If your presentation tool crashes during a training session, stay calm and reassure participants that you’ll resolve the issue quickly. Switch to a backup plan, like sharing a document or using a whiteboard to continue the discussion. Engage the audience by asking questions and encouraging interaction while you troubleshoot. This adaptability helps maintain momentum and keeps everyone involved.

I don't rely on a presentation for my workshops or any training program I deliver. When I have mentored / coached trainers, i have noticed that workshops turn into slideshow marathons and expressive reading contest. Infact, I have run several workshops, lasting for just a few minutes to multiple days, with target ranging from frontline staff to c-suite executives with just a post-it with outline of content to be covered, and then weave the entire workshop with stories, activities for experiential learning and other aids to enable learning! While presentations have their place, let us not fully rely only on them as they can also hold back on-the-go creativity, interaction, and deeper learning. So my take - crash it to crush it ;)

When your main presentation tool crashes, remember: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” (Franklin, 1746). Effective leaders have a Plan B, C, and D. Research shows that 67% of professionals find that backup plans reduce stress in unexpected situations (AMA, 2021). Resilience means pivoting without losing momentum—keep printed materials, engage in discussions, or use visuals to maintain engagement. A true leader isn’t thrown by disruption; they expect them, adapt to them, and keep their focus and energy steady. References: -Franklin, B. (1746). Poor Richard’s Almanack. -American Management Association. (2021, April 12). Handling Unexpected Disruptions.

Switch to Backup: Use an alternative tool (e.g., Google Slides) or share printed materials if available and Restart the Software: Quickly reboot the application and check for autosaved versions.

If the presentation tool crashed, we don't have to worry about it if we know the content fully. If there is a good hold in the content, the trainer can deliver even without any presentation tools. We can come out with some innovative approaches or even activity based learning. But if the trainer doesn't have a good hold on the content, then the chances of fumbling would be high