Presentation Pitfalls

Have you ever made a mistake during a presentation you were giving? You might be surprised to learn that even seasoned executives have had embarrassing moments when speaking in front of a group. Our company asked advertising and marketing executives to describe their most awkward presentation experiences. Whether the result of nerves, technical glitches, clothing gone awry or just plain bad luck, it seems that, sometimes, what can go wrong will go wrong. Here are some examples:

• “I was a little nervous and chewing on the end of a felt pen. When I got up to speak I didn’t realize the pen had broken and I had ink all over my face. My teeth were black, my mouth was black; I had marker everywhere and didn’t realize it!”
• “I was in a meeting and my hosiery fell down. I was mortified and stayed seated until the meeting was over.”
• “Our senior executive’s slip fell during a presentation.”
• “I spilled a freshly made cup of coffee across the boardroom table, and it poured onto the client’s lap.”
• “We were displaying a TV spot on videotape, and my coworker hit Record instead of Play and taped over it.”
• “When the account manager sat down at the conference table, the back of the chair broke, and she was trapped between the chair and the wall.”

Careful preparation can help prevent some, but not all, mishaps.  Here are some tips for recovering after a slip-up:

• Remain calm. Take a deep breath and focus on keeping your composure. 
• Acknowledge the problem. Address the situation in a humorous way if possible.  A quick one-liner can make everyone feel more at ease.
• Take a break. If it’s a matter that could take a few minutes to resolve, such as a technical glitch or a spill, suggest a quick “intermission.”

Source: Robert Half - Workvine.com