Your presentation is derailed by a major technical glitch. How do you recover and regain control on stage?
When technology fails during a presentation, staying composed and resourceful is key to turning the situation around. Here's how you can regain control:
What strategies have worked for you in these situations? Share your thoughts.
Your presentation is derailed by a major technical glitch. How do you recover and regain control on stage?
When technology fails during a presentation, staying composed and resourceful is key to turning the situation around. Here's how you can regain control:
What strategies have worked for you in these situations? Share your thoughts.
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Once in a rush to reach the venue a little before my keynote speech, I was rushing through the airport and tripped badly :( It was not only embarrassing but also painful. Somehow, I made it to the backstage just before my name was announced. What made it worse was to find out that my presentation can't be played due to technical glitch. I think moments like this bring out what's best within us. I just took the mike and shared my embarrassing moment of fall with the audience through a story and asked few questions. The vulnerability that I shared helped audiences open up and stay engaged. The authenticity helped me get a standing ovation, some happy tears of breakthrough in so many eyes and long-lasting relationships.
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One strategy that works mostly is engaging the audience. One should acknowledge the downtime, but reason it as an advantage to reach deeper and connect with your audience. Answer their questions, ask yours too. Get contributions and expectations for the presentation. This will ensure maximum engagement when your tech is back.
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Una de las formas es recuperar el control rápidamente, haciendo consultas sobre la información suministrada hasta el momento, consultar a los usuarios si tienen alguna duda. Si la situación se presta, preguntar como aplicarían el tema, y dar ejemplo de como podemos aplicarlo, hacer un juego para distender un poco y bajar la ansiedad entre los participantes también puede ser otra herramienta.
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1) Take a deep breathe. 2) Make a joke out of it example telling audience: " This always happens, when you want to make perfections." 3) Do not spend more than 5 mins rebooting and rebooting the system. 4) Start with a game, questions and answer sessions. 5) I would always have my Keynote manual written speech index cards, use the board available to do an interactive session. In fact this could be more effective as in the past old school way!
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A storytelling approach can turn the downtime into an interactive session. Ask your audience to share similar experiences or expectations during the glitch. For example, you might ask, “Has anyone else experienced something similar in their own work?” This turns the technical interruption into a dialogue, fostering greater connection. Rebuild Momentum: Once the tech is back, continue the story with a call back to the narrative you were sharing earlier. This not only re-engages the audience but also provides continuity. A well-timed story can bridge the gap and bring the presentation back to life
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A technical glitch is an opportunity to show resilience and connect authentically with your audience. Stay calm, acknowledge the issue with humor or honesty, and shift focus to your message - proving that great presentations are about people, not slides.
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A presentation is a story. That may be a report-out on performance or research, a sales pitch, a suggestion on why to do something a specific way... But it's still a story. Your prep for giving the presentation should be about making sure the story is clear to you so it's clear to the audience. Your technology should be a tool to tell that story - including relevant supporting information, perhaps some case studies, research data, examples, etc. When the tech goes down, you still have the story. Tell that story. I wouldn't spend a lot of time talking about the glitch. Go back to the story. You can always reconvene with the supporting info or send it after. The reason you're in the room is to tell the story. Go for it!
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Stay calm and acknowledge the glitch with humor to ease tension. Shift focus to your core message by speaking directly to the audience without reliance on visuals. Engage them with questions, anecdotes, or examples to maintain interest. Use backup materials like handouts or a whiteboard if available. If the issue resolves quickly, resume smoothly while thanking the audience for their patience. Your confidence and adaptability will keep the audience engaged and ensure the presentation’s impact remains strong.
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When technology fails during a presentation, composure and adaptability are key. I’ve learned to use humor to ease tension and reassure the audience that I’m in control. In one instance, I pivoted by narrating key points and engaging the audience directly, turning the glitch into an opportunity for connection. Moving forward, I always plan backups, like printed handouts, but I’ve found that creativity and confidence can leave a lasting impression when things don’t go as planned. Moments like these showcase resilience and the ability to thrive under pressure.
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