The great thing about presentation mistakes is that everyone makes them. It’s part of the game and it’s part of being human. So when (not if) you fumble with a part of your talk, don’t panic! It happens all the time and sometimes it can even work to your advantage, making you seem more human and relatable to the audience.
That said, you shouldn’t go into your talk without a recovery plan. Mistakes are only okay if you handle them properly; if you fail to plan for your recovery, then it can seriously derail your presentation. But if you apply the following tips next time you fumble, then you’ll recover with grace and the rest of your presentation will be smooth sailing.
Seriously, Relax
There’s no line of defense better than the knowledge that no presentation mistake is the end of the world. Instead of hope and pray that you don’t mess up, tell yourself that it’s fine if you do because, again, everyone does. Preparing for a mistake in a calm manner rather than resisting the reality that it can happen will go a long way to easing your nerves and helping you speak your way out of it with confidence and grace.
Assess Whether it Should be Addressed
Sometimes it’s best to acknowledge the mistake while other times your audience won’t even notice you made one. Or, the mistake might be too small or inconsequential to merit halting the presentation to address it. Therefore, it’s important to assess if you should even mention it. Generally speaking, if whatever you said or did doesn’t misguide, mislead, or misconstrue your message or the audience, then it’s probably not something you have to take time out of your talk for.
Acknowledge it with a Light Heart
If you make a mistake that can’t be ignored, either because it’s too obvious or because it clouds your message, then don’t be afraid to acknowledge it. But do so with lightness and brevity. Rather than get big-eyed and serious over it, crack a smile, shrug your shoulders, and be open about what just happened. This little trick will not only help you recover, but showing light-hearted vulnerability can make it easier for the audience to connect with you on a human level.
Keep Smiling
The power of a genuine smile knows no bounds. Often, when a presenter makes a mistake, the audience is more uneasy about how uncomfortable it made the presenter feel than the mistake itself. Smiling post-mistake signifies to your audience that you’re fine, the presentation is fine, and it’s really no big deal. Plus, smiles are contagious, so if you flash a big ol’ grin to your audience then they’re likely to reflect the same positivity right back at you.
Move Forward
One of the worst things you can do for yourself when you mess up is linger on it. Neither you nor your audience wants to live in a place of discomfort because of the mistake, so don’t let that happen. Once the mistake is made, acknowledge it if appropriate, and keep it moving. The longer you let it interrupt the rhythm and flow of your presentation, the more damage it will do.
Want more tips for creating killer presentations? Then check out Ethos3’s Badge Training.
