There is a well-known proverb that says, “necessity is the mother of invention”.
It came to mind when I delivered a webinar a few weeks ago.
I joined the call early and carried out my usual checks.
Everything seemed fine – except I couldn’t see the chat box.
The organiser attempted to fix it but wasn’t able to grant the required permissions before the session began.
I assumed we could rely on the reaction buttons, until I realised I couldn’t see reactions either.
As an external speaker, I didn’t have permission to view them.
Faced with limited tools, I had to adapt quickly.
Here are two simple solutions that worked remarkably well.
(And note to self – always double-check permissions well in advance when you’re an external speaker).
Idea 1: Using Visual Reactions
Instead of asking participants to click reactions.
I asked them to look into their camera and respond physically – a thumbs up for yes, a heart shape for no.
Everyone participated and the engagement felt natural and energised.
Idea 2: Using the Chat Creatively
I explained that we wouldn’t be using the chat box as it wasn’t available to me.
One participant unmuted and said they could see it.
I noticed a few people nodding on screen.
So I asked a question and invited participants to place their answers in the chat box.
Then I asked the participant who had unmuted to read out the responses out loud.
This added a new dynamic: hearing a participant’s voice created connection and momentum.
In both cases, the lack of technology led to stronger engagement, not weaker.
When tools fail, adaptability matters more than features.
Turn disadvantages into advantages.
For more helpful presentation tips, why not check out the following article on how music can influence event energy.
