When preparing for a big meeting with prospective clients, many presenters spend a considerable amount of time rehearsing their presentations and practicing what they are going to say. Many meeting presentations rely on a great deal of technology to drive the company’s message home with potential new clients. Equipment can often engage customers and help them truly understand what the presenter is trying to convey. Unfortunately, if something goes wrong with the equipment during the meeting, some presenters get utterly lost, which could considerably jeopardize the impact of the experience.
While you may think the chances of this happening are slim, it actually happens quite often. Even the most prepared presenters forget to test their equipment before big meetings. Why? Many people think the technology will just work the way it always does. Unfortunately, technology can be fickle. For this reason, equipment tests should always be performed in advance of a scheduled meeting and then again directly before the meeting begins. In addition, presenters should make sure that all the equipment they intend to use during their presentation is available.
Why Equipment Should Be Tested Before a Meeting
When equipment fails or a user is unable to operate certain equipment during a meeting, it can make an already long meeting even longer. This can irritate meeting attendees and make the operator look foolish, even if it is not their fault that the equipment isn’t working properly. Long delays while someone tries to fix technical problems can make a once-interested audience lose interest altogether. Attendees might even leave the meeting or opt to cancel instead of waiting.
The risk of losing potential clients isn’t worth the few minutes it takes to simply run a check on equipment before a meeting. An equipment check allows the presenter to be confident and prepared during a meeting. It avoids trying to troubleshoot technical problems in the middle of a meeting, which they may or may not be able to do.
Making Sure Equipment is Available
Before finalizing your presentation plans, make sure the equipment you intend to use during your presentation is available. Ensure someone else is not scheduled to use the same equipment during the same period of time.
After checking to make sure the equipment you want to use is available, think about the presentation room. Are there enough electrical outlets and enough space to conduct the type of presentation you intend to? Ensuring these simple things could make the difference in snagging brand new clients for your business.