What do you do if your confidence in public speaking has been shaken?

We must understand that it's perfectly okay to get our confidence shaken after a setback. The first step is to accept that it's okay to feel this way. Suppressing or ignoring these feelings can not only lead to anxiety but also make it harder to reflect on it. The key to handling this situation is to not let this experience bring you down but embrace this set back as a learning lesson. Acceptance also helps us introspect the grey areas and develop strategies to avoid similar situations in the future.

Public speaking takes confidence, planning, and passion! When my confidence is shaken I search the audience for some excited eyes to engage with, take a big breath, and refocus my energy on the message I am trying deliver. I tap into the feeling I am trying to inspire in the room.

One thing I've found helpful is extending grace to myself. When you allow yourself space to be honest about how you feel you can then begin carving a path toward a goal you've set. Recovering from a painful experience in the speaking realm is a part of the profession. We live. We feel. We reflect. We learn.

It is okay to experience moments of fear and trepidation about Public Speaking. We are all human and will go through periods of uncertainty and doubt. The "Key Actuator" for me is to focus on topics I am super passionate about. This ensures I will be excited to share my thoughts, perspectives, and insights more easily.

Be 100% authentic. If you screw up during your talk, don't fight it and power through. Embrace your humanity, go with it, and move on, the audience will love you for it, since you are acknowledging your feelings, and not being afraid to show it to them.

Acknowledging that we are not always going to be on top of our game is absolutely ok. Showing humility earns respect. If we only think about being perfect, we never give ourselves space to experience failure and grow. Instead of looking at a setback as a negative, lean into the area you would like to improve on and see how you can deliver it from a different perspective. I was flying one early evening and the pilot said the weather below was dark and deary; however, from my perspective I saw a beautiful blue sky with fluffy white clouds below. It was amazing. We tend to be harder on ourselves than those we are presenting to. Be that duck on a pond and always find your confidence even if you are paddling fiercely below the water.

As a professional speaker, I begin to think about all of the people who will not be enhanced by my message and I remember that I'm not there for me; I'm there for them. It's my duty to give the best of me that I can so that I can help my clients become the best version of themselves. I just take me out of the equate and just know I have a higher purpose.

The first thing that I do when my public speaking confidence is shaken, is to allow myself to feel my feelings. Embarrassment, discomfort, they are all real and valid, trying to ignore them will not make them any less so. Once I have given my feelings space to exist, I then give myself the grace to not be perfect. No one is "on" 100% of the time, the moments that might feel like failure are authentic and real. They are what makes us relatable to our audience, giving us the step up to get out there and speak again, sometimes connecting with them even more deeply, increasing the impact of our message.

To build confidence in speaking, you need to give a series of successful speeches. Be patient with yourself and don’t underestimate the effort and time needed. There are two elements to a successful speech: content and delivery. First, write your speech. The content needs to be relevant to your audience. Prepare a script that is informative and entertaining. Get feedback from a colleague or spouse. The second step is to commit your talk to memory while practicing the delivery. As you rehearse, ideas for content refinement and delivery will come to mind. Each time you rehearse, record yourself and then play it back. Do your best to speak at a comfortable pace, and set a goal of no ums or ahs in your delivery, with good eye contact.

I have seen that neither ‘self blame’ nor opting a ‘defensive behaviour’ is the right way to deal with such situations. You need to understand the reasons objectively, and for doing this you need to openly discuss with it with someone, whom you have experienced/ evidenced to give a sound unbiased assessment…..

I Take a step back and reflect objectively on past speaking experiences. I identify what aspects of my performance may have contributed to my shaken confidence and consider how I can improve upon them in the future. By approaching the situation with a clear and rational mindset, I can learn from my mistakes and grow as a speaker.

