If you’ve ever caught yourself rushing to cram everything in, skipping slides, apologising for speaking too fast, or just feeling uncomfortable on stage, this is for you.
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 it
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, then take the average. You now have a good estimate of your speaking pace.
How to use it
Count the total words in your next presentation and divide by your words per minute pace.
Now you 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 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.
And if you’re an event organiser
You 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.
Set clear, realistic time boundaries
Be precise about what a speaker’s time includes (eg intros, their talk, Q&A, transitions). Clarity sharpens the speakers mind and gives them their real speaking time.
Provide calm, predictable time cues
Visible countdown timers, agreed signals at key moments, or a trusted moderator help speakers stay oriented without panicking.
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.
For a range of in-house training workshops to support your conference speakers, head to associationexecutives.org
Thanks for reading. And happy conference speaking.