Tips for Leading with Confidence
Dear LWML Leaders,
Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence.
Dealing with Lengthy Speakers
Many of us have experienced long winded speakers who, in their enthusiasm for their topic, lose track of time. A leader’s task is to keep meetings on schedule. Bev England, LWML Media and Marketing Specialist, gives these tips for encouraging a speaker to wrap up their presentation.
Be preventative:
- Include the allotted time for their presentation in all communications with your speakers, from the first request for their services to the final confirmation before the event.
- Introduce all speakers to your appointed time keeper and explain how the time keeper will motion to them when their time is up. One method is for the timekeeper to hold up a green sign when there is one minute left and a red sign when their allotted time is up.
If a speaker runs over their allotted time this protocol will usually encourage them to conclude their presentation.
- The president stands up at her podium or at the place she is sitting.
- The president moves to stand beside the speaker.
- The president puts their hand on the speaker’s shoulder.
- If all else fails, the president can lean into the speaker’s microphone and kindly thank them for an interesting presentation, but states she must move on with the meeting agenda.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another (Colossians 3:12-13a).
God's Blessings,
Leadership Development Committee
