Recovering From A Public Speaking Mistake
WRITTEN July 25, 2019
| EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES Ever been in the middle of a presentation, tongue-tied and struggling to find the right word? We’ve all been there! It’s easy to feel like everyone noticed that slip-up, but the truth is, most likely no one even blinked. The reality is, public speaking mistakes happen. But how we handle them is what truly matters. Let’s explore the unexpected things that can happen during a speech and learn how to gracefully navigate those moments. Let’s face it, even with the best preparation, things can go wrong. Technology glitches, unexpected audience interruptions, and schedule changes can all throw us off our game. But don’t worry, we’ll arm you with strategies to stay calm, recover quickly, and keep your audience engaged. Get ready to learn how to turn those public speaking mistakes into opportunities for success! Here are four tips to help you power through a presentation even when a mishap occurs: |
| 1. Pause and Breathe When you make an error, stop speaking. Take time to reset. Fill your lungs with oxygen. Rest your throat. Those motions will help you regain your thoughts and get back on track. The audience won’t judge you for pausing. Most of the time, they don’t notice. Focus on the structure of the speech to help you get back on track. Make eye contact with the audience and maintain positive facial expressions. |
| 2. Practice Handling Mistakes How do you handle mistakes when no one is watching? Practice continuing on with a presentation even when it’s not going as planned during a behind-the-scenes run. Avoid stopping and letting out a sigh of frustration. On the day-of your speech, you will do just that. Get good at recovering from unexpected blunders and you will become a stronger speaker. |
| 3. Find the Best Fix If the mistake you made is noticeable, decide the best route to recovery. Share a brief explanation of what happened. Tell your audience you will come back to a missed point or section. Let them know you will answer a question after the session. Excuse yourself for a moment to switch back to the right slide. Determine the best solution and make it happen on-the-spot. |
| 4. Avoid Saying Sorry Delete the word “Sorry” from your vocabulary! If you can, get your presentation back on track without alerting the audience. Saying sorry can slip out as a nervous tick. Instead, replace the word with silence, a deep breath, and a smile. Or maybe put a spin on it with a “Well that didn’t go as planned.” Stay calm and collect your thoughts. Watch your words. Pick confident ones. |
It’s okay to make mistakes when you speak. Everyone does. Recover with pauses, deep breaths and a quick, yet professional, fix.
| This information is from the Improving Communications Public Speaking curriculum. If you’re looking for ways to improve your communication skills, register for one of our public classes. |
Image Courtesy of Leonid Mamchenkov on Flickr.
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