How to recover when your presentation goes pear-shaped

As if public speaking wasn't scary enough, being undressed on stage is the stuff of nightmares!

I share how I recovered from a public speaking mishap, plus other essential presenting / spokesperson tips, in a short Q&A with Good Reading magazine ahead of the launch of my book, Speak Up -how to be a successful presenter and media spokesperson.

Coincidentally, while I was recording the audio book version of Speak Up I bumped into author and winner of the SBS Alone series, Gina Chick, who was in the sound booth next to me.

I write about Gina's authentic presenting style in my book. She always goes barefoot – even at a red-carpet premiere

Theresa Miller and Gina Chick, author and winner of the SBS Alone series, at Sound Kitchen.

Good Reading Q&A

Do you remember your first public speaking experience, and how it made you feel? What happened?

I remember an early presentation where I had an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. I was addressing a group of aspiring parents and doctors about my IVF experience and those of the people I'd interviewed for my first book, Making Babies – Personal IVF Stories.

I must have been gesticulating wildly because without warning, my wrap-around-dress began to rapidly unravel. 

Fortunately, my IVF doctor who was sitting in the front row alerted me by calling out: 'No need to undress, Theresa. I've already examined you!' Mortified, I retied my dress and laughed along with the audience and then carried on.

From that, I learned that if something goes pear-shaped during a presentation, it’s best to laugh it off and move on quickly. If you get flustered and upset, it will make the audience feel awkward too.

In your work as a corporate trainer, what stands out to you about the range of responses you see from people who are learning to speak/present?

I'm lucky enough to work with super smart people who are experts in their fields – whether that be in science, academia, business, law, medicine, sport or not-for-profit organisations. They know their subjects inside out but sometimes they don't know how to share their expertise and experiences effectively when they're doing an interview with a journalist, or on a panel, podcast or presenting or pitching. I help them prepare clear, logical and succinct key messages that resonate with their target audiences.

Many speakers make the mistake of using jargon or technical language that’s meaningless to a lay audience. That’s a big turn-off. Plain English is always the best option. 

The other common oversight is that they don't provide the context to make their message relevant to their audience. Ask yourself, why should people care about this subject? How will this information benefit them or persuade them to change their minds or actions?

How important is it, do you think, that children learn to speak in front of a group?

Learning public speaking skills at an early age is crucial and becoming more and more important in the age of AI. Young primary school children are often passionate about certain interests and bursting to tell you all about them. When we harness that youthful enthusiasm and combine it with fundamental speaking skills and consistent practice, they acquire a life-long gift.

But if kids wait until they're teens to learn presenting skills, they're often too self-conscious to perform in front of their peers. That crippling obsession with 'what will people think of me?' can take decades to wear off and in the meantime, hinder their career progress.

My Gen Z daughters are grateful they learnt public speaking in primary school because now they're often asked to present their work to their university lecturers, instead of submitting an essay which can be easily written by AI.

What are three tips you would give a first-time presenter or media spokesperson?

1. Start with an attention-grabbing opener such as a startling statistic or thought-provoking question and finish with a strong, specific and dated call-to-action. 

2. Be prepared. An interview or presentation is not the time for an original thought. Prepare two or three key messages using a simple formula such as Point, Reason, Example, So What? And practise these before the interview or the presentation Q&A, so that you are not caught off guard. 

3. Don't spend all your time on your PowerPoint slides and not enough on practising your delivery skills. Focus on your voice, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and body language to draw the audience in and keep them hooked.

Speaking publicly about your expertise or experience can boost your brand, career or cause. Don't hide your light under a bushel. Step up to the microphone and speak up.

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To pre-order my book: Speak Up How to be a successful presenter and media spokesperson