what to do when the technology fails during a presentation
Communication Matters Newsletter
When Technology Fails During Your Presentation
I recently gave a one-hour lunch-and-larn for some folks at a tech visitor. They
wanted me to talk about some of the common pitfalls that technical presenters confront and what to do about them. Giving excuses (or rather, Not giving excuses) was a major indicate of the talk, and specifically about making apologies for when technology fails on you. 
It's non a matter of if technology volition neglect on y'all - simply a matter of when . Whether it's an intermittent Wi-Fi connection; an wrong password; the port settings of the network don't allow peer-to-peer advice ; a blurry projector image, a weak bulb, or a wrong aspect ratio; a microphone that feeds back or goes out completely; your carefully crafted PowerPoint animations are out of sequence; or a dimly lit room and a dimmer withal projector seedling... you Volition face engineering science glitches at some point in your presenting career.
I've seen technology scuttle many a presentation, including a video failure ("It was a keen video, I really wanted you to see information technology!"), a speaker daze themselves when touching the mic, a live demo where the database connection was lost in front of 4,000 people, and my personal hall-of-shame favorite: a sales presentation that spent 20 minutes trying to become the projector to talk to the computer and eventually was called off considering they could not demo the software they were selling (spoiler warning: they did not make the sale).
Which brings us dorsum to my presentation for and in front end of a large group of tech savvy folks. Almost to the second when I was mentioning that technology would eventually be an issue, my laptop dinged three times. I looked back at the screen in time to meet a depression power alert right before the display went blank. Talk about practical application!
3 Tips for Handling Engineering Failures During Your Presentation
- The start thing to exercise when technology fails yous is to remember that the audition doesn't care. They came to hear y'all and the insight you have to give, non be wowed by your amazing slide show or catchy video. The presentation - hey, that's Y'all! - must go on. If y'all depend on your slides to remember what to say, you're one bulb from being a stammering idiot on stage. If you require a mic to speak, then you are a 9-volt battery from being a mime. Focus on and be prepared to deliver your message, not be the technical operator for your electronic gizmos.
- Once you remind yourself that you must proceed speaking, the next thing to think is that you are in the speaking business, not the applied science business. It's likely someone else's assignment (and talent) to fix the problem, not your job while you try to go on an audience engaged. I endeavor to solicit help before I speak. Find the sound guy, the video skilful, or have someone from the facility on standby to run and get aid when you need it. You lot need to be speaking the unabridged time.
- The last thing, and perhaps the hardest, is to go on your focus on the topic and talk at hand. Don't talk nigh the technology whatsoever more than than is required to get information technology dorsum up or to segue to your new method of presenting. And if you must mention information technology, once is plenty. Don't prattle on and on about how the technology has failed you. Deliver your bulletin.
Proceed your focus on the message, solicit help from someone else, and stay on message without giving excuses. The result of treatment technology failure in this manner is the appearance that you are in complete control and are a true professional. That impression may be the nigh important factor in your success from the audience'due south indicate of view. They weren't probable to retrieve your specific slides or tell everyone about your corny video anyhow. Make it worth their fourth dimension (recall Dominion #1!) and yous'll be golden in their eyes.
P.S. The power problem? Turns out my laptop adaptor cord had pulled out of the brick that connects to the bodily laptop (note to manufacturers - go far Ane piece, then this never happens!). My host had neatly hidden the brick and the cord and so it wouldn't exist an eyesore: whether he or I had pulled the cord is inconsequential. Information technology happened, and I was left to bargain with it. My heart-rate doubled within a second, I couldn't believe it happened, merely I transitioned to a notes-only presentation, somewhen just turning off the projector. After the talk, several people asked me how I was able to stage a power failure at the verbal time to make my bespeak. I only smiled.
Advice matters, what are you saying?
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 | A lan Hoffler is the Executive Director and Principal Trainer at MillsWyck Communications. He is a Trainer, Speaker, Author, and Motorcoach who passionately moves others to effective and engaging advice. |
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