What do you do if a public speaking failure occurs and how can you learn from it effectively?

Know your audience. Most failures I've seen or experienced have not been about content but misreading the audience. Talking at them or over them, failing to engage are the hardest to recover from

If a public speaking failure happens, the best thing to do is accept it and not be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay. After your speech, analyze what went wrong - maybe you forgot a point, got nervous or maybe you had not internalized your speech and relied on rote learning. Ask yourself, "What can I do better next time?" Accepting that mistakes happen helps you learn from them. Make it a point to reach out to colleagues or peers who were in the audience and take constructive feedback from them which is specific. Implement their feedback and play back the recording of your speech to observe yourself. Each failure is a chance to grow. Learning from the experience and practicing to get better is key.

Experiencing a public speaking failure can be challenging, but it's also an opportunity for growth. To begin with, try to Stay Calm and Composed~ Take a deep breath and maintain your composure. Acknowledge the moment without overreacting. Control your emotions and accept that such experience shall happen sometimes, and is a part of the whole domain of Public Speaking.

Review it afterwards. Why did the failure occur? Was there an unexpected technological occurrence, for example, that "threw" you? Were the audience's needs not served well by your message? Did you have a backup plan? With public speaking, you're safest to assume that something WILL go wrong, and you will have to pivot. I once watched a virtual presentation with two speakers whose entire Zoom session consisted of, "(Name), can you hear me?" "(Name), I don't hear you...?" It was painful to watch, as they struggled for thirty minutes to make the tech work. Had they had a backup plan where, if they were onscreen but couldn't hear one another, each presented information on their own, this might have worked better.

After you're settled down, start Reflecting on the Experience. Take some time off, to think about what went wrong. Was it the content, delivery, or audience engagement? Or just plain nervousness ?

Analyze the root cause and check out the Subconscious block with all other potential reasons. Early childhood experiences can profoundly shape how we respond to situations in adulthood, including performance in public speaking. During childhood, you might have experienced situations where speaking up or being the center of attention led to negative outcomes—criticism, rejection, or embarrassment. The subconscious might have interpreted these experiences as dangerous or threatening. As a result, the subconscious mind can develop a defense mechanism to protect you from repeating that "dangerous" experience. This might manifest as anxiety, avoidance, or a fear of failure when faced with similar situations in adulthood.

Gradually, start asking trusted colleagues, friends or mentors for constructive criticism. Their perspective can provide valuable insights you might not have considered. Note down their Important points for analysis later.

Overcoming Subconscious Blocks: 1. Rewriting the Narrative: Start challenging and reframing the belief. Remember, that these fears no longer serve in your life. Positive affirmations like "I am confident in expressing myself" can help rewrite the subconscious script. 2. Gradual Exposure: Gently exposing yourself to fear triggers—Speaking in a low-stakes environment—the subconscious mind slowly realizes that the danger no longer exists. 3. Positive Strokes: Reinforce positive behavior with recognition. Celebrate even small victories when you step out of your comfort zone, and build and reinforce new associations with success. 4. Seeking Support: Working with a therapist to uncover deep-seated beliefs and guide you to overcoming them.

*Set Goals for Improvement~ Create specific, measurable goals for your next speaking opportunity. This could include focusing on body language, voice modulation, or engaging the audience. *Rehearse with an Audience~ Before your next presentation, practice in front of friends or family. This helps build confidence and prepares you for real audience dynamics.