Let’s face it, when you hear those three words – in relation to a meeting, speech or presentation – it’s like music to your ears, right?

Now ask yourself this: When was the last time you complained because a speaker or a meeting finished early? Probably never? Let’s go with never.

Regardless of how brilliant or compelling a speaker’s material is, audiences get downright annoyed when speakers are long-winded or go over their allotted time. In these cases, even if the content is stellar, the takeaway is a less-than-stellar impression. When people use the words “brief and to the point” to describe a speaker or presenter’s performance, it is usually high praise.

In fact, in my coaching practice, executives often come to me for help in “becoming more concise” or “making a point succinctly.” Those are common goals for coaching engagements, and it’s because the inability to be more concise or to make a point succinctly can be a career blocker. The opposite is also true; brevity can enhance a career.

Think about being that person, the one who finishes early. You know you appreciate it, so your audience surely will as well!

[Excerpted from Jock Talk: 5 Communication Principles for Leaders as Exemplified by Legends of the Sports Worldhttp://amzn.to/1vkcxjz]

 

Beth Levine

Beth Levine

Communications Coach at SmartMouth Communications
SmartMouth Founder and Principal Beth Noymer Levine is a Communications Coach who is emerging as one of the country’s leading voices on how to prepare and deliver speeches and presentations that actually work for both the audience and the speaker.
Beth Levine