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What do you do when things go wrong?
By Beverly Cohen, Communications Specialist of The Presentation Team

An effective presenter is in tune with the audience.  The audience "talks" to you with their body language. Sometimes, the message they send is, "I''m bored. I'm sorry I came.  I'm not interested." It's your challenge as a speaker to turn that message around so that it becomes, "I am totally involved in what you are saying.  Tell me more!"  How do you do that? How do you turn a hostile, unresponsive audience into motivated involved one? The key is a positive attitude and a flexible style.  Think about what your audience is telling you and be ready to alter your approach.

• Can they hear you? Adjust your volume/rate. Lower your voice. This implies exclusivity and gives the impression that they are included in privileged information.

• Can they see you?  Stand somewhere else. Increase your movement

• Are they bored? Tell a story to emphasize a point. Use humor or a short, uplifting story.

• Are they getting the message?  Preface your statement with, "This is critical to my point." or, "This is absolutely fundamental."

• Have they been inactive too long? Provide a break or an interactive activity.

• Is it time to stop?  Don't talk beyond your time frame or beyond your message.  Stick to your script.

Remember that you set the pace. Your attitude and flexibility can keep you in tune with your audience and turn a potentially disastrous meeting into a memorable one.