Here's how you can turn a public speaking failure into a learning opportunity.

Let's face it, public speaking can be nerve-wracking. Even for seasoned speakers like myself. After a less-than-successful presentation, it is important to have a "mental debrief". I would realign myself to my goals for my presentation, and reflect on my initial objectives to pinpoint where things gone wrong. Also I would assess WHAT specific aspects felt off to me? Was it my delivery? The content itself? Or audience engagement? Identifying specific areas for improvement is good to improve the next presentation that comes along.

When faced with a public speaking failure, approach it as a valuable learning opportunity rather than a setback. Reflect on what went wrong, identifying areas for improvement such as preparation, delivery, or handling unexpected challenges. Seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors to gain insights and perspectives. Use this experience to refine your skills, adjust your approach, and grow as a speaker. Embracing failure as a stepping stone to success allows you to build resilience and confidence, ultimately enhancing your public speaking abilities in the long run.

it's okay to made mistakes. first speech will be bad. You need to keep doing it while watch top speaker do their speech. Embrace the failure & mistakes you made then you can witness the growth in every step of the way.

Take some time to analyze what went wrong. Was it your content, delivery, or something else entirely? Be honest with yourself about your areas for improvement, but avoid dwelling on negativity. Focus on what you can learn from the experience. Consider talking to a trusted friend or colleague who attended the speech for their objective perspective. Their insights can provide valuable clues about how your message landed with the audience.

Failure is in the eye of the beholder. Mistakes are going to happen, it's all about how you look at them. I'm learning from every loss. Leaning in to all the disappointments. Reflect on what happened. Be honest about why. If possible get feedback from your team or people you trust. Sometimes it means going back to the drawing board. If you need to make changes then make them. Get back on the stage as soon you can. Keep growing, keep being consistent.

Constructive feedback is vital, and this goes for all things not just public speaking. Nevertheless, hearing from your audience can be critical in developing your ability as a public speaker. Many times, and I say this from experience, I get fixated on certain parts of my speech and assess how well/poor I did. Speaking with the audience however can provide numerous new perspectives allowing you to gain a full picture. Therefore, allowing you to develop your skills in the most efficient way possible.

As much as I value the feedback from my "inner self", I think getting advice from 3rd party is probably smarter. This can be a mix of people like close colleagues or mentors, and audience members who seemed engaged or receptive, their feedback can be particularly helpful! Actively listen to the feedback, even if it's not what you want to hear. Don't get defensive; instead, see it as an opportunity to identify blind spots and refine your approach.

Don't be afraid to ask trusted friends, colleagues, or even mentors for their honest feedback. They can provide valuable insights into what went wrong and how you can improve for next time. Consider recording yourself during your presentation to identify areas for improvement, such as pacing, body language, or clarity of your visuals.

When it comes to feedback about your public speaking presentation, I try to use truthful and positive language that will enhance your presentation. Personally, words like constructive criticism are harsh and the truth can still be hurtful. I like using the approach I learned from Toastmasters, the sandwich method. Began with a positive, the bread on top, what was done well, then speak about the meat in the middle, elaborate on what could have been done differently and more effective and lastly, the bread on the bottom, more positive.

Some of the best feedback you can receive is actually from yourself. Be alert and mindful about where you are succeeding and where you are failing in your speeches. Then always journal your experience immediately afterwards. Where did you connect with the audience? Where didn't you? What about the environment put you at east? Did slides help or hurt? Did your joke work? Document the good and the bad. Then you can use those items to guide you into the future. We all think we'll just magically remember... and we rarely do.

Sometimes when we suck at public speaking, its likely we aren't experienced with it enough. Like most things, public speaking is a skill that CAN be improved. In fact, there is a wealth of knowledge available from successful speakers across various platforms including: 1/ TED Talks 2/ Books and Articles 3/ Public Speaking Workshops By actively learning from the masters, you'll gain valuable insights that you can incorporate into your own speaking style.

Consider joining a public speaking club like Toastmasters. Toastmasters offers a supportive environment to practice your speaking skills and receive constructive feedback from experienced speakers. They also provide a structured program with proven techniques to improve your confidence and presentation abilities.

