Talking Fast + Saying A Lot ≠ Happy Audiences
You’ve likely heard a speaker say “We don’t have a lot of time, so I’m going to talk really fast.” However, no one benefits from this tactic. Here’s what to do instead.
I get it. You have a lot to cover, and you’re limited on time. You feel as though you would do your listeners a disservice if you leave out anything, but at the same time, you want to be respectful of the agenda and try your very best to finish on time.
Here’s the deal: You’re actually doing your listeners a disservice by trying to squeeze in everything because when you do that, you have them drinking from a firehose. They end up drowning in information as opposed to soaking it all in. You’re essentially throwing things at them with the mindset of “Let’s see what sticks.”
We speak at a rate of about 140 to 180 words per minute, and on average, a listener’s comprehension rate is approximately 400 words per minute. You may think, “Bridgett, you’re not helping your argument with these numbers.”
Work with me here.
I’ve written it before, and I’ll write it again: Remember that 100% of your audience is never listening at 100% capacity 100% of the time.
