What do you do if you encounter unexpected technical difficulties during a public speaking engagement?

2 Stay calm

If you encounter a technical glitch during your presentation, don't panic or apologize excessively. Instead, stay calm and composed, and acknowledge the problem with a brief and positive statement, such as "We seem to have a minor issue here, but we'll fix it in no time." Then, ask for assistance from the staff or the host, and let them handle the technical aspect while you focus on your audience. You can use this opportunity to engage them with a relevant question, a story, a joke, or a recap of your main points.

3 Be flexible

Sometimes, technical difficulties may take longer than expected to resolve, or they may be beyond your control. In these cases, you need to be flexible and adapt to the situation. You can use different methods to deliver your message, such as writing on a board, using handouts, or speaking without slides. You can also modify your content, structure, or timing to fit the circumstances, such as skipping less important parts, summarizing key points, or ending earlier. The most important thing is to keep your audience informed and interested in what you have to say.

4 Learn from feedback

After your presentation, you should seek feedback from your audience, your colleagues, or your mentors on how you handled the technical difficulties. You can ask them how they perceived your performance, what they liked and disliked, and what they learned from your presentation. You can also review your own actions, reactions, and emotions, and identify what you did well and what you can improve. By learning from feedback, you can enhance your problem-solving skills and prepare yourself for future challenges.

5 Practice regularly

Finally, the best way to improve your public speaking skills and confidence is to practice regularly. You can join a public speaking club, take a course, or participate in workshops and events where you can practice your presentation skills in front of different audiences and situations. You can also simulate technical difficulties in your practice sessions, and try to cope with them in a calm and flexible manner. By practicing regularly, you can develop your resilience and creativity, and become a more effective and confident public speaker.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?