Communication Tip 41: Have Backup
The lead presenter and the management team are equally responsible.
It is challenging for one person to deliver every aspect of a major presentation. When the decisions are big, the lead presenter and their managers should ensure all backup firepower is present.
A Short Example
“I know you can handle it, but Phil is going anyway,” I firmly stated.
“He’s got something else going on that night at home, plus his being there will focus too much attention on the model,” Joe replied, for at least the third time.
“He’s going. Final answer.”
It didn’t turn out to be the overkill that even I thought it might be. Backups or subject matter experts are not needed a high percentage of the time. But when you need them, you really need them.
The Lead Presenter’s Role
The lead presenters for major presentations are full-grown adults. That means the lead presenter is responsible for making sure they have sufficient backup or subject matter experts. No one should be surprised that unexpected questions or technical issues will arise.
Management’s Role
Management’s role is to make sure the lead presenter does not try to be Superman or Superwoman. For many reasons, lead facilitators often think they can do the big show on their own. This is a major blind spot that creates a huge risk factor.
It’s About the Receiver, Not the Sender
Remember, it’s about the message receiver (decision makers), not the sender (lead presenter).
When the decisions are big–and complexity and uncertainty are high–you will present to gatekeepers, the inner circle, and the one person who will sign on to the bottom line. Match team for team.
Have Backup
Make sure all of the backup firepower is present. Management and the lead presenter share an essential role in making it happen.
JD Solomon served in executive leadership roles at two Fortune 500 companies before starting JD Solomon, Inc., just before the pandemic. JD is the founder of Communicating with FINESSE®, the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram®, and the co-creator of the SOAP criticality method©. He is the author of Communicating Reliability, Risk & Resiliency to Decision Makers: How to Get Your Boss’s Boss to Understand and Facilitating with FINESSE: A Guide to Successful Business Solutions.