Public speaking isn’t an ability that we are born with, but rather a skill that improves with practice like any other skill. Furthermore, like any other skill, being proficient is not an all-or-nothing matter. Following a speech, ask yourself: What things did I do well during this talk that I should be sure to do more of in the future? What are some aspects of presenting that I could improve upon? Where can I go or whom can I consult to learn how to brush up on these skills? Try to look at each public speaking situation as an opportunity to get better, understanding that it’s an ongoing journey.

Get back up on that horse!!! First commit to not giving up. Then reflect about where it went wrong- was it preparation? Did you eat and sleep well? I would suggest starting with the obvious things that you can control and see if you notice where things went sideways. Having someone you trust offer you candid feedback, when you're not full of adrenaline- is also incredibly helpful. But most importantly- do not give up.

Public speaking is like stand-up comedy; you can’t always “kill”. When you “bomb” think of it as an opportunity to improve your “material”. 1. Relevance to the occasion: Even a well-rehearsed speech can fall flat if it doesn't align with the audience's mood or contrasts sharply with preceding speakers. 2. Clarity of the message: Adjust your delivery based on the audience's level of understanding. Catering too much or too little to their prior knowledge can hinder engagement. 3. Rhythm and delivery: Reflect on your timing and presentation. Ensure your speech allows for moments of reflection to let ideas land, and that your speech effectively conveys the intended emotions through tone and emphasis.

In my experience, reflection is a tool that requires ongoing upskilling. There are resources to support continuous self-assessments as you continue to test out what works for you or what doesn't feel authentic to your public speaking style. When you reflect in an informed way you can assess whether you need more preparation which is something you can work on or simply down to external factors that threw you off in that moment or day. Which is OK. Focus on tangible reasons, learn and try again!

Confidence is currency when it comes to public speaking. If you want to further your speaking career, you have to resurrect your confidence. How? - Practice - Seek out opportunities for success - Get approval from your network

I have always been my biggest critic, and I think that’s common. I take a deep breath, and think about the positives. No one is perfect 100% of the time. Then I focus on the opportunities to improve. For me, those are usually impromptu moments. It’s not that I don’t know the answer or how to think/speak; it’s usually more because I’m an accountant and I fit that stereotype some times. I’ve learned to, when possible, acknowledge the question and then ask to come back to it. Having a white board nearby to add the questions to, so that I don’t forget about the question, has been a big help.

I still remember the 1st time of that moment when I felt nervous shaken my confidence and all I did was to smile to the audience and to calm down. the smile was helpful to show my friendliness and sympathy so that few audiences started helping me with their voices. Then taking a deep breath I honestly told the audience that I would leave them a group discussion in few minutes so that I would have time for myself to seek for my confidence back. A space in between is good somehow to reflect and analyze the pros and cons to see if I can skip or how to face that situation. A great mentor used to tell me that sometimes accepting failure is kind of success, hence accepting the reality then self-reflecting myself to find the better me is da best.

The worst thing you can do in your public speaking journey is to beat yourself up after making a mistake. To err is human. You should ask yourself not what went wrong and dwell on the negative, rather what you can do in your next speech to enjoy the experience more. Note down what you liked from your speech and what experiences you can improve, then focus on developing them.

You can also ask your coach, friend, mentor, or anyone you trust to give you healthy feedback with this structure. Please let me know two things you love and know I do very well and one area for me to improve. Or, four things you love and I do well and two areas to improve. This way, you can receive constructive, objective, and healthy feedback without feeling down but empowered. So, you will not be terrified anymore of getting feedback.

Ask a trusted friend or audience member to give you feedback about what you could have done better and very importantly, what you did well. Address and practice the pieces of what you need to improve and do more to work to your strengths of what you did well. Most importantly, get another engagement scheduled and prepare, prepare, practice, and prepare - get back into the arena! You're human and you have something very valuable to say!

One thing I always do at those times also is Pray! Meditate on the message that I’m trying to get out there and realize how vital it is and that I am called to this purpose! Keeping my eyes on the prize, which is to help others! Then I shake off the blues and open my heart and the power of the message comes shining through my words!

