The spotlight effect makes a small presentation mistake feel public because you are tracking your own performance from the inside.
Stumble over 1 word and your mind may replay it as if the room froze.
The audience is usually doing something less dramatic: following the main point, checking their notes, or thinking about what they need to do next.
That mismatch can turn a tiny slip into unnecessary anxiety and self-doubt.
Treat the error as a passing moment, not the whole presentation. Most people heard the message, not the stumble.