Pacing for Impact: A Practical Guide for Conference Speakers and Organisers
As a runner, I know that understanding and managing your pace is what gets you to the finish line in good shape. The same is true for conference speaking.
In speaking, pace is measured in words per minute. Knowing yours is surprisingly powerful.
How to measure your speaking pace
Take a section from a recent presentation and speak for one minute. Count how many words you spoke. Repeat this twice more using different sections of your text, then take the average. You now have a good estimate of your speaking pace.
How to use it
Take the next presentation you plan to make and count the total words. Then divide by your words per minute pace. You now know how long it will actually take to deliver, compared with the time you’ve been given. That’s valuable information.
What to do next
If you’re running over your allotted time, edit. Be ruthless. If you’re under, expand on a key point or add a well-placed pause. Crucially, if you’re running over time, never try to fix it by talking faster. You’ll end up with the speaking equivalent of a stitch and your audience will be left behind.
Event organisers are good pace makers
Event organisers can have a huge impact on speaker pacing, often without adding any extra workload. Here are three practical ways to help your speakers deliver at their best.
1. Set clear, realistic time boundaries
Be precise about what a speaker’s time includes (e.g., intros, their talk, Q& A, transitions). Clarity sharpens the speaker’s mind and gives them their real speaking time.
2. Provide calm, predictable time cues
Visible countdown timers, agreed signals at key moments, or a trusted moderator all help speakers stay oriented without panicking.
3. Normalise editing instead of speeding up
Reassure speakers that it’s better to cut content or end early than to race through material. When you prioritise clarity over cramming, speakers pace themselves more confidently, and audiences benefit.
Unlike running, speaking isn’t a solo experience. You have to carry your audience with you. When you pace yourself well, you maximise your value to the audience and cross the finish line together — and in style.
Thanks for reading. And happy conference speaking.
John Scarrott is a trainer and coach specialising in the areas of presentations, conference speaking, chairing and facilitation. He offers bespoke training workshops to associations that want to support members to perform well at their events.
John provides in-house training to associations. View the training here.
You can find out more about John at www.johnscarrott.com and at LinkedIn and at [email protected]