“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs
Working in project teams is increasingly becoming the way many businesses get work done. That means having to present as a team at a business meeting is becoming more common as well. Teams frequently have to put forward ideas, get their projects and funding requests approved, and present project status updates.
Preparing and delivering a team presentation has its own unique public speaking challenges and opportunities. If your team presentation comes across as uncoordinated and disjunct, it calls into question all the information that your team presented. Conversely, a well-prepared and smooth presentation creates a perception that your team works well together, and that its members have done their homework and know what they’re talking about.
The following tips can help you and your team members collaborate more effectively when preparing for a team presentation.
- Establish Goals and Information Needs. Make sure each team members agrees on what the presentation is trying to accomplish and what the scope and type of research will be needed.
- Assign Roles and Tasks. Designate a team captain to help coordinate members, beginning with the selection of roles and tasks. Next, assign members to present the introduction, the body of the presentation, and the conclusion. Determine how the group will handle questions. Assign other responsibilities as needed.
- Establish Transitions Between Speakers. Determine how the team will handle transitions between speakers ahead of time. For example, decide if a designated group member will introduce every speaker or whether each speaker will introduce the next speaker upon the close of his or her presentation. Make sure everyone knows the order of the presenters.
- Consider Each Presenter’s Strength. Consider choosing the person with the strongest presentation style and credibility level for the opening. Put the more cautious presenters in the middle of the presentation. Select another strong speaker to conclude the presentation.
- Coordinate Presentation Aids. Consider assigning one person the job of coordinating templates for slides, video, and/or audio. Presentation aids should have a cohesive and unified look.
- Rehearse the Presentation. Rehearse the presentation together and include any presentation aids that will be used.
- Remember You’re Always On. Remember that even when someone else is speaking, the audience can still see you. So, make sure you are sitting up straight and paying attention to the other team members and the audience at all times. See related article.
These public speaking tips will help you and your team work together effectively and put together a polished business presentation.
