Here's how you can regain your composure after a public speaking mishap.

“If you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note that you play that determines if it’s good or bad.” This Miles Davis quote is a great reminder - as a jazz trumpeter, he was used to standing out. There's no hiding with the trumpet! I call it the 'bother' moment: if you don't let a mistake bother you, it won't bother the audience. If you let it get to you, the audience worries along with you. And we don't want any audience to feel like they have to take care of us when we speak. So I agree with other comments: breathe and if you can, laugh at yourself: either by commenting if needed, or simply moving on if it's not a big deal. The trick too is deciding what is and isn't a big deal :)

If your mind goes blank, your breathing will pause briefly too. But don't hold your breath, and don't be overwhelmed by the fear. You know what is going through your audience's mind when they see you fumble? Nope, they are not going to be judgmental and say you suck. The truth is they are thinking to themselves: Luckily its not me who is frozen on stage! So remember, if you go blank on stage, remember to do 2 things: Breathe, and start talking. Because if you keep quiet, your mind will go into a vicious cycle and very soon you find it very difficult to recall what you have to say. It's when you start talking that you can make your brain start working to recall what you have lost!

Mishaps happen. The major key here is, most people probably won't know unless you "show" them. Keep your cool. Relax take a breath, or two or three. We think pauses are bad, but they aren't. They show that we are human. Collect your thoughts and then keep moving. The thing is to not dwell on them in the moment. There is no director yelling "cut". We don't get to re-do it. It's just like live theatre. You've got to keep going, so you swallow it and push on. By the end of your talk it will be such a small blip on the radar.

We need to reach a point that we acknowledge that we are not there to be perfect, we are there to be real and share our storey . People also connect to genuine reactions and will move on quickly. Remember, they didn't know what you were going to say or do anyway, the expectation is often in our own head.

The simplest, most relatable way to handle a mishap is to actually mention it, using a little humour if possible, and then to pick up where you were. I would think most audiences will feel sympathetic and have your back. Pretending it was all planned or that nothing happened would seem very unnatural and show a lack of confidence.

So the question is always - what do I say if I have to keep talking when my mind goes blank on stage? Well, the answer is surprising easy - say exactly how you feel! Be authentic! Acknowledge that your mind has gone blank and hey, it's okay! You are not going to be the first who did that on stage, and you are certainly not the last. It's really no big deal. So after you acknowledged that you fumbled, you should offer a sincere apology there and then, and seek permission from the audience to carry on (they will always give you the permission to do so, else how to move on?)

If the mishap is noticeable, briefly acknowledge it. This can alleviate any tension and show the audience that you’re composed and self-aware.

When you mess up in a speech, don't panic! All you need to do it own it. Laugh at yourself. Encourage the audience to laugh with you, and move on.

I think it's always better to embrace your mistakes rather than to try to cover them up. Early in my speaking career, I learned that trying to brush off a slip-up often magnified it. Now-a-days, I lean into it. A quick acknowledgment—a joke or a 'whoops'—can actually enhance your connection with the audience. They see you're not just a speaker but also a person. This approach not only lightens the mood but helps you regain your stride with ease.

Isn’t it embarrassing when someone points out a glaring error in our speech?! So how do we recover from that? Apart from acknowledging, we need to show to the audience we have recovered. Having positive eye contact with the audience is the quickest way to regain confidence from the audience. Don’t forget to smile as well. ????

Reconnect with your audience. Make eye contact, smile, or gesture to engage them, demonstrating that you’re back on track and focused.

When you lock eyes with someone in your audience, it’s like you’re speaking directly to them, which can pull them back if their attention has drifted. Remember, your gaze can transmit confidence and make your listeners feel involved. Throw in a smile or a nod while you’re at it; these little gestures can make a big difference in warming up the room and bringing your audience right back into the fold with you.

Make an eye contact with your audience so as to reconnect with them. Looking into the eyes of people listening to you can give you hints on whether or not they understood what you were saying. Furthermore, it tells your listeners that you have not lost interest or control over what is going on.

Remember that speaking is a live and interactive event (even if we are the only ones talking). Keeping this in mind, learning from anything we could change (like prepping ealier for example) can be really useful to help us carry on and become better speakers.

