Tip 48 Use Mistakes to Build Your Credibility

If you make an occasional mistake in your delivery—if you lose your place or put up the wrong slide—don’t worry. See the moment as an opportunity to recover like a pro. Fix the mistake with a minimum of fanfare: take your time to find your place; put up the correct slide, perhaps calmly saying, “Let’s try this one.” Then forget it and proceed. Presto! You’ve just improved, not hurt, your presentation.

The audience may not even notice your mistakes. Even if they do, they take their cues from you. If you panic, they’ll be embarrassed. If you calmly recover and proceed, they’ll think “Good job…nothing’s going to unravel this presenter.”