I have a confession.
When I first started leading groups, I had a funny habit.
The more nervous I got, the faster I talked.
I’d stand at the front of the room, heart racing, palms sweating, and suddenly my words would start coming out at double speed.
My friend and colleague Ryan Clover calls this fast talking.
Maybe you do it too?
Speeding up our speech is a pretty natural response to stress. When our nervous system kicks into high gear, our words often follow.
But over time, I discovered something else that made me speed up.
And I suspect you’ve experienced it too.
I call it Content Cramming.
You want to deliver as much value as possible to your group.
You design a 60-minute workshop, and convince yourself you can squeeze in 45 slides, three exercises, as well as a breakout discussion. And have time at the end for a little Q&A.
Then you get into the session, glance at the clock, and realize you’re already 15 minutes behind. And you haven’t even started the first activity.
The panic sets in.
And you start talking faster.
You skip a discussion.
You rush through the exercises.
And before you know it, you’ve sacrificed the very things that make your session engaging.
All because you were trying to cover everything.
Here’s where things get interesting.
In our recent research for the Virtual Engagement Gap report, we uncovered a fascinating connection between how well trainers manage time and pacing and how engaging their sessions are.
In fact, 1 in 3 trainers struggle to manage time and content without rushing or running over.
That’s a lot of trainers caught in the Content Cram Trap:
And when you think about it, the connection makes perfect sense.
When we’re rushing to get through our content, we tend to speed through explanations, cut discussions short, and move on before participants have had a chance to think, contribute, or apply what they’re learning.
The irony?
The more we try to cover, the less space we leave for actual learning. And this matters even more in virtual sessions, where screen fatigue and competing distractions can add to cognitive overload, making it harder for participants to absorb and process everything we’re throwing at them.
3 ways to escape the Content Cram Trap
The good news? A few small shifts can make a BIG difference.
⏱️ 1. Plan for less than you think you can cover.
Like way less. Take your original content plan and trim it by 25%.
This is one of the hardest parts of designing for virtual sessions.
But giving your content some breathing room gives your participants room to learn.
💬 2. Protect interaction time like your life depends on it.
When you’re running behind, the breakout or discussion can feel like the easiest thing to cut.
Resist that urge.
Those moments when participants get to reflect, share ideas, and apply what they’re learning are often the most valuable parts of your session.
🕒 3. Build in buffer time.
Tech hiccups happen. Questions come up. Discussions get a little spicy.
That’s part of the magic of live online training!
Give yourself some buffer room so those moments don’t send you into panic mode.
Here’s what I try to remember:
When I find myself fast talking or content cramming I try to remeber “less is more“: More connection, more interaction, and more learning. And that’s where the real magic of live sessions happens. 🪄
Over to you 🎤
Have you ever fallen into the Content Cram Trap? What’s one thing you do to keep yourself from rushing through a session?
Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear what you try.
A Sneak Peek + A Special Invitation 🎁
Managing time and pacing is just one of the key capabilities we explored in my new Virtual Engagement Gap report.
And some of the findings surprised me!
The research reveals gaps between what trainers think makes online sessions engaging and what actually helps them create those experiences.
Want a copy? Just hit reply with “REPORT” and I’ll send it your way.
And there’s a little bonus. 🎁
Everyone who downloads the report will also receive an invitation to an exclusive, invite-only live event this Monday, October 19, where we’ll dig into the findings and explore what they mean for your own live online sessions.
I’d love to see you there!
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
I always love hearing your feedback and suggestions. Just hit reply to share your thoughts and ideas.
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Creatively yours,
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