Pitch Perfect Presentations

When A Presentation Goes Awry, How Will You React?

You’re speaking at a prestigious event, a goal you’ve spent three months preparing for.

As you stride confidently across the low stage, the audience of 300 business professionals gobbles up your words like a gourmet meal. I’m on fire, you think, I’m a speaking goddess! In a haze of glory, you take two steps forward toward your adoring audience, and neglect to notice that you have run out of stage. In one slow, horrifying moment, you pitch headlong onto the dirty, hotel carpet floor, a tumble of arms, legs, and high heels. To make matters worse, a videographer is three feet away, videotaping your graceless fall for posterity.

Awful, huh?

Well, yes it was. I was the speaker who fell off the stage. And while I was unhurt (at least physically), it was jarring, and not a little embarrassing.

In Presentations, as in Life, Stuff Happens!

I bring up this awkward moment as proof that when the curtain literally or metaphorically goes up and you step into your spotlight moment, anything can happen. Though you may not fall dramatically off the stage as I did, you might be asked a question you can’t answer, stumble on a sentence, or spill your coffee all over your laptop and kill your lecture notes.

Because how you react to a stumble, a slip-up, or a surprise will determine how your audience reacts.

Here’s what I did after I tumbled off the stage, skirt a-flying:

1. I took a tiny moment to self-assess: Anything broken? Anything hurt? Nope.

2. I laughed. And when I laughed, my audience laughed. With me. Not at me.

“I’m ok,” I said, lifting myself up carefully from the floor. “Nothing’s hurt, except my ego. And," I said, pointing at the video camera, "it was all captured on video! Lucky me!”

The audience laughed again and let out a collective sigh of relief. “Alrighty,” I said. “Let’s try this again, shall we?”

Then I stepped back onto the stage, took a deep belly breath, and dove back in.

And if my audience had been engaged with me before, they were twice as engaged with me now. Why? Because I had been willing to be very present, very human, and very imperfect in front of them. I’d also been willing to find the funny in the situation. Which helped them relate to me even more deeply.

By choosing to react to a truly awkward (not to mention scary) situation with humanity and humor, I had given my audience permission to do the same.

How You React Determines How Your Audience Will React!

What about you? When pitching or presenting, how do you typically react to unexpected moments, like when you suddenly lose your place, or your Power Point freezes, or you realize with horror that your fly is open and the audience can absolutely see your tighty-whities? Do you freeze and metaphorically hide, or do you invite yourself to rock and roll with what you’re given?

Remember: If you’re willing to be perfectly ok with whatever goof, stumble, and mishap that occurs in your presentation, you stand the chance of creating a very real, very memorable moment that can bring you and your audience even closer.

And you might even have the video to prove it!

Need support bringing a commanding, confident presence to your pitches, presentations, and conversations? Shoot me an email at [email protected] and let’s have a chat.