Published: 9/29/2025

Most of the time, presentations are solo. One person runs the update, makes the pitch, or delivers the report. But every so often, the stakes or the content call for a group effort: a cross-functional team pitching to a client, a leadership team briefing the board, or specialists presenting different aspects of a project.

Those moments don’t happen every day—which is exactly why they’re worth preparing for. When most teams stumble through group presentations with clumsy transitions and disengaged body language, you can stand out by looking like a polished, coordinated unit.

Here’s how to make that happen.

1. Embrace Stagecraft, Not Just Script

It's not just about what you say—it’s about how you use the stage. Plan:

• Who stands where.
• Who controls the slides.
• How to transition between speakers.

Typically, whoever is speaking should take center stage. Others angle toward the audience instead of turning their backs. If one teammate has a section more than a minute, the others should step aside or sit until it’s their turn. That way, attention stays where it belongs.

2. Play to Each Person’s Strengths

In business, teams often mix personalities and expertise. Use that when you assign roles:

• Confident communicator: opens and closes, setting tone and leaving the last impression.
• Subject-matter expert: explains the technical or detailed parts.
• Design whiz: handles slides and visual messaging.

This maximizes impact and makes you look self-aware and organized.

3. Make Transitions Count

A handoff like “Now I’ll pass it to Susan” is an ok start, but it still needs context to set up the next voice:

• “Susan led the analysis, and she’ll walk you through the numbers that drive this strategy.”
• “That’s the big picture. David will explain how we’ll execute step by step.”

Name colleagues, highlight their role, and thank them briefly after they finish. It looks polished and build camaraderie.

4. Make Slides a Shared Tool

Decide who controls the clicker and stick to it. Passing it around feels amateur.

When a slide comes up, the speaker should step toward it, gesture naturally, and highlight what matters. If someone else created the visual, give them credit: “Anna designed this chart to simplify the process…” It’s a small nod that reinforces the sense of a true team effort.

5. Balance Professional Polish With Human Energy

Audiences can tell when interactions are stiff or robotic. Leave room for natural, unscripted moments: a nod, a quick comment, or a reaction from a colleague.

If someone shows a striking visual, others can say "Wow!" Compliment and acknowledge each other at the appropriate times. Keep it light and friendly so you don't get lost in individual talking points, even when it's technical or data-heavy.

6. Stay Engaged Even When Silent

When you’re not speaking, you’re still on stage. Keep your body angled toward the audience, nod at key points, and look interested. If you look checked out, the audience will follow your lead. Think of it as modeling the attention you want from them.

7. Make It a True Team Effort

If one person does 80% of the talking, it’s not a group presentation. Even small contributions matter—introducing a section, providing an example, handling Q&A, or summarizing a takeaway.

The goal is to make the audience feel they’re seeing a united, competent group—not a soloist with background singers, or worse, background singers who don't know their lines or where to stand.

8. Rehearse Together

The easiest way to spot an unprepared team? Awkward silences, jumbled movement, and sloppy transitions. Avoid it by practicing as a unit, at least twice all the way through.

Rehearse:

• Introductions and thank-yous.
• Timing for each section.
• Stage movement.
• How slides will be used.

This transforms separate mini-talks into a single, cohesive performance.

The Opportunity

Group presentations aren’t the everyday format in business—but that’s what makes them a chance for major success. Whether it’s a high-stakes pitch, a board update, or a client presentation with multiple experts, most teams deliver them awkwardly at best.

By planning the choreography, playing to strengths, nailing transitions, and showing up as an engaged, polished unit, you can differentiate yourself. The audience doesn’t just see information—they see teamwork, credibility, and competence in action. And that impression can be as persuasive as the content itself.