word counts.
