When your presentation time gets cut, focus on the key topline points that are integral to your core message. Think about what the audience really needs to know and share those key points first. Keep your message simple, clear and focused and skip anything that may seem extra or not essential. Don't use jargon and incorporate crisp sentences to explain your ideas quickly. If there’s time, summarise everything at the end to remind people of the main points. Work towards ending with a strong conclusion or a call to action which creates impact and makes your speech memorable.

You have to prioritise your key messages. What 3 things do you want to tell the audience? What core ideas do you want to leave them with? Focus on those key points first. Jettison the detail and extraneous material. If you find you have more time, you can go back to the detail. This works well as a fix is you know your presentation time is cut short before you start. The more challenging version of this is when presentation is cut shorter mid way through your talk! This does happen! …Then, you need to rapidly reprioritise your content, skip detail slides, and re focus on the 3 key messages you want to leave your audience with. Not easy. But it is doable. Don’t panic and trust in your preparation.

Quickly identify the core message that aligns with the audience’s needs, and deliver it with impactful visuals for clarity. Offer to share additional resources or schedule follow-up discussions to address remaining details.

When your presentation gets cut short, focus on delivering the most critical points first. Identify the key takeaways that align with your goal and resonate most with your audience. Skip secondary details or examples and get straight to the core message. If using slides, jump to the ones that highlight your priorities. Summarize your content concisely and end with a clear call-to-action or a memorable closing statement. Adapt confidently—your composure and clarity will ensure the audience still walks away with value. I hope this helps!

When Time Runs Out This happened to me during a workshop in Makati. Halfway through my presentation, the organizer said, “Sorry, we need to wrap up in 5 minutes.” Panic? Nope. I focused on the end game. Here’s what worked: ✅ Pause and refocus. Ask yourself: “What’s the one takeaway I want them to remember?” ✅ Hit the essentials. Share only the points that directly support your goal. Leave the rest for follow-up. ✅ Close strong. End with a clear call to action: “Here’s the next step you can take today.” Time limits aren’t roadblocks—they’re clarity checkpoints. Stick to your goal, and you’ll still make an impact.