3 Last-Minute Presentation Fails That (Surprisingly) Made Me a Better Speaker
3 Last-Minute Presentation Fails That (Surprisingly) Made Me a Better Speaker
Picture this: you’re hours away from delivering a big presentation. You’ve practiced, prepared, and double-checked everything, but then things start going wrong.
That’s exactly what happened to me before my keynote on Neurodiversity & Inclusion at Happiness Camp in Porto. But here’s the thing: those “Uh Oh” moments? They actually made me a more confident and prepared speaker.
Here’s what happened — and what I learned:
1. Timing Confusion
I originally thought I had 45 minutes for just the presentation. Turns out, it was 45 minutes for both the presentation and a fireside chat. That meant I had to streamline a lot of content during practice.
Surprisingly, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It brought in external perspectives that helped refine the content and flow of the conversation, plus reminded me that less is always more!
2. Accessibility Issues with Colours
I usually double-check my slides using web accessibility tools to ensure everyone in the audience can read the text, considering factors like colours and fonts. However, the screen and lighting setup was unfamiliar, making some colours too bright and text hard to read.
During rehearsal, I took notes on which slides and contexts needed adapting and consulted with the tech team to ensure nothing was overlooked. This was a reminder that good design isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about usability and inclusivity. In the end, my slides were fun, colourful and informative!
3. Slides Sent in PDF Instead of PPT
I usually create slides in Canva and send them as PDFs to avoid formatting issues. But this meant I couldn’t include my speaker notes, which I definitely needed for heavy data points and audience questions.
I ended up working late into the night, rearranging slides, adding notes, and ensuring they were compatible with PPT. I also let go of the idea that a good speaker doesn’t need notes. Notes can actually guide the conversation and help keep control if you lose your train of thought, which is crucial.
Takeaway
Adaptability is key. Streamlining your message strengthens impact, designing for accessibility ensures everyone stays engaged, and using notes helps you stay on track, even when things don’t go as planned.
Key Piece of Advice
Every speaker faces “uh oh” moments. The key is not to panic, but to adjust, learn, and keep going. Presenting isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. If you stay calm and adapt, the audience will feel it too.
So What?
These might sound like panic moments, but honestly, every opportunity to learn and lean into a new perspective makes me a more confident presenter.
Despite the “Uh Oh” moments, I walked onto that stage feeling confident and happy, and it showed, as my presentation was highly rated by thousands of attendees.
We often think success means everything going perfectly. But true growth happens when things don’t go as planned, and you figure out how to keep going anyway.
Sonya Barlow is an award-winning entrepreneur, presenter and author with over 100K followers. She hosts her self-titled YouTube show "The Sonya Barlow Show", authored the business book "Unprepared to Entrepreneur" and runs a business inclusion consultancy and networking app the "LMF Network". You can work with Sonya for campaigns, content and conversation. Connect via email 📩 - Hello@SonyaBarlow.Co.Uk.