Presentation Skills: Group Presentations
There are advantages and disadvantages to having to deliver a group presentation. You can share the workload and perhaps group members can do the things that they are good at and avoid the things they don't like or are not so good at. It's not just you in the spotlight as part of a group - so, you're not alone! On the other hand, you have to make sure that you all communicate well with each other and that you all pull your weight.
Group presentations are used for several reasons:
- You will have deeper discussions with your group talking about the work at hand. This will help you improve your understanding of the topic
- Group work improves your verbal communication skills
- Groups provide support if you're nervous or struggling with the material
- Group work is useful for answering any job interview questions about working as part of a team
- It helps build social relationships within your class
- Group work helps develop soft skills such as teamwork, communication, negotiation that will be useful after college
Lots of people who have worked on a group project have horror stories about The Group Member Who Didn't Do Any Work. Don't be that person; you'll pull down the rest of the group with you, and people will remember you (not fondly!) for it. Your teachers will probably be able to identify individual contributions and will know if someone isn't doing their fair share. If you have concerns, you should think about taking them to your teacher, but you should all do your best to create a good piece of work. Working as part of a team is a valued workplace skill but so is being able to step in and cover for others who can't or won't do their job.
Note, all members of the group must be treated equally, and all decisions must be agreed by a majority of the group.
Group Presentations Tips
- Meet early and meet often
- Divide up responsibilities - choose and assign roles according to group member strengths
- Make sure everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing
- Remember that it's not a group of different presentations, one after the other with the same topic. It's one presentation with several different presenters.
- Following on from that, consistency is key. Each member of the group who speaks must use the same fonts, headings and style for their slides; all slides must look and feel the same.
- Choose a spokesperson; someone to introduce the presentation, set the tone, handle the questions (or refer them as necessary), handle any issues that arise (or can delegate as required). Obviously, the group member who does this should be the group member most comfortable with (or least fearful of) public speaking.
- Transition to the next speaker. Don't just say your piece and stop, end by summarising what you've said and introduce the next speaker e.g., "Ok, that's what actually happened on 9/11. Emma will now speak about the events of the days following 9/11"
- You're not a random collection of strangers, you're a group, so act like a group: decide beforehand where you'll wait to speak - will you sit or stand? Will you use a clicker? Will you all have notes? You don't need to wear a uniform or anything, but you should all wear similar attire - not half the group in suits and the other half in jeans and t-shirts!
- Pay attention - you must be switched on. Even if you're not speaking, you're still part of the group and representing it, so be aware of your body language - don't slouch or look bored.
- Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! You must practice as a group. Perhaps you're not all speaking for the same length of time, but you must be clear on what each of you is speaking about and make sure the overall presentation keeps to the allotted time.
- You're in this together, so support each other - you're only going to be as strong as your weakest link
- Communicate! Chances are you're not just being assessed on the content of the presentation but how you fare working as a group
