My big presentation in Chicago went totally sideways because of a simple slide mistake

I was pitching to a group of 15 potential clients at their downtown office, and on slide 7, I had a huge typo in the revenue forecast number. My boss, Karen, just stared at me from the back of the room. I paused, pointed it out myself, and made a joke about needing more coffee. It saved the talk but I felt like an idiot. How do you guys handle fixing a mistake in front of a crowd without losing your cool?

3 comments

3 Comments

kai_west1mo ago

Nice save with the coffee joke. Own it fast and keep moving, that's all you can do.

wren9762d ago

Keep it short and keep it casual. Quick recovery is the play every time. What else can you really do about those awkward moments?

beth_baker691mo ago

Wow, @kai_west nailed it. Maybe thank Karen later for the silent push?