The Power of Making Mistakes In Public Speaking

By Victoria Lioznyansky, M.S., M.A.

Public speaking can feel like a make-or-break, high-stakes event. We aim for absolute perfection. We spend hours rehearsing every line, perfecting our slides, and preparing for every possible scenario. 

Yet, no matter how much preparation we put in, we’re still afraid of making a mistake. We worry that a slip of the tongue or forgetting a word will ruin the entire presentation, leaving our audience with a negative impression and damaging our reputation.

But what if I told you that making mistakes could actually make you a more effective and engaging speaker? 

What if the very thing you fear most could strengthen your connection with the audience and make you more relatable?

Let’s challenge this idea that public speaking has to be flawless. Because it’s just not true. Let’s explore how embracing vulnerability and accepting mistakes can actually boost your impact as a speaker. 

The Pratfall Effect: How Mistakes Can Make You More Likable

Here’s the thing, no matter what you tell yourself, audiences don’t expect perfection. In fact, research shows that audiences are not only more forgiving than we give them credit for– they actually like us more after we make a mistake.

It’s called the Pratfall Effect. This psychological phenomenon, first identified by social psychologist Elliot Aronson in the 1960s, suggests that people who are perceived as competent become even more likable and relatable after a minor slip-up.

In Aronson’s original study, participants listened to recordings of an actor taking a quiz. In the first recording, he answered the questions 100% correctly, responded flawlessly, and had an impeccable high school record. In the second recording, he answered only 30% of the questions correctly and had an average high school career.

In some versions of the recordings, the actor spills a coffee on himself at the end of the quiz and in other versions, this was edited out.

Aronson found that participants found the actor more likable when he was competent, but made a small, relatable blunder. The gaffe didn’t hurt his credibility at all. On the other hand, when the actor was seen as less competent, the coffee spill further hurt his credibility.

So as long as you’ve built up your credibility with your audience, small mistakes can actually help you connect with them better.

Why Audiences Prefer Mistakes Over Perfection

Why does this happen? Your audience is listening to you with one goal: to learn something new. Whether it’s a meeting, a presentation, or a livestream, your audience isn’t there to judge you on every small misstep.

They want to connect with you and your message. When speakers allow themselves to be vulnerable, that opens the door to deeper emotional connection.

Here’s why imperfection can be so powerful in public speaking:

1. Makes You More Relatable: We all make mistakes. When a speaker makes a small mistake, people in the audience can see themselves in that moment. This fosters connection with the speaker.
   
   
2. Builds Trust: People who seem flawless may appear like they’re hiding something. When you make a mistake, your audience sees you as authentic, rather than someone who is trying to maintain a facade.
   
   
3. Shows Off Your Confidence: Ironically, showing vulnerability can actually signal confidence. When you make a mistake and handle it with poise, it demonstrates that you’re secure in yourself and your abilities. You don’t need to be perfect to be powerful.
   
   
4. Boosts Engagement: Audiences tend to disengage when a speaker feels too polished or rehearsed. A perfectly delivered speech can sometimes feel robotic or impersonal. Small mistakes, on the other hand, can re-engage the audience by breaking the flow in an unexpected, lighthearted way.
   
   
5. Demonstrates Your Ability to Adapt: Credibility isn’t about being flawless. It’s about being knowledgeable, confident, and flexible. Leaders who acknowledge their mistakes and show humility often earn more respect than those who try to maintain an unshakable image of perfection. True leadership means being willing to learn, grow, and adapt.

 When someone is already perceived as competent and capable, a minor mistake doesn’t diminish that—instead, it makes them appear more human and approachable.

It might seem counterintuitive, but vulnerability can enhance your authority. When you admit mistakes or express uncertainty, you actually strengthen your credibility in the eyes of your audience. Why? Because people respect authenticity.

You see, we all make mistakes. It’s hard to relate to someone who’s perfect all the time. Showing your flaws humanizes you and makes it easier to connect with what you’re saying.

Public Speaking Mistakes Are Inevitable— Here’s How to Handle Them

When you’re terrified of making a mistake, you focus too much on avoiding it instead of delivering your message in an effective and engaging way. But here’s the reality: mistakes are inevitable.

It’s not a matter of if you make a mistake– it’s a matter of when.

No matter how well-prepared you are, something will eventually go wrong. You might lose your place, stumble over a word, or face a technical glitch. It happens to everyone.

Instead of worrying about making a mistake, focus on handling them gracefully when they happen and even using them to your advantage.

Here are five ways to turn mistakes into moments of connection:

1. Calmly Acknowledge the Mistake: When you make a mistake, acknowledge it without overreacting. For example, if you mispronounce a word, just correct yourself and move on. The audience is not going to focus on small mistakes unless you do. If you respond with calm confidence, they’ll follow your lead and respect you more.
   
