Be a Lighthouse. Scan your audience. Here’s a tip as a public speaker or trainer. This is the answer I provided to the LinkedIn question, “How can you use active listening to manage your speech time?”
There are two overriding thoughts as a speaker/trainer.
- Speaking for Timing
- Speaking for Engagement
For (1), I have learned from over 20 years of speaking globally, to end one or two minutes early. There is a clear expectation to end on time.
This being said, for (2) You are there to be an edutainer – educator and entertainer, engaging your audience’s hearts and minds.
And to do this effectively, you must, must, must use active listening to gauge engagement.
Be a lighthouse. Continuously scan your audience. Are the participants nodding along, taking notes, asking questions?
I use these cues to adjust my pacing and more importantly, my content. I decide to go longer or shorter depending upon engagement.
Photography Source: Wikipedia – Phares dans la Tempete, la Jument
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