Assume you’ve been asked to speak at an event or conference. The event organizer likely will provide you with specific instructions regarding your presentation and related promotional material. Follow the guidelines you’ve been given. It’s a matter of professional courtesy and respect for your client and the organization they represent.
If you are given ten minutes to speak, then speak for no more than ten minutes. There’s a schedule. If your presentation runs longer than ten minutes, you risk disrupting the entire schedule. Subsequent speakers may not have as much time as promised. The person overseeing the event must deal with any negative fallout as a result of your failure to adhere to time limits. In short, everyone suffers—including you.
Along the same vein, if you’ve been asked to provide a biography of no more than 50 words, edit it so it’s 50 words—not 55 or 60. It’s harder to write 50 words than 75 or 100 words; still, with a little effort (and the use of AI) it’s doable. And if you exceed the word limit, the event organizer may have to edit your copy—which they won’t have to do for others who met their requirements. You could leave a lasting impression—not a good one.
In other words, it’s about the event or occasion. It’s not about you and your desire for more speaking time or space in written materials. Leave your personal preferences at home. Be professional. Follow the guidance you are given.
No comments:
Post a Comment