Plan for the Slip, Then Let It Go
Twenty-six ways to plan for the slip, then let it go, so mistakes do not haunt you.
Slips are part of every performance. A plan for them removes their sting.
40 tips that really help
These ideas come from Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (Susan Jeffers), The Upside of Stress (Kelly McGonigal), The 5 Second Rule (Mel Robbins), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.
Slips are part of every performance
Professional speakers, actors and musicians all make small slips. Audiences usually barely notice, and what they remember is how you handled it.
Expect one small slip and plan to carry on.
Plan the slip
Decide in advance what you will do if you lose your place: pause, breathe, glance at notes. A plan turns a crisis into a routine.
Write a three-step slip plan.
Write a recovery line
“Let me say that again” or “Where was I?” are simple, human lines. Having one ready stops you from freezing.
Choose your recovery line and practise it aloud.
Pause rather than panic
A pause of three seconds feels long to you and normal to listeners. It also gives you time to find your words.
Count to three silently when you lose your place.
Use your notes
Glancing at notes is professional, not shameful. Use bold key words so you find your place in a second.
Mark your key words in bold.
Keep going
Most slips are best handled by continuing. Do not stop to apologise at length.
Say a short “sorry” at most and move on.
Do not apologise repeatedly
Repeated apologies draw attention to the slip and make the audience uncomfortable. One light comment is enough.
Practise a light acknowledgement.
Use a smile
A calm smile after a slip signals that all is well. People take their cue from you.
Smile and continue after the next slip.
Use humour lightly
“My brain just did a cartwheel” can relax the room. Keep it kind and brief.
Prepare one gentle joke line.
Drop the perfect script
A script you must follow perfectly sets you up to fail. Know your points, not every word.
Use key points instead of a full script.
Know your first and last lines
If you know how to start and finish, a slip in the middle matters less. Memorise the bookends.
Memorise your opening and closing sentences.
Keep a water glass
A sip of water gives you a natural pause. It also helps a dry mouth.
Have water at hand for your next talk.
Have a back-up copy
Bring a printed copy and a digital one. If tech fails, you can carry on.
Save your notes in two places.
Expect tech glitches
Projectors, microphones and links sometimes fail. Say, “While we sort this, let me tell you a story.” Flexibility earns respect.
Prepare a two-minute story for glitches.
Practise with interruptions
Ask a friend to interrupt you during practice. Learning to continue builds resilience.
Rehearse with a friend interrupting once.
Practise starting in the middle
Pick a random point in your talk and begin there. It trains you to find your place quickly.
Start your practice from a random section.
Expect a blank
Everyone goes blank sometimes. Plan: breathe, look at your notes, say “Let me gather my thoughts”.
Rehearse a blank and your plan.
Expect a stumble over a word
If a word tangles, repeat it slowly. People do not mind.
Repeat the word slowly and move on.
Expect a cough or dry throat
Keep a water bottle or lozenge handy. A small cough is normal.
Pack a lozenge and water.
Expect shaky hands
Hold your notes against the lectern or rest hands on a surface. Small steadying tricks help.
Place your notes on a stable surface.
Expect a shaky voice
The first minute is often the shakiest. Speak slowly and take a breath after the first sentence.
Plan a pause after your first line.
Expect a quiet audience
Silence from listeners often means listening, not disapproval. Keep going.
Remind yourself that quiet can mean attention.
Expect a hard question
Prepare a line like “That is a great question, let me think”. It buys time and shows composure.
Write your “thinking” line.
Expect to not know an answer
Say, “I do not know, and I will find out”. Honesty builds trust.
Practise saying “I do not know” calmly.
Know that mistakes are forgotten
Audiences quickly forget small slips. They remember your overall impression.
Say, “They will forget this by dinner.”
Do not replay it
After the event, avoid replaying every slip. Note one lesson and move on.
Write one lesson and close the notebook.
Keep a list of what went well
After the event, list five things that went well. Your mind will otherwise focus on the slips.
Write five good things after each event.
Ask for feedback
Ask a trusted person what they noticed. They are often kinder and see fewer slips than you do.
Ask a friend, “What did you notice?”
Record yourself
Watching a video of yourself shows that slips are less visible than they felt. It also shows your strengths.
Record your next practice and watch it kindly.
Compare feelings and facts
You may feel you did terribly while observers say it was fine. Trust external evidence.
Ask for one outside opinion.
Be kind to yourself
Speak to yourself as you would to a friend who slipped. Kindness helps you recover and try again.
Say, “That was human, and I did well.”
Review with curiosity
Ask what you can adjust, not what is wrong with you. Curiosity is gentle and useful.
Write one thing to try next time.
Use the slip as a story
Many speakers turn a slip into a funny story later. Time turns embarrassment into charm.
Tell a friend about your slip.
Look at role models
Watch recordings of famous speakers and notice their small slips. Perfect delivery is rarer than it seems.
Watch one talk and spot a slip.
Plan for the energy dip
After the event, you may feel flat. Plan a quiet treat.
Schedule something nice afterwards.
Let it go with a ritual
Write the slip on paper, tear it up and throw it away. A ritual signals that it is done.
Tear up a note about your slip.
Remember your preparation
Your preparation does not vanish after a slip. Remind yourself of the work you did.
Say, “I prepared well, and I will continue.”
Celebrate recovery
Each time you recover from a slip, you grow in confidence. Celebrate it.
Tell yourself, “I recovered, and that is a skill.”
Write about the worry first
Sian Beilock and Gerardo Ramirez found that students who wrote about their worries for ten minutes before an exam performed better than those who did not. Getting fears onto paper frees up mental space.
Write your worries for ten minutes before your next big event.
Practise under mild pressure
Rehearse in front of one friend or record yourself. A little pressure in practice prepares you for the real moment better than comfortable solo runs.
Do one practice run with an audience of one.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many everyday situations.
“If I slip, I will pause and breathe.”
“Let me try that again.”
“That was not the plan, was it?”
“Moving on to the next point.”
“I had a slip and it was fine.”
“I let it go.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
Write your slip plan
Practise a recovery line
Rehearse a pause
Slip on purpose in practice
Tell a friend your plan
Debrief kindly
Let go in writing
Further reading
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (Susan Jeffers)
- The Upside of Stress (Kelly McGonigal)
- The 5 Second Rule (Mel Robbins)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
