[Image by Gerd Altmann of Pixabay]
Two of the most important words a public speaker has are…what if. I imagine you’ve said those two words before as have most speakers. It shows one is anticipating possibilities. Here are several examples of “what ifs” that you may have encountered already or will encounter sometime in your career:
- My mind draws a blank and I can’t think of what to say next?
- I experience technological problems and find my technology isn’t a compatible version?
- I have to speak loudly to be heard and there isn’t a microphone?
- My audience is highly distracted and I’m unable to get them engaged?
- The room acoustics are not adequate for my presentation?
- I don’t know the answer to a question posed to me?
- My presentation runs too long for the allotted time frame?
- My presentation is too short for the allotted time frame?
- I speak with rapidity?
- I have a wardrobe malfunction (over or underdressed or have a stain on my garment)?
My list of what ifs is not meant to be exhaustive, so please feel free to add any that you are concerned about or have addressed in the past. I’d recommend that you then keep your list and solutions at your finger tips for future reference. There are solutions for each of these problems which I’ve resolved and would be happy to assist you (or members of your team) do the same.
It really comes down to these words—practice and contingency plan. With purposeful practice and a contingency plan in place, you can successfully take care of your what ifs.
So what is your what if?