How to Succeed in English Meetings (Even When Things Go Wrong)

If English isn’t your first language, running a meeting or giving a presentation in English can feel daunting. You might worry about making mistakes, losing your audience, or feeling embarrassed if something goes wrong. The good news? You don’t need perfect English to be effective. With the right mindset and strategies, you can confidently manage meetings, keep your audience engaged, and recover smoothly if things get off track.

Here’s how to make it easier on yourself and more impactful for your audience.

1. Shift Your Mindset: Communication Matters, Not Perfection

It’s normal to feel pressure to “get everything right,” but aiming for perfection only increases stress. Instead, focus on communicating clearly. Your audience cares about your ideas, not your grammar. Accept that you might make mistakes—and that’s okay.

Think Like This:

• “My job is to share important information. Mistakes won’t stop me from doing that.”

Practical Tip: If you stumble or mispronounce a word, don’t panic. Correct yourself briefly and move on.

• “Sorry, let me rephrase that—what I mean is…”

2. Be Flexible and Adapt to Your Audience

If your audience seems bored, distracted, or confused, don’t push forward without adjusting. Pay attention to their body language—are they checking their phones, crossing their arms, or looking lost? These are signs you need to re-engage them.

What to Do Instead:

• Ask Questions: Involve your audience to refocus their attention. “How does this topic connect to your work?” “What challenges have you faced in this area?”
• Shift the Energy: Suggest a quick activity, like a poll or sharing personal experiences.“Let’s pause—has anyone dealt with this issue and can share how they solved it?”

By interacting, you show that you care about their input, which builds connection.

3. Keep It Short and Simple (KISS)

Simplify everything—your slides, your language, and your presentation structure. Use simple words and clear sentences that anyone can understand. This helps your audience follow along and reduces your chances of getting tripped up.

Practical Tips:

• Avoid complex vocabulary: Instead of: “This initiative will necessitate significant restructuring. ”Try: “We need to make some big changes to this plan.”
• Use action words, not passive language: Instead of: “The report was completed by our team.” Try: “Our team finished the report.”

4. Speak Slowly and Use Pauses

Nerves can make anyone talk too fast, which leads to mistakes or makes you hard to understand. Speaking slowly gives you time to think and helps your audience absorb what you’re saying.

Why Pausing Works:

• It lets you gather your thoughts.
• It signals confidence and control.
• It gives the audience time to reflect on key points.

Example:

• Before an important point: “This is critical to our success. (Pause) Here’s why.”
• After explaining a concept: “Let’s pause for a moment to think about this.”

5. Plan for the Unexpected

No matter how much you prepare, things can go wrong—slides might freeze, someone might interrupt, or a question could throw you off. Instead of worrying, prepare for these moments.

Backup Plans to Reduce Stress:

• Have handouts ready in case of technical issues.
• Share a backup way to communicate in virtual meetings, like an email or chat link.
• Prepare phrases for unexpected moments: “It looks like the slides are taking a break. Let me explain this point instead. “That’s a great question—I hadn’t considered that angle. Let’s explore it together.”

Embracing surprises with humor and grace shows professionalism and builds trust.

6. Shorten Your Talk and Engage with Questions

If long presentations in English feel intimidating, speak for less time and leave space for questions. This shifts some of the focus to your audience, making it easier for you to manage.

How to Use Q&A Effectively:

• Announce your plan: “I’ll speak for 10 minutes, then open the floor for questions.”
• Plant a question in advance with a colleague: “Can you ask about the implementation timeline?”

7. Remember: The Audience Wants You to Succeed

Your listeners are not there to judge you—they’re rooting for you! If you mess up, they’ll feel awkward too. They want to understand your message and feel comfortable during your presentation.

How to Reassure Yourself:

• Picture your audience as allies.
• Remind yourself that your effort to speak in their language is impressive.

8. End on a Confident Note

Closing with gratitude can leave a strong impression. Thank your audience for their attention and flexibility, especially if you’ve faced challenges during the meeting.

Example Closing Line:

• “Thank you all for your patience today. I appreciate your time and the chance to share these ideas with you.”

You’ve Got This

Presenting in English doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be effective. Focus on sharing your expertise and connecting with your audience. Use these strategies to feel more confident and prepared, no matter what happens.

And remember, as Jacqueline Farrington explains in The Non-Obvious Guide to Better Presentations: mistakes don’t ruin a presentation—handling them with grace makes it memorable.

Need More Help?

If you’d like advice on improving your English communication skills or are interested in taking classes with me, feel free to contact me. Let’s work together to build your confidence and help you shine in your next meeting or presentation!

Resources for Better English Presentations

If you're looking to dive deeper into strategies for presenting in English and staying calm under pressure, check out these valuable resources:

1. Janice Haywood Presenting in English Made Easy (at Least a Little!) Read the article on LinkedIn
2. Stephanie Vozza Don’t Panic When Your Work Presentation Goes Off the Rails—Do This Instead Read the article on Fast Company