Mastering the Elevator Speech: How Do I Manage My Time?

Question:

I got my three minutes and time flew by. I didn’t hit all the points I wanted to make. How do I manage the time?

Answer:

You have to practice out loud and get a feel for managing your time. A good general first step is to divide your speech into balanced yet appropriate lengths: approximately thirty seconds per component for the introduction, for each of the three persuasive points, for the conclusion, and for the close. As you practice, you will develop almost a sixth sense about the timing. After a while, you will better understand how to flow through your content with smooth transitions from talking point to talking point. The best way to stay on track is to literally track the time and become aware of what it feels like when the clock is ticking.

Excerpted from Small Message, Big Impact