If we want to improve our public speaking skills, it is crucial to reach out to individuals we trust and respect, people who will give us an honest answer. These trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors have observed our performance from a different vantage point and can offer valuable perspectives. They can shed light on aspects we may have overlooked or underestimated. They might notice nervous habits, unclear delivery, or areas where our message could be strengthened. Remember, feedback is not about personal criticism. It is an opportunity to learn and develop. Accepting feedback with an open mind enables us to make necessary adjustments. By asking for feedback, we demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in public speaking.

I've found that actively seeking feedback after public speaking engagements and embracing constructive criticism can be profoundly beneficial. While the art of giving and receiving feedback constructively may seem to be fading, it remains an invaluable tool for enhancing public speaking skills.

It can be traumatic but the only way is to get back in the horse. Having a mentor or loved one often helps and the moment we start speaking it’ll be all right.

Luego de tu autoevaluación, un muy buen recurso es acudir a alguien de confianza para solicitar un feedback sobre tu presentación. Pide absoluta transparencia y sinceridad, siempre que estés abiert@ a escuchar.

From personal experience the most important first step is to accept that things haven’t gone as you would have wanted. It is imperative thereafter to identify what caused the sub-optimal performance and identify the actionable insights to help your improve your performance next time.

For me, Seeking feedback from trusted peers, mentors, or speaking coaches can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement. Constructive criticism can help me identify strengths to build upon and weaknesses to address, ultimately boosting my confidence and enhancing my public speaking skills.

always film yourself, go back through the content and find out where you went wrong and what you could do better then have your friends watch it and see if they agree take the feedback and then prove upon those points into get better and better and better and then film it againget feedback and improve one percent at a time before long, you’ll be a world-class speaker

Own it, challenge it and make it part of your story. We often think public speakers are so confident, perfect and have it all together. By airing your own insecurities and shakiness you are appealing to more people and showcasing that it’s normal to face these things! In turn, you’re inspiring others to face their fears.

- After 20 plus years of public speaking and coaching others, I have found that one of the most important things to understand is your comfort factor. Are you a prepared speaker? Then yes, prepare, rehearse, repeat. - The second most important thing to note is don’t over prepare to the point that it sounds mechanical. Pull back when you feel the most natural. - Finally, if you want to rely less on notes, organize your information in 3 segments. A beginning, a middle and an end. I found it is so much easier to remember that way.

I cannot talk enough about practise before public speaking, there are a mulitude of things that might happen during a public speaking event that you can't control (and they don't usually happen!) but you can control the words and the order of what you plan on saying. Once you get this nailed no matter what happens your mind won't be racing to pick up where you left off causing more stress and challenges and you'll feel more in control. Super important!

The old saying "practice makes perfect" is not quite right. It should really be, "practice makes permanent." Every single time you rehearse your script, you're building a muscle memory. When you get up on stage and those nerves kick in, your body will naturally revert back to however you've practiced it the most times. This is why it's so crucial to not only practice, but to make sure each practice run is delivered with the energy, inflection, gestures, etc., that you want to bring to the stage. Those pieces are so difficult to add later on, but if you start building all of them in from the first moment, you'll develop that muscle memory to the point where you almost can't deliver it incorrectly when it really matters.

Visualization has been a powerful tool in my confidence. Before each presentation, I used to take time to imagine myself delivering my speech successfully. This mental rehearsal has had a profound impact on my mindset, shifting my focus from fear of failure to expectations of success. By visualizing a positive outcome, I've conditioned myself to enter each speaking engagement with confidence, fully believing in my ability to engage and inspire the audience.

On the note of practicing: film yourself! Helps you climb cringe mountain a lot faster, and genuinely accelerate your speech quality much more quickly. In the heat of the moment on stage, your brain is taking in a million things at once. But in a safe, relaxed environment with your full attention on your performance playback, you can get where you wanna go.

