What do you do if your presentation is interrupted by unexpected challenges?

Got 3 LIFE SAVERS for you! 1- When you hit that stage, setting the vibe is key. Authenticity is your ace, Vulnerability is Pure power! Remember, it's not about you—it's all about the audience. Next up, keep it real and friendly; that sets the stage for turning any curveball to your advantage. Being genuine and open? That's when the magic happens—your audience's got your back, always! Stay stiff and uptight? That means you're stuck in your head, not serving the crowd. 2- Practice with distractions galore, so nothing throws you off your game, you're bulletproof. 3- Learn to read rooms. It's not just about talking; it's about connecting. When the crowd's on your side, you've got your safety net. And always have backup plans! You GOT this!

I was a keynote speaker at a conference that the Norwegian Health Directorate had set up. The last speaker, in a conference hall where the temperature had reached 42 degrees Celsius, and the humidity felt like we were in a bathtub. I walked up on stage. Looked out at the crowd; all leaders from the psychiatric wards all over Norway. Eager to have a shower before the gala dinner that night. And I said "Let's take a ten minutes break." Everybody laughed, and when I came back on stage, I had their attention. And a bottle of water in my hand.

Picture this: I’m standing at the podium, delivering a speech to a captivated audience. The room is hushed, hanging on my every word. Suddenly, the air is pierced by the wailing sirens of a passing police car. The distraction is palpable, but I remain unfazed. Not a beat missed, not a syllable dropped—I soldier on. Interruptions are inevitable. Life throws them at us like unexpected plot twists. Whether it’s a blaring siren, a ringing phone, or a surprise guest appearance by a wayward pigeon, disruptions will happen. The key lies in our response. Imagine a cucumber—cool, collected, and impervious to external chaos. That’s you. When the unexpected crashes your party, maintain your composure.

It's not a matter of IF but WHEN weird stuff is going to happen, so keep that sense of humor! Once when I was telling a story at an open mic, an opera singer began belting it out across the street! I raised my volume, refocused and kept going. A few months later, I was telling another story at the same place. This time, in the middle of my story, a remarkably loud bus passed by. I was forced to pause just when the words of the story were, “...weeks passed....” After the bus went by and we could hear again, I gestured to the street, smiled and said “Busses passed." Everyone chuckled, and I continued. Humor, acknowledging weird stuff and not taking yourself too seriously are all good strategies in these situations.

This is so very common for any speaker in Bangladesh! But again, there are corporate setups for speaking practices that are growing all over the world, including in Bangladesh as well: a conference room with paging microphones. Unexpected challenges are very less and include only power failure and lack of (colleague's) attention. However, this is not my zone. In an orthodox situation, interruptions come in the form of late-comer guests, power failures, outside abrupt noises; in the worst case, the breaking of a chair or the podium. It's always helpful to keep in mind that you are the speaker and people are mostly looking at you. Get a big encompassing smile, embody the unease of the room (they are feeling awkward too), and start again.

Now that you've kept your cool, it's time to assess the situation pronto. What's the interruption all about? Is it a technical hiccup, a burning question from the crowd, or something else entirely? Pinpointing the nature of the challenge is key to plotting your next move. If it's a question throwing you off track, acknowledge it gracefully and consider addressing it later. If it's a tech blip, reassure the audience that you've got it under control. Stay sharp, stay focused, and remember, swift assessment leads to swift resolution!

Turn it into a stand up comedy special! I've been speaking for over a decade and I can count on one hand the number of times something HASN'T gone wrong! Hah. Mic goes out. Slides broken. Clicker doesn't work. Video doesn't play. Go into it knowing that every presentation is a unique experience and gift. It will never be the same -- this is the beauty of theater and live performance. So instead of over rehearsing and trying to attain "perfection" treat this as an opportunity to bring humanity to the audience's experience. And if you aren't comfortable with improv... I suggest an improv class! They are so fun.

Roll with the punches. Make a joke out of it. Life happens. The best speeches are natural and not uptight. The audience will understand. You're the subject matter expert. Get your point across in another manner. Always be prepared for Plan B .

When unexpected interruptions throw a wrench in your presentation, flexibility is your secret weapon. Stay nimble and be ready to adapt on the fly. If a slide fails to show up, no sweat! Describe the info verbally like a pro. Fire alarm blaring? Summarize your points with lightning speed. The ability to pivot and adjust your delivery or content keeps you in the driver's seat, ensuring you don't lose your audience's attention. So stay flexible, stay sharp, and show 'em how it's done!