   
2. Don’t Over-Apologize: It’s natural to want to apologize when something goes wrong, but be careful not to overdo it. Excessive apologizing can undermine your credibility and make the mistake seem larger than it is. Keep it brief and don’t let it derail your presentation.
   
   
3. Use Humor to Defuse the Situation: Humor can instantly re-engage your audience and put them at ease. If something goes wrong, a lighthearted joke can turn an awkward moment into an opportunity for connection. For example, if your slides don’t fully load, you might say something like “Well, it looks like technology has other plans for us today!” and continue with your talk.
   
   
4. Keep Moving Forward: No matter what, keep going. Don’t dwell on the mistake or your imposter syndrome will kick in. Don’t let it disrupt the flow of your presentation. Your audience is more interested in the overall message you’re delivering than they are in a minor misstep.
   
   
5. Turn the Mistake Into a Lesson: Sometimes, a mistake can actually become a valuable teaching moment and make your presentation more impactful. For instance, if your presentation is about overcoming challenges, you can use the mistake as a live example of how to adapt and keep moving forward. This not only reinforces your message, but it also shows that you practice what you preach.

Famous Speakers Humanized by Their Mistakes

When I say everyone makes mistakes, I do mean everyone. Here are some examples well-known public speakers who turned mistakes into powerful moments of connection:

🎤 Steve Jobs’ iPhone Presentation
During Steve Jobs' iconic 2007 iPhone presentation, the device malfunctioned while he was demonstrating its features. Instead of panicking, Jobs stayed calm, made a light joke, and moved on to another part of the demo. 

The audience laughed along with him, and this presentation is still considered one of the best product launches in history. Jobs’ ability to handle a public mishap with grace only reinforced his reputation as a confident and skilled presenter.

🎤 Oprah Winfrey’s 2013 Golden Globes Speech

Oprah Winfrey is known as a powerful, eloquent speaker, but even she isn’t immune to mistakes. In 2013, while speaking at the Golden Globe Awards, she messed up one of her lines. Instead of letting it derail her, she smiled, chuckled, and carried on. This minor mistake humanized her, and the audience applauded her ability to keep going with confidence.

🎤 Barack Obama’s Teleprompter Failure
During a town hall event, former President Barack Obama’s teleprompter malfunctioned, leaving him without a script. Instead of freezing up or relying on prepared notes, Obama ad-libbed with ease and engaged directly with the audience. 

His ability to think on his feet and recover from the technical glitch impressed the crowd, and the moment showcased his authenticity and confidence as a speaker.

Learning From Public Speaking Mistakes

Remember, public speaking is a skill. One that can always be improved upon. Instead of looking at mistakes as failures, try to reframe them as learning opportunities on your journey to the mastery of this skill.

Reflect on what went wrong, analyze how you handled it, and think about how you can improve next time. Use your learnings to better prepare for your next presentation and to become a more effective speaker.

This mindset shift is crucial for long-term growth. Dwelling on mistakes will only promote a fear of failure and make you more anxious while speaking. A growth mindset allows you to continually refine your skills and learn how to better connect with audiences.

Build Your Public Speaking Confidence

The next time you step in front of an audience, focus on connection instead of perfection. Mistakes will always happen, but they don’t define you as a speaker. In fact, they can make you more likable, build trust, and create a more authentic connection.

By embracing vulnerability, handling mistakes with grace, and continuing to move forward, you can transform your public speaking skills. Instead of fearing the possibility of failure, see it as an opportunity to showcase your resilience, adaptability, and confidence.

So, lean into mistakes and embrace the power they hold. Then, watch as your public speaking confidence—and your audience engagement—goes through the roof.

Still struggling with a fear of making mistakes or a fear of public speaking, in general? 

If you’re like many people, you feel like you’ve tried everything to overcome your fear, but your confidence still goes out the window the moment all eyes are on you.

Maybe you’ve spent hours and hours practicing, only to feel nervous as ever. Maybe you’ve started avoiding speaking opportunities entirely- even though it’s making you feel stagnant in your career or business.

It doesn’t have to be this way. You can conquer your fear, build unshakeable inner confidence, and speak with ease in any situation.

That’s why I put together this FREE resource: 5 PROVEN Steps You Can Take to Boost Your Public Speaking Confidence Right Now!

Inside, you’ll learn why nothing you’ve tried before has worked… and the evidence-backed strategies you can use instead to boost your confidence.

These are some of the exact strategies that have helped 100s of executives, entrepreneurs, and high-level professionals conquer their fear for good and show up with influence and authority.

Download your free copy here!