What Do You Do When Something Goes Wrong?

Something is going to go wrong.

I don’t want to be a downer, but I also want you to go into this next talk, speech, lesson, or sermon with realistic expectations. Before or while you speak, something is likely to go wrong.

In most cases, that disruption is likely to be minor. Yes, major disruptions can happen (I had the fire alarm go off once when I was speaking), but that is a rarity. Most disruptions will be minor and have little lasting impact on your message.

For example, as you begin to speak you may find that your microphone is still muted. Perhaps when you are in the midst of making an important point, someone’s cell phone will begin loudly playing the opening bars from Sweet Home Alabama. Or maybe you have a point that is supposed to show up on the screen, and for some reason, it doesn’t.

These are the types of disruptions that can, and often will happen as you speak.

So what do you do when something goes wrong?

Here are the three options I most often lean on when something has gone wrong over my 20+ years of public speaking and preaching.

Ignore the Disruption

While you are fully aware that something has gone wrong, your audience may or may not realize it. One option, especially for minor issues, is simply to ignore what has happened and continue on.

The slide has not come up? Keep going as though nothing is wrong.

Lost your place? Repeat your last phrase as you look through your notes to figure out what is next.

Even in those moments where the audience is fully aware of the disruption (cell phone, someone passes gas, someone is noisily opening their mint), the audience will sympathize with you as they recognize you are simply pushing on and trying to communicate what you have prepared.

Lean Into What Happened

One word of caution for this one – NEVER do this in a way that will make someone else feel embarrassed or called out.

For example, never look to the person whose phone is going off and say, “Is that for me? Should I stop so you can take that?” Instead of sympathizing with you, this can actually turn your audience against you as you could be received as a jerk.

However, there are ways to recognize what has happened, without anyone feeling called out. With the cell phone example a response such as, I love that song… can allow everyone to chuckle at the incident rather than making someone feel shame for their mistake. If the sound suddenly messes up, after giving a few seconds to allow those in the tech booth to adapt, you can offer to grab another mic or just turn your mic off and project your voice if the venue is conducive to it.

In some circumstances, you might feel it best to acknowledge what happened. That’s fine. Just make sure you never do it in a way to embarrass someone else.

Poke Fun – But Only At Yourself

Connected to my last recommendation, this one needs to be handled delicately, but can certainly turn out well if you are good on your feet. Let’s say you made a typo on the screen which is obvious to everyone. It’s ok to say something like, “Well you can see the slide says, ‘Sale for Tomorrow’ apparently my spell check wasn’t working. That’s supposed to say, ‘Save for Tomorrow.’ I’m my own personal assistant so I’ll need to have a word with myself tomorrow morning.”

Playful, self-deprecating humor can endear you to the audience and can be a casual way to deal with disruptions when they come up.

So, what have been some disruptions you have dealt with?

What are some of the tactics you’ve used when things don’t go as planned?

Let me know by emailing Mark@MarkMessmore.com or tweeting me: @mmessmore.