It can happen to all of us. We think we've got everything planned and organised. And then what happens, something goes wrong and we panic.

We can't find what we are looking for, we think we've completely stuffed up the process and we begin to stress.

Ok, first things first. If you've been following the process through from the beginning you should have all the notes associated with the event. If you've been really good you will have corraled the information as you went along. Of course if you haven't you will now be wishing you had. But hindsight is always a good thing. And any "mistakes" you make with this particular event, is of course learning and you will ensure you won't make the same mistakes next time.

So:

• Assess the problem.
• Determine what you can do now to rectify it.
• Determine if you need additional assistance and resources, and elicit their response.
• Keep all parties informed.
• Make a note about what went wrong and absorb the lesson.

Of course it may not be a problem, and the second thing to note is - it may not be your fault. But before you lay blame and rant and rave and plot compensation. Imagine if the shoe were on the other foot and it was your fault. How would you feel if someone was completely in your face compounding the embarrasment of forgetting to do something.

So, again, determine what the problem is and what can be done to rectify the situation. Only then can you work out what steps you need to take.

Hopefully it won't be a major trauma but as the cliche says - what doesn't kill you, just seeks to make you stronger. Of course it may not feel like that at the time. But with age sometimes comes wisdom.