It happens! Allowing yourself to flow on with interaction helps both you and the audience to stay engaged. I was giving a commencement address when a fire alarm drill went off. We were assured it was just an inopportune test of the system that did not involve the building we were in. Less than ideal timing to say the least. As the alarm blared I pivoted to thanking their program leadership and gave them the gifts that I had planned to give privately afterward. It took up a bit of the awkward slack and allowed us to shift back into the address right after the alarm had finished.

When tech gremlins rear their ugly heads, turn lemons into lemonade by engaging your audience. Use the downtime to spark conversation. Pose questions, invite thoughts on what's been covered. This not only keeps them in the game but also gives you a chance to recalibrate and get back on track. Remember, interaction is key to keeping the energy up and the focus sharp. So seize the moment, folks, and turn those interruptions into opportunities!

Engage the Audience, Use the interruption as an opportunity to engage with the audience. Encourage participation, ask questions, or initiate discussions to keep them actively involved despite the disruption.

I always try to make a joke about the situation and break the ice about the elephant in the room. For example, I hosted a big symposium and in the opening remarks the projector decided to not work.. making light of how "getting the technical difficulties out of the way in the beginning" allowed everyone to chuckle and relax a little bit. My youngest daughter was with me the entire time her first year of life, and was notorious for ONLY wanting to breastfeed right before I had to speak... So I simply talked while covertly, not covertly gave a presentation one armed. Rather than making it more awkward and "getting embarrassed" I simply embraced the elephant in the room and everyone was a lot more receptive to the awkwardness done this.

When interruptions throw you a curveball, why not add a dash of humor to the mix? A well-timed quip can work wonders in easing tension and bringing your audience back on board. Keep it light, keep it relevant, and watch the mood shift from frazzled to friendly. But hey, tread lightly, folks. Humor's a powerful tool, so make sure it's a good fit for the moment and the crowd. So next time tech troubles strike, whip out a witty remark and keep those smiles shining!

Address the Interruption, Depending on the nature of the interruption, you may need to address it directly. If it's something within your control, such as technical difficulties with your equipment or slides, try to resolve it quickly and smoothly. If it's an external factor, such as noise or distractions, politely acknowledge it and ask for cooperation from the audience.

Humor is powerful, especially if you can poke fun at yourself in the process. It lightens the mood and breaks the awkwardness everyone is feeling for you in the moment. Not everyone is naturally funny, but adding in even some obvious light hearted remarks can make the audience feel much more comfortable and ready to listen to you rather than thinking the entire time how uncomfortable you may look.

Once you've tackled that interruption head-on, it's time to stride forward with confidence. Don't linger on the hiccup or drown in apologies. That just dilutes your authority and veers attention away from your message. Instead, seamlessly pick up where you left off. Maybe recap what you covered pre-interruption to realign everyone's focus, then dive right back into your key points. Remember, confidence is contagious, folks. So shake off those setbacks, stand tall, and keep that presentation train chugging along!

When it comes to handling interruptions, remember to trust yourself. You've prepared, you're passionate about your topic, and you've got what it takes to roll with the punches. So, keep that faith in yourself burning bright. And hey, don't forget to breathe! Taking a moment to center yourself can work wonders in maintaining your composure and keeping those nerves at bay. So next time an interruption rears its head, trust yourself, take a breath, and show 'em what you're made of!

Manage Time Effectively, If the interruption results in time constraints, prioritize your content and focus on delivering the most important information within the available time frame. Be concise and to the point, while still ensuring clarity and understanding.

Audiences value authenticity. If something unexpected happens, address it honestly and candidly. Don't add trying to cover it up to your stressors. Turn it into a relatable moment with the audience. They've had unexpected things thrown their way as well. Also, remember that most audiences want to hear what you have to say. Very rarely is anybody rooting for your failure.

Ooof, this is such a real fear! "What do I do if x happens?!" What I find helps a ton is practicing some impromptu speaking. Try responding to the following prompts: - Your visual aid (slides) cut out suddenly, what could you say? - For the 3rd time, Adam in accounting has not muted his microphone and we're listening to his golden oldies background music via Spotify. What could you say to address him and this? - You keep getting raised hands and questions mid-presentation when you planned for a Q&A session at the end. What could you say to help listeners understand there's an end segment where they can ask these?