I have found that the best way to combat your confidence in your ability to speak in public is to prepare and know your material inside and out. In my experience, the more prepared you are, the better speaker you are. When you know your material, the words just flow and what also happens is you slow down. In addition, you can focus on certain key words or issues you want to highlight and it becomes a much greater experience for you and the audience.

practice is the beneficial tool, helped me to rehearse my speech and know the areas that will need improvement. also, makes me more confident when I start my speech.

It is very crucial to practice before any public speaking engagements as this will boost your confidence even more. Saying something you have rehearsed before will help you remember where to pose and ask questions, how to bring out examples and which particular ones work, how to better engage your audience, among other things. I remember how I would practice my speech for myself before the mirror. Once I would make a mistake, I would stop, think of a better way to do it and then do it again. It’s like acting. If you went through your lines before hand and correct yourself, by the time you stand before the audience, your confidence will be up there because you’re sure of your speech from start to finish

In my experience, even before I step on that stage, I know for sure that hundreds of eyes are going to be on me. Immediately I visualize success; I see myself receiving applauds and standing ovations. This means that regardless of how the audience may react to me at first, I will keep going with confidence because my focus is the end…the success of my speech, the appreciation of my audience

I'm not sure this advice is helpful, as when you're speaking, a lot is out of your control. You can give an incredible speech to the wrong audience. Or a disaster could happen in the middle of speaking—a health emergency, a fire drill, or some other interruption. Rather than picturing yourself succeeding, imagine that you feel like people hear and "get" what you intended. You are in conversation with your audience. If you're giving a speech to ask people to donate, did they donate? If you're speaking a funeral, did you help communicate your grief in a way that others could also process theirs? if you're toasting someone at retirement, did they feel honored? Success is the living, breathing dialogue you create with your audience.

Visualizing success is a powerful technique that can help boost my confidence and performance in public speaking. I should take time to imagine myself delivering a successful speech with confidence and poise. By visualizing positive outcomes, I can instil belief in my abilities and approach speaking engagements with a newfound sense of assurance.

One thing I find helpful is always having talking points that way, you know how your speech is going to flow and incase of anything u can always refer to them.

Someone told me that any presentation has three components: 1. The practice one, 2. The actual one, and 3. The presentation you give to yourself later in your car - the one that goes great - the way the actual one should have gone. This is tongue-in-cheek but reflects a mindset that the actual event will not be your best effort. That pressure or lack of preparation will produce a mediocre result. Instead, adequate advance preparation is key, combined with visualization, basically seeing yourself delivering that great presentation. Similar to an Olympic athlete mentally practicing that perfect downhill ski run by visualizing every inch of the course and each body movement and curve while traversing the course mentally. Try it!

Visualization of speaking can also build the confidence and keep you on track to success. Have the vision will help also cut down on making mistakes.

To take your visualization to the next level, imagine yourself surrounded by a bright cobalt blue bubble on the stage. The energy of this color matches the energy great speakers emit. Picture the blue bubble around you in your practice visualizations to build the visualization muscle, and then imagine it around you right before you step out on stage next time.

If you can, practice in the space you'll be speaking. If not available, find a similar room/venue where you can understand how it will feel to be on stage/in front of a large room/whatever the situation is. If not available, find an image of the room or find a large space outdoors and try to project. Visualize the space in front of you. Ask a friend or two to sit right in front of you. Visualize something calming related to that space and associate it with breathing. This way, when you find yourself faced with the large space and people staring at you, you can take moment, close your eyes to visualize your calm breathing, and bring yourself back to that base line.

For me, visualization and over preparation have always been crucial to overcome a case of nerves in public speaking situations.

Visualization taps into the mind's power, letting you mentally rehearse a triumphant speech. By closing your eyes and vividly imagining the setting, audience engagement, and your own confident delivery, you prime yourself for success. This technique not only enhances confidence by fostering an expectation of success but also mentally equips you for a positive performance, reinforcing your belief in your capability to excel.

