Carl Lewis(*1961) US athlete and UN Goodwill Ambassador
Keeping to the allotted time is no easy task. Usually, we will be asked by an organiser to keep our workshop or presentation within a limited period. This is a chance for you to prove your professionalism by sticking to this time limit. You don’t get more important by talking for longer than required! This is a basic requirement for all roles of a moderator.
The KISS principle.
Have you ever tried voice recording? You can programme your complete presentation, including different timings for each slide, and record your voice-over. Thus, you can run your presentation without being there! On the other hand this offers a good test run for your timing. If you are asked to speak for eight minutes and 30 seconds —voilà, you will deliver.
You won’t keep it short and simple (KISS) by talking quicker but by being better prepared. It’s your task as a presenter to reduce the content to the most important elements. Therefore, go back to your objectives and delete whatever is irrelevant to the core issues. Repeat the process until you can fit it into the allotted time.
To make sure you keep to time, ask a friend or a participant sitting towards the back (and without the other participants seeing) to indicate how many minutes are left, or even to count down the seconds with his or her fingers!
As moderator you are also a time keeper. Therefor, it’s useful to have a clock at the opposite side of the room. So, you can keep an eye on the time without the audience noticing it.
A trusting environment is necessary to reach your workshop objectives. Therefore, participants need to feel secure. A set of basic rules and regulations helps overcome initial insecurity.
Who asks, leads. The method of questioning is the most powerful tool in the hands of a moderator. Questioning allows you to lead the discussion in certain directions.
