Are you giving too much? How to avoid ‘fire-hosing’ your audience

How much information should you share in a teleclass, a speech, or an article?

Because you have a wealth of small business advice or information in your area of expertise, the temptation is to give as much as possible, as fast as possible.

Since you want to make sure to over-deliver, you end up trying to madly cover 10 vital points in six minutes. I call this ‘fire-hosing’ your audience.

The problem is that this doesn’t serve your clients, or potential clients.

And it doesn’t make you look like a genius who knows a lot, because you are only perceived as a genius when the person you are communicating with understands what you’ve shared.

Here are some tips for tapping into success by making sure that whether it’s a paid program, free teleclass, or 10 minute speech to your local networking group, you come off truly serving your audience and looking like a superstar.

1. Remember that any presentation needs a set-up and a wrap-up.

Whether you’re doing a short speech, or a 60-minute tele class, you’re going to spend time at the beginning introducing yourself, and telling your story.

At the end you’ll wrap up with a call to action or an invitation to them to connect with you, or purchase from you.

These are all valuable parts of the presentation, so don’t short them to try to get one more content point in your allotted time.

2. Pick just a few key points, rather than many.

Choose carefully the concepts that you want to share: 3 is good, and 5 is the maximum even for a 60 minute class.

Most people can’t absorb more small business advice or new information than that, so take the time to carefully explain each point.

Your audience will feel better served that way, and they’ll be able to remember what you shared!

3. A shorter time is more difficult, and needs more rehearsal.

When you’re speaking for just a few minutes, or ten minutes, every minute and every word counts.

That’s when you want to rehearse the most, so you make sure that you get your points in while having lots of breathing room.

It’s not about memorizing your speech word-for-word, but about making sure that you know the key points and can transition smoothly between them.

It’s also a good idea to time yourself, and come in under your given time.

It’s embarrassing and unprofessional to be cut off by an emcee because you’ve gone over time, or to have people fidgeting and uncomfortable because you’re 16 minutes into a 10-minute speech.

However you’re presenting your information, remember that when tapping into success it’s better to have your audience or readers walk away remembering your information, rather than being overwhelmed with content.

How do you organize your own information when giving a speech or presentation?