The secret tip of reframing positively is the ability to laugh at oneself. No I am not asking you to demean yourself, I am saying that when your mind goes blank or you made a mistake on stage, the best way to move on is to laugh it on - at the expense of only yourself. The ability to laugh at yourself makes you human, makes you authentic and makes you relatable. The audience will think to themselves - hey that could happen to me too - and they will suddenly empathize with you. The problem is - most speakers try to put on a front and don't allow their audience to show their empathy. If you reframe the whole thing positively, you will recover well!

Spin the mishap into a learning experience. Emphasize what can be gained from the situation, showing resilience and a positive attitude.

Convert this misadventure into a moment of positivity. For instance, the phrase like “Well…that’s a good reminder we make mistakes too” helps redirect attention from failure to learning experience thus sustaining positive mood all through the presentation.

Humor is not difficult - it can be planted. The best humor is that of laughing at oneself but not to the point of self-deprecating. Humor, when used at the beginning of the speech (i.e. at the introduction), can be a useful tool to build rapport. For example, I always begin with "Do you agree that the concept of money is relative" and pause to get a few raise hands to agree. And then I deliver the punchline: "Well, this is especially true in Singapore because the more money you have, the more relatives you will have". See! Simple joke that breaks the ice, creates rapport and leads you into the topic (supposing you are talking about financials).

Continue with your speech assertively. Confidence, even if feigned, can reassure your audience and help you maintain control of the situation.

If appropriate, a light-hearted comment can diffuse awkwardness. Humor can endear you to the audience and restore a relaxed atmosphere.

End your speech on a high note, whether through humor or a powerful conclusion. It leaves your audience with a positive takeaway, ensuring a memorable and impactful impression.

Humor has always been a key ally in my public speaking arsenal because it can turn a slip-up into an engaging, human moment with your audience. I remember this one time during a high school presentation when I mistakenly said "intercessor" instead of "predecessor." I quickly tossed in a light joke about my mix-up, which not only helped me regain my footing but also brought a shared laugh. That little moment of levity reconnected me with everyone and smoothed over the hiccup, allowing me to continue with renewed confidence. Try it yourself.

Remember that as the person with the mic, it’s you who has the power to interpret what happens on stage. Begin by simply naming what happened, keeping your tone light and humorous, and your audience will follow your cue and not take the incident too seriously. The next step is to take a moment to refocus yourself and your audience, perhaps with a smile and a slow look around the room. Now that everyone is paying attention again, you can move forward. Your audience will appreciate that you are in control and delivering the information they came to hear. Finally, following the presentation, consider what you might learn from the mishap. No need to beat yourself up here, but if there’s a lesson to be learned, you don’t want to miss it.

Everyone makes mistakes, and your reaction determines how the audience will react. If the mistake is noticeable, briefly acknowledge it with a simple, “Allow me to correct that" and don't dwell on the mistake: a lengthy explanation or apology can disrupt the flow more than the mistake itself. Quickly correct the error and move on.

Confidently carry on with your speech. Show that the mishap hasn’t shaken you. Your confidence will reassure the audience and help you get back on track quickly. Remember, everyone makes mistakes, and how you handle them is what truly matters.

I agree with John Lim, who recommended taking a breath and moving on. Remember that your audience wants you to succeed and will likely be empathetic.

Take a pause and deep breath, then correct and move on. As the line in Star Wars goes “stay on target.” Sometimes humor can help but only if you’re comfortable using it in situations like this. Otherwise, a brief acknowledgement-correction is all you need.

I set the stage at the beginning of my engagements. We are all learners and we are all at different places on the journey. You will make mistakes. I will make mistakes. The growth comes in recognizing, acknowledging, and correcting. Mistakes are some of the best teaching opportunities. Also, if what you said was offensive, be genuine in your apology and remove your embarrassment from the equation.

Do not apologize. The audience doesn't expect perfection and neither should you. If you deliver your point—even if imperfectly and even if there's a mishap—you succeed. Apologizing only calls attention to the problem and to the idea that maybe this is about perfectionism. Your point is like a gift. You never have to apologize for the wrapping paper because that's not the source of value.

After a public speaking mishap, take a moment to breathe deeply and flash a reassuring smile. Quickly reframe the situation as a minor setback and focus on the next point in your presentation. If appropriate, inject humor to lighten the mood and regain your footing. Maintain deliberate eye contact with the audience to establish rapport and confidence. Stay present, avoiding negative thoughts, and instead, recall your preparation and expertise on the topic. Visualize yourself finishing the presentation strong, and keep moving forward with determination and resilience, knowing you have the ability to recover gracefully and deliver a successful presentation.