I’d like to express my displeasure about some public speakers. I’m sick and tired of attending cultural, educational and social events at which featured speakers make presentations for 40 minutes to an hour. I consider this type of behavior ludicrous. It shows a lack of respect for audiences. I don’t think audiences should be miserably punished and held hostage by speakers’ inability to re concise.

In many instances, featured public speakers haven’t been properly trained in speech communication, and in knowing that most speech presentations aren’t to exceed 20 minutes at the most. If a speech is prepared properly, all important points of a topic could be articulated within 20 minutes.

What is most disturbing is that many educated people are aware of this professional standard for speechmaking, but they still insist upon boring their audiences with irrelevant rhetoric.

I recall a study conducted by a Harvard University professor, which revealed that speakers who make presentations exceeding 30 minutes tend to be less effective. The study indicated that audiences are only going to retain 15% to 20% of what is being said if a speech is 30 minutes or longer. On the other hand, if a speech is presented 15 to 20 minutes, audiences are more likely to retain 90% to 95% of what is being said.

As a presentation becomes longer, audiences usually start to tune speakers out. Their minds tend to drift. Audiences might become restless and weary.

Astute public speakers are able to read their audiences. They are capable of feeling the “pulse” of the people to whom they are speaking. When speakers see their audiences getting restless, they know it’s time to wrap things up.

For those public speakers who don’t have their speech acts together, I suggest they enroll in a public-speaking class. I’m convinced that would truly help them say less, allowing their audiences to receive more.

Edward Maner