How do you adapt your public speaking style when faced with sudden audiovisual issues?

Technical issues can happen during public speaking. Here’s how to handle them: Stay Calm: Your reaction influences the audience. Stay composed. Backup Plan: Bring printed materials or memorize your presentation. Engage with the Audience: Ask questions and encourage discussion. Use Body Language: Tell stories and use gestures to communicate. Practice Without AV Support: Train to present without slides. Acknowledge the Issue Briefly: Mention the problem and move on. Use Humor: If appropriate, use a joke to lighten the mood. Flexibility and resilience are key.

Taking a deep breath and acknowledging the issue internally can prevent you from panicking or rushing through your presentation. Remember, your audience likely hasn't noticed the problem yet, and staying composed projects confidence and allows you to think clearly about how to proceed. In fact, acknowledging the issue with a touch of humor can even endear you to the audience further.

It is not uncommon to encounter audiovisual problems during a presentation. In these cases, always have a plan B, such as a printed version, or take important notes as a backup. This will give you the emotional security to continue your presentation. Even if you do not use your psychological resources, you will be able to perform without the pressure of not having these resources. If you do not have a plan B, try to include your audience in the presentation, ask questions, ask them to share similar experiences, make eye contact, use expressive body language and move around the space, if possible.

When the unexpected happens, be ready to tweak your content on the spot. Break down complex ideas into simpler points and focus on delivering a clear, concise message. Become a atmosphere changer and manage the audience and the room.

AV issues don't always happen, but I've learned to prepare as if they will every time. For smaller venues where I handle my own technology setup, I arrive very early to check the setup, connections, and all relevant AV materials. Even with the best preparation, AV issues can still occur. That's why I always bring extras like cords, clickers, and batteries and back up my presentation on a thumb drive. For larger venues where a team manages the AV, I still arrive early to perform checks with the tech crew when possible. If the AV fails despite all this prep, I remain calm and continue delivering my presentation with the same enthusiasm, just without the slides. You've got this!

If possible, switch to a low-tech solution. Flip charts or whiteboards can be lifesavers in a pinch. You can even use markers to draw on a blank projector screen! This can turn a negative into a positive by engaging the audience in a more interactive way.

It's stressful, to say the least, when your presentation materials for a meeting with 100 attendees fail. An easy way to make sure you can go analog is to have a copy of your speaking notes. Knowing the material blind, having practiced the way you'll deliver the material and practiced without using your notes is also very helpful. In one of our more successful meetings, we had a technical failure. We turned the meeting into an open discussion with brainstorming and a sharing of best practices. It was supremely productive.

Always be prepared with a version of your presentation that relies on something other than slides. Check with the venue to see if they are equipped with learning tools like whiteboards, flip charts, easels, and markers. If not, bring your own and have them ready if the AV fails. It's much better to have those items on hand and not need them than to need them and not have them. Shifting to Plan B will happen at some point, and it isn't a time to get frustrated but a time to shine, continue engaging the audience, and make an impact. Remain calm and use the tools you have ready. You've got this!

While raising your voice is crucial, remember to maintain clarity and avoid shouting. Project from your diaphragm for a powerful, natural volume that will reach the audience even without amplification. This will also help you stay calm and collected under pressure.

Engaging with the audience is always fun and helps deepen the impact of your message while adding variety. If the AV isn't working, this is your time to up your engagement game. With the supporting slides unavailable, the entire focus is on you, which is an opportunity, not an obstacle. Depending on the venue, take this chance to leverage the space by walking around strategically, especially in a workshop setting. If you're speaking from the stage, there is still an excellent opportunity to amplify your presence with purposeful movement and appropriate body language. AV issues aren't an obstacle but a great chance to elevate your game and deepen your impact. You've got this!

Don’t be afraid to take risks when trying to approach your presentation authentically. People love personal stories and how it relates to subject.

This is one of the great benefits of having a structured approach like the Minto Pyramid. If you have internalized the major points to get across, the visual aids are just that... aids that you can do without if necessary. A slide can be replaced with an anecdote or a simplified chart can be drawn on a flip chart. It may not as be accurate as what you had in your visual aids, but it can get the point across just as well. Perhaps even better because people are engaged as you improvise.

I memorize my talk with specific points, I practice my talk and make sure to analyze my presentation by time management. Don’t get frustrated is the audio or visual malfunction. I know the subject matter, length of each segment and the wrap up. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

I really appreciate a great quote I've heard: "By failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail." Part of that preparation includes having a Plan B for when the AV goes down. While I prepare thoroughly for my presentations, I don't recite them word for word from notes. Although using note cards, a teleprompter, or other supports may work for some, I prefer to prepare enough to avoid relying on these aids. I also enjoy improvising appropriately. While my topics follow a similar thread, no presentation is exactly the same. I adjust based on the audience, their engagement, and especially if the AV goes down. Have fun! You've got this!

Know your weaknesses and be open about it. Taking an improvisation class was one of the best moves I made for my professional life. I’m so much more comfortable with presenting new material and building a relationship with audiences.

Faire preuve d'autodérision permettra toujours de créer 2 choses : 1. Désacraliser la perfection. Vous êtes comme tout le monde et des galères, ça arrive. 2. De la proximité avec votre public. Les gens aiment voir que vous réagissez comme eux, que vous êtes capables d'avoir du recul et de l'humour. Il ne faut jamais hésiter à utiliser l'autodérision (à petite dose hein, n'allez pas non plus vous dévaloriser oh) pour se sortir des situations compliquées.

Have fun, engage the audience, and remember you were asked to present for a reason. Be confident in your abilities and the impact you're making. Don't let AV failures detract from your presentation. Reframe your perspective and see this as an opportunity to elevate your abilities, showcase your talents, and provide incredible value to the audience. You've got this

Make a joke of it - I like to say - we need to stop buying used equipment from the space station MERz - then I explain how steve Jobs had a similar problem then -if not fixed I jump into plan B

If the audience is the right size and you are presenting in person, why not plan the audiovisual issue from the start and skip the audiovisuals altogether for a change? I once attended a presentation training with Gene Zelazny (of "Say it with Charts" and McKinsey slides fame). He had a PowerPoint on the screen. The first thing he did was turn it off. As we stared at the blank screen, he said: "people think PowerPoint is the presentation. It is not. You are the presentation. The slides are just visual aids."

Be ready to deliver your presentation without slides. Strange things happen. Projector bulbs die. Cables fail. Computers require sudden OS updates. Know your story. Focus on your audience. Adapt to the situation. And never, ever, EVER rely on internet access for a presentation.

Pivoting without being flustered helps the audience stay focused on your delivery. A/V tends to be the # culprit on presentation so come early and come prepared in the room to troubleshoot and avoid those issues. Have your presentation slide on paper in case you lose the visual so you can easily refer to it if needed. If you practiced prior to your presentation it should be seamless without the other stuff. Keep eye contact with the audience and keep them engaged.