February 2025 Leader Letter



Communicate On Time

Deliver a concise, timely message that reflects professionalism and respect.

By Ren茅e M. Covino


Illustration of three people with comments and questions above their heads

Whether it鈥檚 at a 91传媒 club, in a workplace meeting, on a job interview, or even in a casual setting, a communication that鈥檚 too long detracts from its message. Respecting the time of your audience is as crucial as the content itself. Especially in today's fast-paced world, the ability to communicate well鈥攁nd with time in mind鈥攊s a valuable skill.

So how do you stick within the confines of a ticking clock?
Reflect on these time management speaking tips for concise communication:

  1. Practice the message out loud. Of course you will do this for a 91传媒 speech, but it鈥檚 not a bad idea to rehearse your message with all presentations, business ideas, resume/CV highlights, and even personal stories. Get in the habit of hearing yourself and timing yourself.
  2. Trim down. Even better鈥攔ecord these snippets and keep trimming them down by as many seconds as you can. Train yourself to weed out 鈥渇iller鈥� words and extraneous ideas as you鈥檙e speaking.
  3. Account for unanticipated laughter. Factor in extra time when you鈥檙e practicing for pauses and laughter. Remember, the larger the audience, the more likely for a 鈥渉umor trickle effect,鈥� thereby adding several extra seconds. Your reaction to the laughter鈥攁 smirk, a poker face, a bigger pause鈥攕hould also be allowed for.
  4. Have back-pocket adds/subtracts. If you make an outline of your message, you can segregate portions to cut or add, depending if you went over or under the time allotted. If there is no set time, keep a gauge on your audience. If they鈥檙e starting to grow restless, cut the extra section. If they seem eager for more with attentive eyes and positions, you can add the extra content.
  5. Get in the habit of setting boundaries. If you manage your time well in your business and personal life, it鈥檚 bound to trickle over into the time you devote to communicating verbally.
  6. Conduct periodic self-assessments. Managing well-timed messages is as much a way of life as a skill; it's a mindset and a commitment to making the most of what you say and how you say it. It's about continuous growth and self-improvement.


Additional Resources:

Manage Your Speaking Time