(Student answers will vary and should include an original example to illustrate one of the following situations.) Presentations rarely go as planned. Knowing your content perfectly will help you adapt to unexpected circumstances. Maintaining a flexible approach will help you think on your feet during unanticipated events. Some specific ways to stay flexible include the following:
• Arriving early gives you a chance to spot and adjust to surprises with equipment, the venue, or the audience.
• Focusing on the immediate needs of your audience and anticipating their possible questions can make for a smoother presentation.
• Keeping cool when you lose your train of thought, by simply pausing for a moment or by repeating your last statement, will often enable you to get back on track without the audience members even noticing you had a lapse.
• Pressing ahead with a slightly modified presentation if things do not go as expected (for example, if your projector fails) generally gets better results than telling the audience that things have gone awry.
• Thinking of what could go wrong and developing backup plans in advance of speaking will help you to press ahead with your presentation even if you encounter difficulties.
• Knowing what your key messages are enables you to skip parts of your presentation if necessary while still conveying your most important points.