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Making Public Presentations of the Group’s Output 365

and time limit to follow or simply be told to “fill us in.” Make the best of your parame-
ters; novice presenters often present too much information and run out of time, which
causes them to lose credibility with the audience or lose the audience altogether!

Member Strengths and Fears
Know and appreciate the difficulties your group members may have with oral presen-
tations so you can organize and develop your presentation. Which members are
knowledgeable about particular topics? What contacts and research did your group
develop? What attitudes or feelings do members have about the topic and the presen-
tation? Who are your better speakers? After assessing the strengths of group mem-
bers, deciding who will present which topics is easier. In addition, if the presentation
will be followed by a question-and-answer period, you can decide who is the best
qualified to answer questions that are asked.
Your group also needs to talk about group member concerns. The best writer in the
group may not be the best oral presenter. Someone who is quiet within the group may
actually prefer to speak before larger audiences. On the other hand, a group member
who is comfortable in smaller groups may feel threatened in larger settings. Leaders may
not necessarily be the best ones to take the lead for the presentation. Anxiety is normal;
group members experience it in different ways. Knowing and understanding a group
member’s difficulty with public communication can allow your group to plan presenta-
tion strategies, such as taking the focus off one person by having pairs present together.
Oral public presentations also require a considerable behind- the-scenes work that can
be done by members less inclined to speak.

Logistics
Near the end of the planning stage, your group should know what you need for the
presentation: supplies, visual aids, and equipment (laptop, projector, TV, etc.).
Speakers often forget simple items such as tape and end up worrying more about the
poster that keeps falling over than the content of their presentation. You need to find
out in advance what supplies you need and determine who will bring them. Don’t
assume your contact person will have what you need!
It also enhances your presentation if you go the extra mile to find current pam-
phlets, booklets, handouts, buttons, balloons, fact sheets, or any other items rele-
vant to your presentation. Very likely, other community organizations mentioned in
your recommendations will be happy to supply professional, updated information
about your topic.

Types of Group Oral Presentations

After you have assessed your presentation situation, your group must decide which
presentation format best fits that situation. A variety of formats allow for differing
viewpoints to be expressed; these are often followed by audience comments and ques-
tions (see Table B.1).

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