Summary
Highlights
Group presentations are increasingly common in business and education as clients and teams seek diverse voices. Presenting as a group can be more persuasive than individual presentations, but it also comes with unique challenges due to differing personalities, schedules, and power dynamics. This video will share strategies for before, during, and after a group presentation.
As soon as a presentation is scheduled, plan dedicated practice sessions. For high-stakes presentations, three meetings are recommended: a planning meeting to assign parts, a 'table read' to check for clarity and cohesion, and a formal rehearsal to practice delivery with props like a clicker.
Instead of repetitive transitions like 'Now, Sharon has told you about X, I will explain Y,' know the point of the previous speaker and seamlessly start your section. This creates a highly coordinated and natural flow.
As a speaker, maintain eye contact with the audience, but occasionally glance at co-presenters to show team connection and take cues. Co-presenters should actively listen and look engaged, even if they've heard the content before, to convey team unity. Nodding in agreement or laughing at appropriate moments reinforces this unity.
Support your teammates. If a colleague answers a question well, affirm their point. If a question falls into a colleague's area of expertise, defer to them. If you don't know an answer, seek support from your co-presenters by making eye contact and asking if anyone else would like to contribute.
Limit answers to one, or a maximum of two, speakers during Q&A. Multiple people adding on to an answer can make the Q&A feel bloated and erode the credibility of the initial speaker. Trust that the audience understood the first answer.
Immediately after the presentation, write down observations: what resonated, what were the challenging points, unexpected questions, and insights about colleagues' speaking. Share these notes with the team to enhance future presentations.
Regularly give and receive timely feedback. Providing feedback soon after the presentation allows colleagues to incorporate it thoughtfully for future events, rather than last-minute advice that might be disruptive.
It's crucial to have clear conversations with co-presenters about the content, rather than just relying on text or email. This ensures everyone is aligned and understands their parts.