10 Ways to Make Your Next Team Presentation a Winner
	-Jon Rosen, president of Impact Communications

What do architects, advertis-	1. Appoint a team leader so	who precede and follow you,
 ing and public relations	one person is responsible for	making smooth transitions be-
 agencies consulting prac-	total project management from	tween the presentation modules.
tices and institutional investment	concept development through	6. Introduce all members of
management firms have in com-	final dress rehearsal. Among your	your team, explaining why
mon? For many of them, team	team leader's responsibilities are	they are present and what their
presentations have become a way	setting deadlines and overseeing	functions and roles are.
of life.	the schedule for content genera-	7. Stick to your game plan as
 What professionals in those	tion, the design and production of	best you can. If you drift or
fields have discovered - and	visuals and handouts, and run-	attempt to wing it, you'll repeat
what professionals in other fields	throughs.	yourself and - even worse -
are now realizing - is the raw	2. Assign each person a func-	steal your associates' thunder.
power you can harness with a	 tion- in writing - so each	You'll exceed your allotted time
well-orchestrated team presenta-	team member is clear about her/his	and risk getting stopped in mid
tion effort.	responsibilities regarding content,	stream by the next team member
 Such a presentation creates an	continuity, visuals, production,	- or by your client or prospect.
opportunity to showcase collec-	handouts and other aspects. Make	8. Listen actively to your team
tive intellect and expertise and	sure everyone on your team	members during their seg-
allows you to capitalize on the	knows exactly who is doing what.	ments. Establish and maintain eye
complementary strengths of your	3. Showcase the unique tal-	contact with them as they speak.
staff. As team presenters, you can	ents of individual team	Your prospects and clients will be
generate a level of pacing, ener-	members as presenters and as	taking their cues from you. Don't
gy and excitement that most solo	professionals. For example, if one	give them cause to tune out.
presenters only dream of	person on your staff is a great sto-	9. Ask your lead presenter to
achieving.	ryteller or knows how to engage	control the flow during the
  But there are some potential	prospects within the first 30 sec-	question-and-answer period. If
pitfalls. Compared with going	onds, she may be your leadoff hit-	a question is directed to a specific
solo, team presentations are more	ter, Someone else on your team	member of the team, that person
time-consuming to prepare. The	may have the technical expertise	should take the question directly.
stricture is more elaborate. You're	to demonstrate how your product	If you are addressed but are not
dependent on others in the devel-	or service is superior to any in the	the appropriate person, defer to
opment and rehearsal phases, as	marketplace. A third person in the	the person who is best equipped
well as the delivery of your pre-	group - a strong moderator -	to answer. If a question is thrown
sentation. And, finally, you're	might host the question-and-	up for grabs, the lead presenter
incurring an opportunity cost by	answer portion.	should either take it or direct it to
tying up valuable talent.	4. Work backward from your	the appropriate team member.
 Once you weigh the pros and	presentation deadline.	10. Don't equate team pre-
cons and decide to move ahead,	Build multiple deadlines along the	sentations with formal
these 10 steps can help you	way for creative development,	presentations. Yes, the stricture
achieve team presentation excel-	content, continuity, rehearsals and	for team presentations is more
lence.	the production of handouts and	elaborate and the orchestration is
	collateral. To give yourself time to	more complex than when you're
	fine-tune your presentation,	flying solo, But the only thing that
	schedule the final run-through at	would make a team presentation
least two days before your actual	"formal" is a stiff delivery from
meeting date.	presenters. As with any successful
 5. Think of each person's seg-   presentation, be warm, attentive,
	ment as a presentation	responsive, excited and animated.
	module - a presentation within a	And - more important than any-
	presentation. Build continuity	thing else - be yourself. 
	between yourself and the people