Cope with disaster

Equipment doesn’t work?

• Carry a set of whiteboard markers.

• Bring your slides on a memory stick/cdrom/exterior hard drive.

Noise outside – building works, cutting the grass..?

• Difficult but try to find another room.

• Or try to speak to the workers – offer a beer.

Fire alarm goes off?

• Nothing you can do but follow the drill!

You’re late – traffic problems?

• Plan to arrive an hour early.

• See if a colleague can start in your absence.

Your colleague is sick and can’t come?

• You should always be able to talk about the section of your colleague.

Room too hot or too cold?

• Your audience really needs to concentrate – take them outside, change the room, order drinks, give frequent breaks.

A difficult member of the audience?

• Keep cool and polite, say that you will be happy to speak to him or her personally during the break or after the presentation

• Build up a good relationship and the audience will be happy to forgive you any small problems – no relationship and they will only see the problems.