Murphy’s Law states that whatever can go wrong, will. And when you’re giving a presentation using any kind of technology, from a projector to a phone, Murphy’s Law definitely applies. I’ve seen or experienced all of these examples, and while some can be prevented or prepared for, they are all nerve-wracking when they occur!
1. If you
are hosting a conference call on your cell phone, the call will drop at the
most crucial moment of the discussion.
2. The
battery on your lavaliere microphone will die out slowly, causing your voice to
break in and out - before finally quitting completely at the high point of your
presentation (and just as the A/V tech has left the room).
3. The
battery on your PowerPoint remote control will suddenly go haywire, causing
your presentation to jump forward and back like it’s possessed.
4. The
wireless network in your meeting room will kick you off during a live
presentation, moments after you’ve been ensured that the network is stable and told
your audience that there will be no problem accessing it live during your
presentation.
5. In the
middle of your slide presentation, your laptop will begin downloading automatic
updates and then shut down and restart slowly to fully install those
updates.
6. The webinar
software you’re using will stop working for no reason at all, but only once
everyone has joined the webinar and only if your most important client or
partner is participating.
7. If you
are using a wired headset to connect to a conference call, the wire will
inexplicably stop working (perhaps due to yanking it one too many times, when
you forgot you were tethered) and it will take you 6 minutes to realize that
people can’t hear you.
8. The
mute button will malfunction on the speaker phone that you’re using for your
conference call, which you’ll only realize after you’ve made a negative comment
about someone on the call.
9. The
microphone will emit eardrum-piercing feedback in the first few seconds of your
presentation, even after you’re done a sound check.
10. The
bulb on the slide projector will blow out during your slide presentation - and
there will be no replacement bulb within a 4 mile radius.
© Gilda Bonanno LLC - Gilda Bonanno serves as a trusted advisor to executives and entrepreneurs to transform their communication, presentation and leadership skills. She has worked with companies on 4 continents, from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome. The instructional videos on her YouTube channel have received over 2 million views and her e-newsletter has reached subscribers in over 45 countries since 2008. For other articles or to receive Gilda's e-newsletter, visit www.gildabonanno.com