We’re all well acquainted with Murphy’s Law: if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. Well the same applies to presentations, and when you’re giving a presentation there are so many things that could go wrong… Did you bring your own pc? It won’t recognize the projector! You have a Mac? You’re missing the cable adaptor! If not this, your remote will probably run out of battery or your powerpoint file isn’t compatible with the program version they have at the venue… I’ve even seen someone forget his password and not be able to start his computer to show his slideshow! Anyway, so many things that can go wrong, one of them probably will.

It’s not easy to anticipate every single one of the problems that can come your way, but the important part is not to anticipate them, it’s how you deal with them when they come up. I know someone who copies her presentations on 2 USB sticks in 2 different formats (pre and post 2003), which I think is pretty clever. But instead of relying so much on your slides and finding ways to prevent presentation glitches, the best thing you can do is prepare yourself so much for it that nothing can stop you. How many times have I said that you are the presentation? If you prepare your presentation so that you are the most important part of it, then, even without your slides, you can still present.

Many people, however, choke when something like this happens and they aren’t able to start the presentation. This is where you can tell there has been a lack of preparation; here you can really see they didn’t spend time rehearsing. I had one of these moments the other day, I had a presentation to give, I showed up at the venue, connected my laptop, found the audio cable, tested it, I turned on the projector… but I didn’t test it! 20 minutes later, when it was time to start, my slides weren’t showing up! I could have waited for the IT guy to find the problem before I began so I could show the beautiful slides it took me so long to create; but why make the audience waste their time like that? So I started the presentation. I told them who I am, where I’m from and why I was there. I do have slides that go with the story, but I don’t really need them! I was simply telling my story. And telling it like that, without any slides, I connected much more with the audience.

Solving technical issues takes time, time you shouldn’t make your audience waste. If you prepare all you presentations knowing that these things can also happen to you, then when they do happen you’ll be ready to react. Introduce the subject, tell them why it’s important; these are things that you know perfectly if you spent time preparing. I’m sure someone dealt with the issue by the time you’re done and your audience will appreciate not having to wait for 15 minutes. Can’t fix the problem no matter what? No worries! Remember they came to see you! Rehearse your presentation thoroughly and you won’t need slides, they’ll just support your message.

Good luck in your next presentation, don’t forget Murphy’s presentation law!

Byron Stanford for Project Presentation.