Just give us ‘a quick two-minute update.’

We’ve all been there.

Someone says, ‘Just give us a quick two-minute update on your area.’

It sounds so easy. But it isn’t.

Summarising a tonne of work from, say, a team of 50 people in a £100m+ P&L, in 120 seconds, is hard. You can end up trying to cram in this quarter’s work, next quarter’s, the big successes, and end up talking at 100mph. Giving the audience no chance to take it all in.

It’s actually much harder than giving a longer presentation.

As the old line goes: ‘If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.’

Boiling things down is a skill. And when time is tight, every word counts.

Here’s how to master the two-minute update and make sure you leave people with the right impression.


1. Actually stick to the time limit

It’s two minutes for a reason. No one thanks the person who hogs the airtime and runs over. If you finish bang on time, you’ll stand out as disciplined and clear compared to those who waffle.


2. Understand how much you can actually say in two minutes

Two minutes equals 200–300 words, max. That’s all you’ve got. If you try to cram in more, you’ll either overrun or rattle through so fast no one takes anything in.


3. Practise (yes, even though it’s only two minutes)

I don’t advise you to ‘wing’ a two-minute update. Most people do, though. The only way to guarantee you’ll stick to time is to rehearse. Out loud.


4. Edit yourself

Write down the key points you want to say. Then start cutting. Remove jargon, trim repetition, edit out waffle. Every word must be worthy.


5. Use a simple structure

If you’re summarising a whole quarter, don’t try to cover everything. Give people the big hitters to hang on to. A simple format works best:

• Past: One or two highlights from last quarter

• Present: Where things stand right now

• Future: What’s coming up next

That’s it. Three beats. Clear and memorable.


6. End with impact

Don’t sign off with ‘...and that’s it.’

Have a closing line that lands. For example: ‘So in two minutes: we’ve delivered X, we’re focused on Y, and next quarter we’ll deliver Z.’ Short, sharp, and it signals you’re finished.


To sum up

A two-minute update isn’t just a mini-speech, it’s actually a test of discipline. The people who do it well look sharp, organised, and in control.

So then next time you’re asked to give ‘just a two-minute update’, don’t be blase about it.

It’s a chance to show you can be concise, clear, and compelling.



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