During a meeting with some high level executives around a conference table, I fell out of my chair and landed flat on my back. (Yes, really!) Here's what happened.

I was invited to Stockholm by one of the world's largest beverage companies to deliver a full day workshop to a group of its international leaders. My travel itinerary was to take an early flight from Denver to Chicago, then to Frankfurt, and then to Stockholm. However, when I arrived in Chicago, there was a problem with the next plane and I had to be rerouted. My new itinerary became Chicago to Munich, then to Zurich, and then to Stockholm with a total additional travel time of 27 hours. Due to the changes, the only seats available were in economy, and for me, that meant no sleep. My original plan was to arrive in Stockholm at 7 AM local time which would have given me an entire day to regain my bearings before the workshop the following day. As it turned out, I arrived in Stockholm around 5 PM, and with no luggage. Apparently, it was stuck in Munich. I explained to the airline representative that I desperately needed my suitcase so that I could change out of the clothes I had been wearing for the past 35 hours. She assured me that my luggage would be delivered to my hotel later that evening. I found it difficult to sleep while waiting for my suitcase which finally arrived around 3 AM.

I set an alarm for 5:30 AM to allow enough time to clean up, put on a nice suit, and get to the client’s offices. When I arrived at the conference room, my adrenaline kicked in and I managed to do quite well throughout the day. (By the way, never, ever, tell your audience at the beginning of your presentation that you’re tired, not feeling well, etc. They expect and deserve your best no matter what the circumstances.)

The workshop concluded around 4:30 PM that afternoon. By then, I had been awake for more than 58 hours! When I attempted to head back to my hotel for some rest before my early return flight the next morning, the leader of the group suggested that we share taxis back to the hotel and then head out for dinner. But first there was to be a brief final presenter via conference call. I agreed to wait and took a seat at the conference table. The call came in and the presenter droned on about himself for at least 20 minutes.

The next thing I knew, I was lying on the floor! I had passed out from extreme exhaustion. Once I realized what had happened, I immediately placed myself back into my chair. Everyone witnessed my fall and showed some concern (and some chuckles) except for the boring virtual presenter who continued to talk about himself for another 10 minutes before the group leader told him we were out of time.

As we climbed into our taxis, someone told me to “buckle in.” There was a good laugh. When we arrived at our hotel, the group leader said, “Okay, freshen up and meet back in the lobby in 15 minutes so we can head out to dinner.” I explained that I would have to pass so I could get some much needed sleep before my early morning return flight.

As soon as I got to my room, I realized that I had to follow my own advice. I could not let my “Oh No’ moment be their last impression of me. So I removed my coat and tie and headed back to the lobby. We walked to a nearby restaurant and sat on stools at a large high-top table in the bar (actually, I chose to stand) as we waited some time for a dinner table. Drinks were ordered and we all chatted informally about our personal perspectives on various topics. After a while, I said goodbye with a hand shake, eye contact, and a friendly smile to each person..

Did I land on my feet (literally and metaphorically)? I believe so. And, I got a great story out of the whole ordeal!

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising each time we fall.” – Confucius


(See my new book, Presentations A to Z: The Handbook for Presenters, Second Edition available at Amazon.com)

One of the keys to being an outstanding presenter is knowing your content thoroughly. This requires rehearsing. When you can give your presentation without the aid of presentation software such as PowerPoint, it is only then that these tools can help to support your message. When standing to present, you’re the messenger, not PowerPoint. Try presenting without PowerPoint. It can be a liberating experience. You can create wonderful images by using expressive words, intonation, and facial expressions.

Occasionally, you may come across someone who is angry for some reason and decides to vent it toward you, the presenter. First, never let it get to you. Remain calm and professional at all times. Try one of these responses:

1. "We don't have the right people in the room today to have that discussion. Let's move on." (The "right people" may not exist!)

2. "Well, that is an interesting perspective. Let me give that some thought and maybe come back to it later."

3. "While we value your opinion, lets hear from some others in the room."

Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them, then TEST them to confirm that your message has been received as intended. Ask, what are your thoughts?, What is the most important thing you learned from this presentation? When you leave, what are you going to do differently?

My Second Edition of Presentations A to Z:The Handbook for Presenters now available as an e-book, just $4.97. Download http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LNNL6NI 

It may not be the right thing to do, but people do judge a book by its cover.

There are many expert consultants dedicated entirely to helping others improve their appearance. Below is a collection of the most common items that come up for discussion during my workshops.

• Do not wear excessive jewelry, loud prints, or colorful shoes that create competition for attention 
• Avoid strong perfumes/colognes 
• Remove change from pockets so you do not jingle it unintentionally 
• Make sure your belt is through all the loops in your pants 
• Check your teeth & face after meals 
• No gum, mints, or anything else in your month while speaking – they can fly out when speaking and cause awkward moments 
• Check all your buttons 
• Position all coat flaps correctly 
• Straighten your scarf or tie
• When in doubt, dress conservatively
• When speaking to a larger group, be sure to wear something that has a lapel or place to clip a remote microphone 
• Check your zipper(s) 

While you do not want to appear stuffy and unapproachable, you also want your message taken seriously. Unless you are absolutely sure that casual dress is the way to go, dress it up a notch. Your audience will sense your comfort level, so it is important to feel good in what you are wearing. Just don’t over do it to the point that your attire competes for the attention.

What can you add to the list above?

Bad grammar is like bad breath:  Even your best friends won’t tell you.  And somebody should.