How long a talk should be
There is no single standard, but there are reference points. Under the TEDx rules, talks are typically under 18 minutes, and there is no audience Q&A on stage [1]. In Toastmasters clubs, speeches range from two or three minutes to twenty [2]. Talks at professional meetups usually run longer — 20–40 minutes including questions.
Agreeing on the slot matters more than the exact number: the speaker should know it in advance, and it should say whether questions are included. “30 minutes” and “25 minutes plus 5 for questions” are two different talks.
Does attention really drop after 10 minutes?
It is a popular claim, but the data do not support it. Neil Bradbury reviewed the studies usually cited for it and found no 10–15 minute limit in the primary data. Listeners' attention depends most on who is speaking, not on the format [3]. So a 15-minute slot will not rescue a dull talk, and a 40-minute one will not necessarily tire the room. Preparation decides, not a formula.
How to tell a speaker their time is up
- Agree before the talk. A Toastmasters timer explains the rules and shows the signals at the start of the meeting, so nobody is surprised by a red card mid-sentence [2].
- Warn early, not at the end. Signals at 5 minutes and at 1 minute give the speaker room to wrap up a thought instead of stopping mid-word.
- Show the time, don't gesture. A sign or a screen with the time remaining near the stage does not distract the room. Hand signals from the front row distract both the room and the speaker.
- Make Q&A its own stage. Then the host closes questions on time without cutting into the talk itself.
Why a schedule slips even when every speaker is roughly on time is covered in the guide on keeping a meetup on schedule.
How to do it in Po minutam
Every stage has its own minutes and its own hosts. A speaker sees their stage and the time left on their phone, and the hall screen shows a large timer. Audience questions can be a separate stage with time of their own.