When the Plan Falls Apart, Leadership Begins
450 leaders. One broken video. And an audience starting to check their phones.
Eighteen minutes into my keynote, my video wouldn't load. My YouTube backup played a 30-second unskippable ad, and I could see people reaching for their phones. When the video finally started, there was no sound.
After 25 years as a basketball referee, I've learned that when things go wrong, you don't always get a timeout to figure everything out. Sometimes, you have to make the next call while everyone is watching.
Here are three leadership lessons from a keynote that didn't go according to plan.
🏀 1. Recognize What's Actually at Risk
When something goes wrong, the obvious problem isn't always the biggest problem. Great leaders recognize what's happening around them, including how their team, customers, or audience is responding, before deciding what to do next.
Real-Life Example:
When my video failed, the technology wasn't my biggest concern. It was watching people reach for their phones as their attention started slipping away. I couldn't control the equipment, but I could control how I responded, so I acknowledged the situation, made a joke about treating it like a real game, and kept things moving.
🏀 2. Evaluate the Outcome, Not Just the Plan
Too many leaders get so attached to their original plan that they forget what they're actually trying to accomplish. When circumstances change, stop asking how to save the plan and start asking how to achieve the outcome.
Real-Life Example:
My goal wasn't to play a video. My goal was to deliver a message that would help 450 leaders make better decisions under pressure. When the presentation failed, I switched to YouTube. When the sound failed, I narrated the video myself. Different approach, same mission.
🏀 3. Move Forward Before the Moment Passes
Leadership doesn't require a perfect solution. It requires the confidence to make a decision with the information you have, communicate it clearly, and adjust when necessary. Sometimes, waiting for everything to be perfect is the worst decision you can make.
Real-Life Example:
On the basketball court, I don't get to stop the game every time something unexpected happens. I have to recognize the situation, evaluate my options, and make the next call. Standing in front of 450 leaders wasn't much different. I had a decision to make, and standing around waiting for the technology to cooperate wasn't going to solve anything.
🏁 Final Whistle
The video failed. The backup failed. The sound failed. But the keynote didn't have to.
The biggest threat wasn't the technology failing. It was allowing that technology failure to become a failure of leadership.
Because when the script fails, the leader is still responsible for the next call.
🎯 Your 3 Calls This Friday
Recognize: Identify what's really at risk before reacting to what's going wrong.
Evaluate: Focus on the outcome you're trying to achieve, not the plan you're trying to save.
Move Forward: Make the best available decision and adjust as you go.
🎤 One More Thing...
On October 26, I'll be closing MPI Potomac's Education Day with a keynote appropriately titled OFF SCRIPT: Making the Call When Technology Can't Read the Room.
And I'd love to bring some real-world experiences into the room.
What's the BEST recovery you've ever witnessed when something went wrong at work or during a live event?
Share your story. I may feature a few examples on stage, with credit.
Go MAKE THE CALL!
Interested in bringing this message to your next conference or workshop? Let's connect. https://thedavidposner.com/connect
David M. Posner, MBA , founder of 3 Point Care Consulting is a highly experienced Leadership Consultant and a nationally recognized speaker. With over two decades of expertise in the leading companies, David has been instrumental in providing valuable insights and innovative solutions to address any industry's pressing challenges.
Learn more visit: www.TheDavidPosner.com
