How to ensure a smooth presentation—and head off technical crises

As speakers, we want to deliver a perfect presentation that knocks it out of the park and leaves our audience knowing they just learned something unforgettable.

We also have those other moments, the challenging times when it looks like nothing is going right.

Recently, I spoke at an event that was special to me—a large national conference of my peers. This presentation had to be perfect, but due to some major technology challenges, it wasn’t.

It could have been disastrous. Instead, because of careful planning, plenty of rehearsal and high-quality content, our organization is getting positive national coverage about the subject.

Here are five pointers to overcome obstacles and make yourself memorable-for the right reasons.

1. Take a unique approach. That doesn’t mean naming your session with some silly catchphrase or pop culture reference like “Pokémon Go and Marketing for Millennials.” Convey your expertise by shedding new light on the subject. You want your attendees to walk away saying, “I have never thought about it like that before.”