In presentation, be quick but don't hurry

"Be quick, but don't hurry" is the title of one of the most renowned basketball books by legendary coach John Wooden.

The book’s success in the U.S. has extended beyond sports, making it a highly recommended read for managers and leaders. It encapsulates Wooden’s philosophy on basketball and life, drawing from his record-setting 10 career titles as the most successful coach in college basketball history.

Wooden’s advice - be quick, but don't hurry - also applies perfectly to public speaking.

Many people feel uncomfortable speaking in front of others, and their instinct is to rush through the speech to escape the discomfort. However, this results in a hurried, fast-paced delivery that the audience quickly picks up on, diminishing the speech's impact and persuasive power. When we’re in the audience, we want to feel that the speaker cares about the topic, not that they are eager to finish and leave. We expect them to take the necessary time to explain, convince, and persuade us.

Imagine a friend talking to you hastily, then running off—it conveys the message that they don’t care about you or the conversation. The same applies to public speaking. When you rush, it signals to the audience that you may not care about the topic or lack confidence in your message.

I advocate for speed in presentations, but not haste. Being concise and efficient is key—you don’t need to over-explain—but you must never give the impression that you’re in a hurry. Your credibility and persuasiveness hinge on delivering a speech that is concise yet complete, taking the right amount of time to fully communicate your idea while allowing the audience to absorb it without feeling overwhelmed.

Rushing through a presentation creates an impression of uncertainty. Confident speakers take their time, speaking at a measured pace that works both for them and the audience. You can't be effective if you're rushing or skipping parts just to finish sooner. True effectiveness comes from delivering your message at the right pace, with clarity and confidence—nothing more, nothing less.

To quote Shakespeare’s Macbeth: "I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more, is none."