What Are You Going to Do When the Inevitable Happens?.

Welcome to QuickBites — public speaking tips and techniques you can digest in five minutes or less.

It's not if something will go wrong — it's when. In this episode, Peter George asks a simple but important question: have you ever thought about how you'd respond when something unexpected happens while you're speaking? If not, you should. You can't prepare for every conceivable scenario — but you can prepare your mindset, your adaptability, and your calm.

Things That Have Actually Happened

Over the years, Peter has experienced his share of the inevitable. Forgetting what he was going to say — not unusual, and it will happen to you too, so know how you'll respond. Failing to engage an audience, usually because preparation fell short. The projector bulb going out — less common than it used to be, but still a reminder never to let your slides be your guide. The electricity going out entirely — it came back in under a minute, but getting back into the moment was harder than it sounds.

The Parking Lot Meeting

One particularly unlikely scenario: arriving to speak for an organization of about 150 people, only to be told that the person with the key to the building cannot be found. The event is called off — until one member looks up at a gorgeous day and suggests holding the meeting in the parking lot. Within minutes, people are returning from their cars with blankets and folding chairs, others are perched on a stone wall, and someone has made a run to Dunkin' for boxes of coffee. Aside from the occasional rumble of a passing 18-wheeler, it goes smoothly — and becomes one of the most memorable events Peter has been part of.

Two Fire Alarms and Eight Minutes

Even less likely — but it happened. Scheduled to speak for 60 minutes, Peter is introduced and the fire alarm immediately sounds. Out of the hotel everyone goes, only to learn it's a false alarm. Back inside: 25 minutes remaining. The alarm sounds again. Out, false alarm, back in. Eight minutes left in the time slot. Walking back into the room, Peter asks himself: what am I going to do? The answer: tell the audience what the talk was about, deliver a quick version of the central story, share the moral, and connect it to them. It worked.

The One You Truly Fear

And of course — the zipper. On stage, dark blue suit, white shirt. Noticeable. As one attendee told Peter afterward: "Each time you moved and your pants opened, your shirt was like a bright beacon shining in the night." Many of these moments, Peter notes, have since become his favorite stories and anecdotes.

Thank you for devouring another episode of QuickBites. Tune in Monday when you'll hear another episode of Public Speaking with Peter George, and again Thursday for your next episode of QuickBites. Until then, remember — when it comes to speaking in public, you've got this. I'll see you next time.