You’ll always counter challenges as a public speaker no matter how used are you to it. Two things will make you excel and deliver your message properly (1) being fully prepared, updated about the markets and trends; (2) is being real and connecting your heart to your brain, your audience will feel how genuine you are, and will love it.

In the recovery from three brain surgeries in the winter of 21/22 I was mentored by a physical therapist that specializes in vestibular conditions at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. Having been hospitalized for around 75 days and having lost around 100 lbs.my balance was still off when I returned home. Over the next around 18 months I learned how to stand on my own again, regain my ability to walk and drive with those physical things my cognitive skills returned. However, my vestibular condition prevented me from looking at a keyboard or notes and speaking . I was inspired to learn that if I organized my thoughts and took them from my brain to store my heart my speaking skills would return. And they have. I have eternal Gratitude!

Public speaking like many other journeys, requires "infinite mindset". What does it mean? The foundation of success starts with the mindset. Acknowledging you are at point A, and every next opportunity you will move the needle. You need to have the continuous will and wish "to learn and to get better", collect feedback, insights, thrive to be at your best and take the action it deserves. Every time I speak, I ask feedback, watch myself, analyze what could I've done better? Then practice, practice, practice. In front of the mirror, on my own, the pitch, tonality, expressions and try to bring it to a point where you are completely natural. There will always be challenges, it's all fine! Just embrace them and do what it takes to get better.

So here’s the thing; there’s nobody who can pivot away from a challenge. We must all face them regardless of finances, profession or status. When speaking publicly, there is no “Oh I messed up, let me edit that and start over.” Nope! Whether you trip over your words, forget a line or even the whole speech because you’re nervous, people are watching. Give them a show! That’s what makes us human. The winner keeps going despite the hiccups. Challenges builds up confidence, experience and understanding to help someone else overcome. The kicker is what you choose to do when that challenge hits. Have fun, make mistakes and keep speaking ☺️

I have found: 1. That active Participation in Toastmasters---offering a minimum of 87 different Speaches...in different formats...and different Venues...inclusive of Comedy Club Sketches...Poetry Readings...Dramatic Speaches...etc. build critical confidence in : A. The assessment of character and capacities (starting with One's own character and capacity); and B. Development of #ListeningSkills which are critically significant component of Leadership...both in the Selection Process and in the all-important Management Phase that follows!

I've learned that sometimes I just have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Sometimes I am able to speaking confidently and feel like I showed up really well. Other times I don't know what happens and it's easy to feel super discouraged and want to step away. I find I just have to be willing to lean into the discomfort and show up again if I want to overcome it.

You change that fear by telling yourself it's excitement and push through it. Confidence comes from getting up, keeping going and practicing till you smash it!

Understanding and remembering the "failure" is part of success it a great way to change your mindset. You cannot and will not ever please everyone, but you mission as a Speaker is to convey a message so focus on that.

Public speakers often encounter typical challenges. For instance, during a professional conference where I was scheduled for a one-hour presentation, the previous speaker exceeded their allotted time. Thanks to Toastmasters, I was equipped to handle this situation effectively. I ensured my laptop was ready for a swift technical handover and informed the audience that the slides would be shared. This strategy enabled me to concentrate on the essential points of my presentation and briefly touch upon the supplementary references.

If you’ve had a difficult public speaking experience, you have to shake it off and volunteer for as many speaking opportunities as you can. In professional settings, from team meetings to regional conferences to national associations, there are windows of time in which you can prepare. Open with enthusiasm (and humor if you can), listen carefully to questions and respond thoughtfully. Step by step you will rebuild your confidence. There are also informal settings where you can speak up. All of the practice helps! Particularly for those who are inner introverts like myself but have been put into settings where you must frequently present such as the teacher, mentor or leader role.

