Honesty is the best policy. Own up to the fact that you lost your train of thought, take a second if you need to (and tell the audience that's what you're doing), and if need be, ask the audience at which point you started to go off on a tangent. If you do this with good humor and some grace, it can even become a nice interactive moment!

I have a funny thing I do where I start again at the very beginning of my keynote. It gets a roar of laughter. Then, if I still forget where I was, I asked someone in the audience. I also have a hilarious joke about drug consumption in the 1980's but I don’t know very many folks who could pull that one off :)

If you get distracted during your presentation, take a deep breath to regain focus. Pause for a moment, collect your thoughts, and avoid rushing. Acknowledge the distraction lightly, saying something like, "Let’s refocus on the key point." Glance at your notes or slides to guide you back on track. Reiterate the last major point or summary to re-engage the audience and remind them where you left off. Maintain eye contact to rebuild connection and continue with a steady, confident tone. If needed, ask the audience a question to buy time while reorienting yourself to the topic.

If I lose my train of thought during a presentation, I would take a brief pause to collect myself, which can come across as a moment of reflection rather than a stumble. I might revisit the last key point I discussed to regain focus or use a prepared note or slide to guide me back on track. Staying calm and composed is key, so I’d avoid rushing and instead, continue speaking confidently once I recall the next point. Engaging with the audience by asking a question or summarizing can also buy time and help refocus the presentation.