Reflecting on my personal public speaking journey started when asked to speak at church or host events. Professionally, I saw an article in a magazine of a woman named LaShunda Rundles from Dallas, Texas who became the First Black Woman to win the World Championship of Public Speaking in the Toastmasters International Contest. I had never heard of Toastmasters however, when I did. I joined a club and began competing. I gained inspiration from her and others like Eric Thomas, Lisa Nichols, and Jocelyn Tyson. I'm currently a mentor for a local and newly formed Toastmasters Club "Say it Loud" in Buffalo, NY. I often tell mentees to study those that are accomplished and those that inspire them.

Today, it's easier than ever to watch or rewatch great speeches: from historic speeches (e.g., JFK's Man on the Moon) to company keynotes (Steve Jobs' iPhone presentation), from TED talks to the Toastmasters International World Championship. You can get inspiration, tips for improvement, or tricks for reuse. However, I do recommend joining a Toastmasters club and watching your fellow members deliver their speeches. Observe what you like, give it a try, work on your style, and enhance what comes naturally to you. An essential part of a professional speaker's success is authenticity. While you can learn the best techniques from the masters, the ones that will work for you are those that resonate with you.

Over the years I have studies so many speakers, obviously one of those is well renowned Brené Brown. Noticing her compelling storytelling and audience engagement, I incorporated similar techniques. At my next seminar, the audience's positive response was overwhelming, proving that learning from the best can elevate your own performance. ### Prompt: Study Masters What to look for: - Analyze speeches by accomplished speakers. - Focus on language, body language, pacing, and engagement. - Gain insights into effective techniques. - Adapt and personalize these techniques for your style and message.

Public speaking is a muscle that needs regular exercise. Here are some ways I suggest you can get good fast: 1/ Join a Toastmasters Club: These welcoming groups provide a safe space to practice your speaking skills and receive constructive feedback from peers. 2/ Find opportunities to speak internally: Volunteer for departmental presentations or team meetings. 3/ Record yourself practicing: This allows you to identify and refine delivery issues you might not be aware of. The more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you'll become in front of an audience. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. Remember, even the most seasoned speakers continue to refine their craft.

Don't take yourself so seriously. Perhaps this sounds counterintuitive, but the most successful professionals or speakers are those who emotionally navigate their successive failures without being discouraged by them. Something desirable is to achieve the ability to one day laugh at our past misfortunes, keeping at least one lesson that they taught us. Few things are more powerful than a story of failure at the beginning of a presentation — and that's no coincidence. Humor is one of the most refined forms of intelligence because frequently reminds us of not taking ourselves so seriously.

It is important to determine what the “failure” was and who is deeming it a “failure” before you can implement change. As a professional speaker, we are constantly iterating, improving, and elevating our presentations to fit our audience. We are constantly improving. I don’t see things as failures. I see them as learning experiences. Some call it “failing forward”. As long as we are growing and expanding and taking positive action, there is no failure. Onward and upward!

Understandably, it's never easy to face failure or any adversity. BUT you must have the GRIT & WILL to pick yourself up after you fall (Step 1). But could/ would you stand up straight after that fall? (Step 2) If yes, could/would you also put one foot forward to make it better the next time? (Step 3). Granted that during each step, EMOTIONS will take the better of you. Your self-confidence is badly bruised but it could be REPAIRED if you: 1. View failure as success in progress (Albert Einstein). Look at it as your success in the making. 2. Make sure you take the 3 steps diligently. Let each step take its course, but DON'T STOP. It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop (Confucius). 3. Continue to LOVE what you do.

Know your audience. Specially if you are doing this talk repeatedly and more frequently. If you have ideas, concepts, worth sharing experiences where you know the public can relate, add them in your speeches.

I grew up with a lazy eye. I was made fun of until I learned that every weakness can become the most rooted cornerstone. Once I realized the ladies thought it was attractive I was able to turn the tables. My weakness has now become a strength. when you can do that on a stage then people see who you really are. A weakness is not an inferiority unless you let it be.

Sharing your personal failures is an amazing way to connect with your audience in your next talk. Audiences don't really like to hear from people who had it easy, who've been super lucky, or who haven't had to face or overcome any challenges. The more vulnerable and open you can be with any failure in your life, especially from the stage, makes you more relatable, more engageable, and will absolutely get you on more stages to tell that story. If you can help people learn from your failure, shortcut to that important lesson, you're gonna add so much more value to your audience than any external anecdote ever would.