Presentation Pacing: The Speed Trap That Loses Every Audience

During my years at Commerzbank, I sat through a quarterly update where a brilliant analyst presented 47 slides in 12 minutes.

Forty-seven slides. Twelve minutes. Do the math—that’s roughly 15 seconds per slide.

He spoke so fast that words blurred into each other. Data points flew past before anyone could process them. By slide eight, half the room had mentally checked out. By slide twenty, people were checking phones under the table.

When he finished, breathless and sweating, the MD’s only comment was: “Could you send that round? I couldn’t follow it.”

All that work. All that data. Completely wasted because he confused speed with efficiency.

Here’s what nobody told him about presentation pacing—and what I wish someone had told me earlier in my career.

Why Fast Feels Right (But Isn’t)

When you’re nervous, your brain interprets the situation as threatening. Your heart rate increases. Adrenaline floods your system. And your speech accelerates—it’s a physiological response, not a choice.

The problem is that fast speech signals nervousness to your audience. They may not consciously think “this person is nervous,” but they’ll feel something is off. Trust erodes. Credibility suffers.

Meanwhile, you’re burning through your content faster than anyone can absorb it. You’re not communicating more—you’re communicating less, just more quickly.

This is why voice control is so critical. Your pacing communicates as much as your words do.

The Pacing Sweet Spot

Research consistently shows that audiences comprehend and retain information best when presenters speak at 120-150 words per minute. That’s noticeably slower than typical conversation (which runs 150-180 wpm).

Here’s what optimal presentation pacing looks like in practice:

• Key points: Slow down to 100-120 wpm. Give important ideas room to land.
• Transitions: Speed up slightly to 140-150 wpm. This signals movement.
• Stories: Vary your pace. Speed up during action, slow down for impact moments.
• Data: Always slower. Numbers need processing time.

The executives who command attention understand this intuitively. Their vocal delivery ebbs and flows with intention, not panic.

Three Fixes That Actually Work

1. Cut 20% of Your Content

If you feel rushed, you have too much material. The solution isn’t speaking faster—it’s saying less. Cut your content until you could deliver it comfortably with time to spare.

2. Script Your Pauses

Write “PAUSE” into your notes at key moments. After your opening hook. Before your main message. After important data points. Pauses feel awkward to you but powerful to your audience.

3. Record and Time Yourself

Most presenters have no idea how fast they actually speak. Record a practice run and count your words per minute. You’ll likely be shocked—and motivated to slow down.

These techniques work together with proper voice training to transform your delivery from rushed to commanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast should I speak during a presentation?

Aim for 120-150 words per minute for most business presentations. This feels slower than conversation but gives your audience time to process. Slow down further for complex points and speed up slightly for transitions. For more on vocal delivery, see our complete guide to presentation voice tips.

Why do presenters speak too fast?

Nerves trigger faster speech as part of the fight-or-flight response. Presenters also speed up when they’ve crammed too much content and feel time pressure. The solution is editing content, not speaking faster.

How do I slow down my presentation pacing?

Use strategic pauses after key points, practice with a timer to catch rushing, and cut 20% of your content so you don’t feel time pressure. Breathing exercises before presenting also help regulate pace—see our guide to calming nerves before presenting.

Mary Beth Hazeldine spent 24 years at JPMorgan, PwC, RBS, and Commerzbank. She’s a clinical hypnotherapist and MD of Winning Presentations.

Mary Beth Hazeldine

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