How Do You Come Back From a Mistake While Speaking

Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge

Have you ever been on stage or in an interview and flubbed what you meant to say? It just didn’t come out right or you mixed up your words and, in your mind, the moment was ruined? I just had this happen to me and I’m sharing my tips and advice on coming back from a mistake while speaking.

I was recently doing an interview talking about our children’s books and I heard myself say the wrong thing. Rather than letting the slip take me out of the interview, I just stopped. I took a moment to get my thoughts together and then restarted.

Beating yourself up doesn’t help you say what you want to convey to the audience. More often than not, that same audience is championing you. They are there because they want to hear what you have to say, but they also know that you’re human. Mistakes are natural.

Once your engagement is over, take a moment to reflect. Don’t focus on the slip up only. Think about what went right, what went wrong, and how you can improve the flow of your speech so that you don’t falter in the same place again.

Remember these tips as you engage in your next speaking event and perhaps some of your nerves will dissipate as well. Have you ever had a flub while speaking? What did you do to come back from it?

Show Notes:

• [01:09] How do you come back from a mistake while speaking?
• [01:50] This just happened to me during a TV interview.
• [02:45] When you catch yourself saying something you don’t like, just stop.
• [02:56] Don’t beat yourself up.
• [03:45] The people who are listening are championing you.
• [04:51] Be able to step back and recognize what didn’t go right and reflect.

Links and Resources:

• Grandpa Don’t Worry by Deirdre Breakenridge
• A Whisper from Noelle by Deirdre Breakenridge

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