[Image by Gerd Altmann of Pixabay]
Time is a precious commodity to most of us. We factor in time for the majority of our activities such as work, meetings, presentations, calls, events, and even sleep. You may have additional items where time is critical to monitor. Therefore, it behooves us to be sensitive to not only our own time but to that of others. I believe it’s a sign of respect when we honor the time needs of other individuals with whom we interact. Let me offer some examples in the business world.
- Presentations (virtual or in-person)
- Meetings
- Phone calls
- Voice-mail messages
- Panel discussions
- Interviews
- Podcasts
In each of these seven activities, the vital word is preparation. Regardless of the nature of your contact, it’s critically important to time it out so you have an awareness of how much time you need and how much time you’re expending vs. how much time is allotted. Here is how I prepare my time…
- Find out how much time is allotted or available for the specific activity that is going to occur.
- If I’m meeting or calling a person (or a small group), I often ask what their timeframe is so I may honor it. To not know this in advance can be detrimental to your ongoing success. Often, I ask “Is this still a good time for you?”
- You may find it useful to email some information to your audience or participants, prior to speaking with them. This way they have information that they may easily refer to or use.
- Practice what I want to say (my intention) and how much time is required. I do my best not to run overtime as this may cause stress or be distracting for others.
- One aspect of practicing is to know what parts of my message may be altered, cut down, or even eliminated.
- Know how to get to the point so that I’m speaking succinctly. Many of my clients have difficulty with brevity, particularly when interviewing for an internal promotion, an external job or when communicating with the media.
- It’s best to add some time so that you feel comfortable with your message and may easily answer questions that arise.
- If it is determined that additional time is warranted, I make my audience aware of this and either seek their permission to proceed or suggest a follow-up for a specified amount of time.
- When concluding your event, if you wrap up early that’s seen as positive as few people (if any) complain that a meeting was too short.
As stated, time is a precious commodity that we can’t get back. That’s why time is money. With that in mind, it makes a good impression on other people when we’re not only aware of time but also factor that into what we’re trying to accomplish.
If I may assist you with the element of time, you’re welcome to call (518) 664-6004 or email dale@profitablespeech.com