Why Most Business Presentations Are Twice as Long as They Need to Be

Think back over the last three months.

How many business presentations genuinely gave you what you needed, clearly, concisely, and with respect for your time?

How many were padded with:

– information you already knew

– unnecessary detail

– repetition

– self-promotion

– content that wasn’t relevant

– very little actual value

If you’re like most professionals, you’ve sat through countless presentations that could have been delivered in half the time, with twice the impact.

Cutting a presentation down doesn’t dilute the message; it sharpens it.

As Blaise Pascal famously wrote: “I’m sorry this letter is so long; I didn’t have time to write a short one.”

The same is true for presenting.

The 90‑Second Rule

At Mindful Presenter, we coach professionals to deliver their entire message in 90 seconds. Not because every presentation should be 90 seconds long, but because the discipline forces absolute clarity.

If you can articulate your message with power and purpose in 90 seconds, you can create something exceptional when given 10, 20, or 30 minutes.

Ninety seconds demands:

– precision

– intention

– relevance

– a message that actually matters

Here’s how to craft a presentation with that level of clarity.

1. Start With a “Bond” Opening

Don’t begin with corporate pleasantries, long agendas or a biography no one asked for.

Open like a Bond film: immediately engaging, instantly relevant, impossible to ignore.

Your first 10 seconds should make your audience lean in, not tune out.

2. Cut to the Chase

Don’t wait until slide 12 to reveal why you’ve called everyone together.

Tell them right at the start what their world will look like when you’ve finished speaking.

Clarity creates confidence, and confidence creates attention.

3. Use the Power of Three

Three is the most persuasive number in communication.

Give your audience the three things they want most:

Your message

Why you’re speaking and why this matters now.

The impact

Why they should care and what changes for them.

The how

What needs to happen next for them to experience the benefit.

4. Breathe Life into Your Words

Impact isn’t about how long you speak; it’s about how well you help people listen.

– Use short, relevant examples

–  Tell stories.

– Paint pictures.

– Help your audience see and feel your message, not just hear it.

Before you include anything, ask yourself:

– Is this relevant to my audience?

– Is it really necessary?

– How much of this is repetition disguised as detail?

– Is this about them or about me?

– What value does this add to their world?

If it doesn’t serve your message, it doesn’t belong.

A Final Thought

Most presentations are too long because the thinking behind them isn’t clear enough.

When you strip away the noise, what remains is the message that matters.

If you need help crafting business presentations that are clear, concise and compelling:

– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.

– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.

– Get yourself some excellent presentation training

Image: Courtesy of Canva.com