NOTE: This was orginally posted to my personal blog in October of 2011. Thanks to the beautiful interwebs I stumbled upon it. Re-reading it I am reminded of my own leadership journey working with an agency mindset as a branded environments expert within an architecture firm to re-starting my career in software as a servant leader. It is amazing how short moments in time impact your approach years later. I post it here now because good advice never goes stale.

The key to leading design presentations isn’t about being in the spotlight but by creating appearances and knowing when to step in to make thoughtful and impactful comments.

Start, Then Build-Up Your Team

If you are the senior designer, creative director, or in a “position of power”, and a junior position designer will be giving the presentation, make sure you begin the meeting by reviewing overall meeting intent, previous discussion points, and project goals.

As the perceived leader and expert it is up to you to build the confidence in the client for your team during introductions. You must vouch for them by describing their roles on the project and state any extra effort by individual team members. By supporting your team you are distributing your power to them. Your confidence in their abilities will transfer to the client. The introduction will bring gravitas to the junior member’s comments and will help the client be more accepting of the proposed solutions. When this happens the junior designer will gain confidence in their ability to deliver. This is important because over time you will want to delegate responsibility to the designer. They will feel ready to take on the work because it feels like they already have.

Don’t believe this introduction is just helping your junior member’s ego, this style of introduction, when correctly executed, places yourself as the person in charge. By introducing the project, reviewing the meeting objectives, and then vouching for your team members you have built the look of being the ultimate decision maker within your group. As the team presents the solutions, this perception allows you to bring the conversation back to important issues or the client might look towards you in moments of confusion, helping avoid any miscommunication that might occur.

Add Thoughtful Comments, Don’t Take Over

As the team member is presenting make sure to add to their comments and make doubly-sure not to take over the presentation. Sometimes people miss points or story archs and it just doesn’t matter. The client will have no clue about the missing information and still love the solution. In essence this tip is simple: Think, before you speak. Will your comment only cause confusion? Will it truly add the conversation?

As the leader you need to pick and choose the times you step in to add information because your comments must always be on target with the client’s thoughts. Even though you are presenting your teams ideas, you must also be the ultimate advocate for the client’s concerns. If the client takes action that could affect overall design intent or a team member makes a promise that cannot be met, step in and remedy the situation politically.

Do Not Criticize The Design (For Almost Any Reason)

Did an illustration not get updated? Were you unable to express a change to a design prior to the presentation? Notice a mistake mid-meeting? If so, DO NOT bring up the flaws YOU see unless it affects design intent or the client’s perception of the design. If you criticize any solution you only diminish you and your teams ability and confidence in the client’s mind. The client typically would not have any idea the mistake exists or the design needs to be altered.

Again, pick your battles. Mistakes happen. What is better: pointing out a your team’s mistake? Or waiting til later to discuss?

Conclusion

We have all seen the man or woman in the room who waits patiently for their time to speak. They command the respect of those in the room because they choose their moments wisely to create impact. As a leader it is up to you to foster young talent and command that respect by being just as patient.

Remember, standing in the spotlight talking doesn’t always make you a leader.