Mistakes in a speech or presentation? No one wants to make mistakes yet I've realized that there's a lot of value in making a few--from your mistakes, you learn what to do better.
Here are three mistakes I have made and what I learned from them.
1) Handout exercise that didn't work. I wrote a puzzle that was intended to teach the audience five simple words. I thought these words would be more sticky if the audience discovered them by themselves through a word puzzle.
There were 2 mistakes in my thinking--first, the puzzle was not as popular a type as I had thought it was, so my simple directions were insufficient. Second, I wrote it badly and it turned out to be unsolvable.
Now I know to use a puzzle type that is more familiar, and to edit it at least 5 times over different days to ensure there are no mistakes.
2) Too long music clip. I begin my keynote speech with a clip from a song. The first time I used it, I ended up standing in front of the audience mouthing the words for 70 seconds--clearly too long once the audience was paying attention. Now it is a brisk 35 seconds, makes my point with impact, and I move on.
3) Being unclear about a point. I wanted to show how a lesson I learned from my hobby of horseback riding has made me smarter in my business--and that audiences should look for similar lessons in their own lives--but I was having a hard time making this powerful. It was only after giving the speech to live audiences that I had my light bulb moment--how to show the intersection of riding and business. I am glad I made the mistake--more of an omission-- with the live audience because the point is worthwhile and I had not hit upon it until I experienced the audience's reaction.
Post your stories about speaking mistakes you have made and what you learned from them through our comment link.
Comments