Imagine youโre working with a brand new client. This is someone who you were introduced to by a trusted friend, and you want to do excellent work.
Youโre co-hosting a virtual presentation for this individual. If it goes well, this could be a mutually beneficial long-term relationship. You practice, rehearse, and prepare all your slides, videos, audio and polls.
You prepare for the worst. You have a contingency contingency plan in case something goes wrong.
15 minutes into the presentationโฆ it happens.
The ONE problem youโve never experienced and couldnโt have planned for.
You canโt do anything and youโre held hostage by the technology.
Can you imagine that?
Iโm Ready
I donโt need to imagine this. It happened to me last Friday.
Iโm working with my new client, Gene. Heโs a successful individual, a retired naval officer whoโs commanded two navy ships. This is a high stakes presentation for him that can open many new doors.
We talked for two weeks, practiced, rehearsed, did dry runs, and anticipated every possible problem.
On the day of the event, Iโm prepared with my technology. Iโm ready!
But then, 15 minutes into the presentation, my computer system locks up.
Held Hostage By Technology
I canโt do anythingโโโnot even turn off my computer. Iโve never experienced this before. Maybe all those fears about AI are trueโโโitโs taking over!!
I can hear everyone on the other end, but my side is frozen.
I try everything I can think of.
Nothing.
After 4 minutes, I have no other choiceโโโI go with the nuclear option; I take the one action youโre not supposed to with a computer system. I reach down, grab the plug and and pull it out of the wall socket.
Iโm mad as hell and thinking multiple thoughts:
โHow did this happen? I prepared for everything! This is a brand new client! How could this happen to me? This is a disaster!
But then something interesting happens. My training kicks in.
Years ago, I discovered that when youโre under duress, you fall back on your training.
I had practiced and rehearsed over and over. I also have seven years of virtual hosting experience.
All of my experience and training kicks in. I know when I restart my computer, the worst thing I can do is immediately get back on the call.
I have to first reset all of the presentation materials. Prepare the:
- Videos
- Slides
- Polls
- Chat box questions
Only then do I re-enter the call. I hope Gene has been able to effectively keep the presentation going while Iโve been offline.
Sure enough, when I log back in, he has smoothly handled the situation. HIS training had kicked in. He can handle a crisis, which this is notโโโitโs an annoyance.
Weโre able to smoothly ease me into the presentation.
The rest of it goes fairly smoothly with only a couple of minor glitches.
Why We Getย Paid
I was still mad when the presentation ended. I kept it all inside, didnโt show it on screen, but I was angry at the situation.
But then I got on a quick debrief call with Gene. His first words were, โWow, that was rough. Michael, you handled yourself so professionally. I want to work with you again.โ
My first thought, โWhat? That wasnโt professional to me.โ
Geneโs supportive words reminded that as speakers, trainers, leaders, or sales professionals weโre not paid because of what we do when the event is going perfectly, when all is well.
Weโre paid to handle the challenges and the problems in a calm and professional manner.
This is why preparation is critical. Practice, drill, rehearse. Make adjustments. Repeat.
You canโt practice for every possible challenge. An experience occurred to me which never happened before, but I was able to lean on my training, determine the best possible action in the moment, and move forward.
Challenges are inevitable. Sometimes youโll encounter one youโve never seen. The way you handle it is how youโll be evaluated.
This is why practice and rehearsal is critical. Prepare until your material is second nature. This enables you to keep your emotions in check when the problem occurs.
It also enables you to shine and create a positive experience in the middle of mayhem.
Michaelโs mission is to help leaders, managers and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. This passion is born from his own communication difficulties early in his career.
Fortunately, he discovered that public speaking is like riding a bike, swimming or driving a car - itโs a learnable skill. Once he discovered this โsecretโ he became a voracious student of the craft. He took courses, studied some of the worldโs best speakers and storytellers and continues to study presentation and business storytelling skills.
He is hired by companies and organizations, leaders, managers and sales professionals, and TEDx speakers to help them become more confident, impactful and influential communicators.
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