When planning your event think ahead about the different scenarios that can happen, look at how you can build flex into the schedule, always have a back up plan! Having a well planned, well thought through schedule for your event means you can always come up with an option of what to do. What to swap or drop! So, don’t be caught out - plan for every scenario and always have a plan B !

This could have been avoided by contractually obligating your speaker to arrive the day before their engagement or earlier in the day if they are speaking later. With the volatility of air travel, I insist on an early arrival of a speaker if the event hinges on the person being there. If the speaker is a key component of your event you absolutely need to plan for the worst-case scenario AND if this is a critical session, plan for contingencies.

I stay calm and quickly adjust the schedule. I might start with a different segment, like a Q&A or networking session, to keep the energy up and attendees engaged. Clear communication with the audience and team ensures everything runs smoothly without causing chaos

Si el orador principal llega tarde, es esencial mantener la calma y ejecutar un plan de contingencia para mantener el evento en marcha sin causar caos. Comunica rápidamente: Informa a tu equipo sobre la situación para que todos estén al tanto y puedan coordinar cualquier cambio necesario sin problemas. Reorganiza el cronograma: Adelanta otras presentaciones o sesiones: Si hay otro orador o actividad que pueda realizarse antes de lo planeado, mueve esa parte del programa para llenar el vacío temporal. Extiende la sesión de networking o breaks: Puedes ampliar los tiempos de descanso o de networking, lo que permitirá a los asistentes socializar y aprovechar el tiempo mientras esperan al orador.

A keynote speaker running late doesn’t spell disaster for your event. Simply inform the stakeholders and audience about the delay and adjust the schedule as needed. Maintaining a flexible mindset helps you manage unexpected situations effectively and keep the event on track.