Here's how you can handle your emotions after a public speaking failure.

Feelings are the expressions transmitted from soul to mind. Always remember that even if a particular speech doesn't get that influence what it was ought to be, there is a quote saying 'Something is better than nothing' and if you have worked hard with perseverance, then no matter whatever the result is, taking a step ahead towards your goal and moving out from that fear of public speaking is the best thing you can achieve. Success consists of daily little victories and if you have been victorious for even standing in front of the audience, you have won the half of the battle. Now, it is up to you to take this journey forward.

Public speaking stumbles happen to the best of us! Here's how to bounce back: -It's okay to feel disappointed. Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to process your emotions. -Reflect on what went wrong. Was it nerves, content issues, or audience engagement? -Ask trusted colleagues or friends for constructive criticism. This can be invaluable for improvement. -Don't dwell on mistakes. Use the feedback to refine your approach for next time. -Remember the parts that went well! Public speaking is a skill, and every experience helps you grow. By following these steps, you can turn a setback into a learning opportunity and approach your next presentation with confidence.

As a standup comedian I come from a position where 80% open mics go flat (read fail). It is very important to realise the very first thing - It happens with everyone. It could be less in frequency, but every single public speaker has had a day of failure. It's ok to feel sad for a while. That's completely natural. Address your emotions and understand that this too is necessary to make you a great speaker. Calm seas never made any expert sailor. Go to youtube and search for failed speeches. There will be thousand of results. You are not the only one, just one of them.

If you experienced failure as a Public Speaker acknowledge what happened without criticising yourself. Know that failure is a common part of growth. Introspect and reflect on what went wrong- were you not well prepared, was your delivery weak, did you not incorporate storytelling, was your audience engagement poor? Get constructive feedback from trusted sources in the audience. Incorporate the feedback and work on practicing more- practice in front of a mirror, or in front of peers / family & friends. Record yourself, play it back and observe your growth. Also learn how to make your speech your own and avoid rote learning. Look at the experience as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Sometimes just have to accept what has happened and move on as you planned. It happens to the best of us. This article is a good reminder of that and what to do when it happens. And trust me it will happen and sometimes in the most embarrassing place and manner.

My first public speaking attempt was a disaster. I was nervous, my voice was shaky, and I didn't know my content as well as I thought. I ended up reading off the slides and lacked confidence. What was supposed to be a one-hour class only took 26 minutes. It would have been easy to quit and say this wasn't for me—honestly, I considered it. But then, I buckled down and got to work. I learned my material inside and out, made it my own, and incorporated personal, relevant stories. I practiced time and time again, speaking to an empty room and even to myself in the mirror. With each session, I gained confidence, and it showed the next time I stepped up to speak. We all have setbacks, but it's how we respond to them that matters most.

Now don't laugh or call me crazy but, I recall having my first speaking class about Defensive Driving. Already no one want to be there for a dismissal of a ticket. I probably was boring reading the book having the class read material and showing films to fill the time of a 6-hour course. I remember seeing those faces of BORING! I went home and prepared myself, by setting stuffed animals in chairs, eraser board up front and said never again will I have a boring class. Practice and I practice speaking to my little nonspeaking animals. I found my calling and passion from that day on. I speak live events and have develop a unique way of teaching separate from any other Defensive Driver. Many have said, "I need another ticket to hear you speak."

Get back on the proverbial horse as soon as possible. One of the reasons people hate public speaking is because they do it so infrequently. The best way to bounce back from a failure is to keep going.

I want you to always remember this 3 word sentence: "We all fail". Once you have that always in mind you'll understand that failure is not the end, but rather a step towards your path to becoming an even better public speaker!

I have bombed on stage so many times that I should be given a war medal. As a standup comedian - you learn that there will be sets that you will "kill", and there will be sets that you will "bomb". The audience differs. And you can't control that. But what you can control is yourself. Ask yourself - was the content not working with every audience, or just not with THAT audience? If the answer is the latter, then you need to learn to read an audience and adjust to them. Professional speaking settings give us time to prepare and research the audience. Usually people get deflated because they feel they gave it an effort and the result was poor. Good News - your speaking career does not end with that last performance. Pitch On!