It’s not just me! Presenting in Groups

Many students are wary of completing projects in groups. That wariness is often exacerbated when the project includes a presentation component. Let’s face it, working with other people is tricky and requires careful navigation, particularly if your teammates have different schedules, work habits, or approaches to group work. While presenting in groups poses several challenges, there are several strategies your group can utilize to make the process easier and more efficient.

Download the PDF worksheet Presenting in Groups to help you as you read the information below.

What is Your Task?

• • It's important to review the requirements for presenting found in your rubric or presentation guidelines. Make sure that everyone understands the assignment as well as the rubric. If you aren't given a rubric and/or have questions about the assignment, a representative from your group should contact the professor or TA for clarification. Once your team understands the professor's expectations, you can then take steps toward building the presentation.

What is Your Role?

• • Once you understand your professor’s expectations for the assignment, consider roles for each member of your team. Roles could include: agenda setter, minutes manager, communications sender, and timekeeper, for example.

To Whom are You Presenting?

• • Make sure that your group agrees on the presentation's purpose. Your purpose will be shaped not only by the assignment and rubric but also by your audience. Complete the audience analysis handout as a team to help your group reach consensus about how you will connect with the audience.

Who is Talking?

• • Determine how to assign the presentation to each group member. Will you each present for an equal amount of time? If these guidelines are not provided in your assignment, make these decisions as a team so everyone understands what is expected of them.

What Should You Bring to the Presentation?

• • Decide in advance who will be responsible for bringing visual aids and/or equipment for the presentation. These decisions should not be left to the last minute, and it is wise to ask two individuals to bring visual aids or additional supplies so that your team is not dependent upon one person to bring essential items to your presentation. Another source of potential tension when presenting as a team is not agreeing on the dress code. Determine prior to presentation how your group would like to present themselves. Everyone should agree on what your dress code will be.

What Will Your Transitions Look Like?

• • Be sure to rehearse as a team so that you can determine how you will transition from one presenter to the next. Crafting smooth transitions is one way to take a presentation from good to great. Your team should also consider what team members will do when they are not presenting. Will you stand with hands behind your back? Will you look at the speaker? Find a uniform, but comfortable, approach to being a spectator during the presentation.

Dig Deeper

Pro Tip:

The most difficult part of a group presentation is coordinating everyone’s schedules and individual preferences for how the project will be completed. The first step to completing a group project is to find a way to communicate with your team. Create a GroupMe or exchange phone numbers so that you can contact each other reliably. As you begin identify roles, responsibilities, and steps to project completion, document through a shared doc or spreadsheet all of your internal deadlines for the presentation. The planning doc or spreadsheet should include a time for the entire team to complete a timed dress rehearsal of the presentation.

Interested in a one-one consultation with an expert to review your communication assignment, rubric, or activities? Looking for a workshop on teaching oral competency? How about a Public Speaking 101 workshop for your students? Visit the Sanger Public Speaking Center webpage Links to an external site.or send a message to: slc.speaking@austin.utexas.edu. Our team looks forward to empowering you and your students!

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