Once I was going thru some personal stuff before recording a TEDx talk. On stage I froze and forgot. I stepped back. Took a deep breath. Told myself such moments happen and it cannot and will not define who I am. I went back on stage and gave one of the best talks. We cannot seek validation and motivation outside. It has to come from within. A moment can define us in negative or positive light, but ultimately it is our own choice.

When you stumble, make it part of the dance. I was speaking to 1,000 participants at an international conference. As I approached the podium, I tripped over the microphone cord (not wireless at the time). The audience gasped in horror and squirmed uneasily. Unhurt, I righted myself, took the 🎤 mic, smiled, and quipped laughing, “And now for my next act…” The relieved listeners laughed with me and I presented. Humor saved the day!

The best advice I give for my public speaking class is this: your audience is rooting for you. They want you to succeed. They are giving you their time and attention, and they fully support you. For your next speech remember that you have a room of audience supporting you.

I used to get imposter syndrome when speaking, especially when on a program with more well-known speakers who were better qualified than me. The fix is to stop thinking you are putting yourself up as an equivalent to them, and ask yourself why you were invited to speak - what is it you know that the audience would like to hear. Once you look at your abilities from a third-person perspective, you realise that you do have something to add that perhaps the professors don’t, and that is why the organisers invited you.

Public speaking is one of the most astonishing areas where you can express yourself on a topic. Getting stuck when speaking is really normal and one should not feel hesitant accepting this at the stage. Instead, stay calm & normal, and address what went out of the plan. Your audience will in fact cheer you up even if you have taken a pause or a sip of water. This will ensure you get back right on the track relieving your anxiety if you have felt. Always, remember "To err is Human" and it's totally acceptable if your voice felt a little shaken at the initial minute. The key is to keep going and practicing to overcome such challenges in future.

Here's what I learned a long time ago: When I am not feeling confident, I've made it all about ME. I will mess up. I won't be good enough. My ego is shattered, my pride wounded. I'll make a fool of myself. People won't like me. Me me me. The remedy I've found is to reframe my work from "speaker" to "teacher." As a teacher, it's not about me performing; it's about my students learning. If I don't teach them, they won't know this! In my experience, my nerves go away when I reframe the situation not as a talk I'm giving, but as the work I do to help people be better at whatever I'm sharing (in my case, how to create a better future). Just like the rest of life, we forget our own BS when we focus on helping others.

In the words of Aaliyah, “Dust yourself off and try again.” I also think it’s ok to make light of your bloopers. You can begin the next talk with something like “If anyone here today happened to be present the last time I spoke on this topic, I am so sorry you had to endure that!” Humor almost always helps. Finally, consider the circumstances around the moment that your confidence was shaken. If possible, pinpoint the leading factors of that uncomfortable moment so you can be better prepared if it were to happen again.

Learn from other’s mistakes, vow to yourself never make their mistakes. Above all know your subject so well, that you can do it all without the technology. When your laptop and mouse refuse to work be prepared to do it all from your head (or printed notes as memory joggers) yes that happened to me. Don’t rely on printed notes, don’t read notes, speak from knowledge. Prepare your presentation as close to the time of its delivery so it’s fresh in your mind. Update a pre-made presentation just before presenting it, so it’s up to date and fresh in your mind. Work on the presentation or updates on the train journey to the venue. As you prepare it, proof read it, smooth its delivery, edit it, update it, envisage it, rehearse it. keep it vital.

I’d answer… All of The Above. Practice and preparation are always a must. In the moment, if I mess up, I acknowledge it and laugh at myself! We’re all human! The worst speakers are the robotic speaking machines. Have fun and learn from each experience!

“That’s enough about me. Now let’s talk about my book” 🤪 I try to handle almost every challenge with a bit of humor. But before you try be certain you KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. Enter the party slowly and humbly and listen to the conversations before deciding how much and what type of humor you could include.