The Truth Behind My TEDx Talk (And 3 Presentation Tips For You)

Have you ever given a presentation that didn’t go as planned? Maybe you had problems with the slides, your mind went blank, or something else threw you off? 

If so, you’re not alone. 

Even experienced speakers face challenges—and I certainly did during my TEDx Talk back in 2016.

In fact, I went into such a state of panic that I almost ran off the stage!!!

Everything Was Great… Until It Wasn’t

I was so excited about my first TEDx Talk. Before stepping on stage, I’d done everything I knew to do as a seasoned speaker and presentation coach. I made sure to

✔️ Take deep breaths to ease my nerves
✔️ Sip water to keep my voice clear
✔️ Walk onto the stage with confidence

And at first, everything seemed to be going well. I delivered my opening lines exactly as rehearsed. Then, things started to unravel.

3 Challenges That Shook Me

1️⃣ I Forgot a Line from My Script

I usually advise speakers not to use a script. Why? Because when you rely on one, your focus shifts from connecting with the audience to worrying about what comes next. For this event though, I was asked to stick to a script because subtitles were being simultaneously projected in Japanese.

Early on, I missed a line. That threw me and I stumbled over my words. 

💡 Tip #1: Avoid Using a Script (If Possible)

While it can be helpful to write a script to be sure you can say what you want to (especially when presenting in your non-native language), attempting to memorize a script word for word puts you under a LOT of pressure and makes it hard to stay present and connect with your audience.

2️⃣ My Slides Didn’t Transition Properly

I was using a clicker for my slides, but I’d only been able to test it briefly on the day of the event. When I clicked, the slides didn’t advance as expected. That added another layer of stress.

💡 Tip #2: Rehearse in the Actual Environment

Whenever possible, practice using the same equipment and setup you’ll have on the day of your presentation. That way, you can troubleshoot potential problems in advance.

3️⃣ I Couldn’t See The Audience Reaction

This was the most difficult challenge. The TEDx Roppongi stage used a high-tech projection system. A black mesh screen separated me from the audience, so that they could see me clearly and my slides appeared as holograms floating next to me – amazingly innovative. The downside?

🚫 I couldn’t see the audience’s faces
🚫 I couldn’t hear their reactions

As someone who thrives on audience interaction, this was terrifying. 

A bizarre image started to loom in my mind that I was standing alone and defenseless in front of 150 faceless, silent aliens! 😨

And a panicked voice in my head was saying, “You’re supposed to be a presentation skills coach and you can’t even speak! What will people think? How embarrassing! This must be the end of your career!”

My brain went into fight or flight mode and, believe me, I was so close to running off stage! 

But then, a tiny, supportive voice in my head reminded me:
“These thoughts and feelings are a normal part of the human survival mechanism. Shift your focus to the audience.”

So I did. I stumbled a little, but I kept going. Eventually, I found my rhythm again and finished strong.

💡 Tip #3: Focus on Your Audience

When you’re in fight or flight, the signal to the neocortex – the thinking part of the brain – stops because your body wants to act quickly and automatically to escape the perceived danger. So the key here is to shift your attention from yourself to the people you’re speaking to. Moving the focus away from yourself eases the fight or flight feeling. To help the words to start flowing again, you can ask yourself, “What do I want to tell them?” Anything is fine, just to take the pressure off you. Then you can gradually get back to what you wanted to say.

Final Thoughts

Despite the challenges, my TEDx Roppongi experience was incredible. I’m so grateful to the organizers, Amber Chook and Daiki Toshima, for their amazing work. I also appreciate Alex Fazel, who introduced me to the event and gave me this opportunity.

If you have a presentation coming up, remember these 3 key takeaways:

✅ Avoid using a script, if possible
✅ Rehearse in the actual environment
✅ Focus on your audience

Even when things don’t go perfectly, you can still deliver a powerful presentation. In fact, audiences usually connect better with speakers who make the occasional mistake rather than those who never miss a beat. 

>>> If you’re curious, you can watch my TEDx Talk “Why Don’t Japanese Women Ask Questions at Work?” here.