Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago · 1 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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If you have the choice, would you present first or last?

If you have the choice, would you present first or last?


Recently I was at a networking meeting that brought ideas and investors together, and in all of this an important topic was raised... as well as a differing opinion. 

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The Founder and CEO of a successful startup was offering business perspective and advice as to what it takes to make your idea a reality. There was no doubt he had a long runway for success and his advice (and perspectives) were "spot on"; that is, until the inevitable happened — You know... as you are listening to a presentation, inevitably something is said that you completely disagree with.


As the CEO was providing his insights, he made it a point to say how important it was to ensure you are "first" on the list of presenters and whatever you do, make sure you are "not the last"

Being an instinctive contrarian, I actually think being the last one to present is of great benefit... 

His reasons for presenting first were all very sound:

  • You get your thoughts out first and set the tone.
  • The audience is all fresh, eager, and ready to listen.
  • By the end of a long day of presentations, everyone is thinking about little more than just "getting out of there".

A few days after that meeting I was at an informal retreat and posed this question to a number of experienced business professions who echoed what the CEO said and why. 

I didn't agree with them either. I should be clear that I don't disagree with their reasoning, but more with the thinking that being last is a disadvantage. 

Here is why I see being last as an advantage.

  • Even though I am standing between the audience and the bar, I am the "last face they will see".
  • Since I know the audience will be tired, already influenced by others, and have formed opinions, I will have to deliver a presentation that is so much better — Knowing I am already at a disadvantage will challenge me to simply be better, be more creative, and figure out how to overcome all the challenges the CEO mentioned.

There is also one other reason.

Sometimes you will have no other choice than be the last to present, so you may as well learn how to get really good at it. 

As that ol' saying goes, "If you are able to do it in the bad times, just imagine how easy it will be in the good times."

iamgpe

www.gpestratagem.com 


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Comments

Graham🐝 Edwards

6 years ago #22

#21
Thanks for the comment Randall Burns

Graham🐝 Edwards

6 years ago #21

#18
Thanks for the comment and the insight Harvey Lloyd. You are right... it is great discussion. Something I very much like about beBee.

Graham🐝 Edwards

6 years ago #20

#16
Thanks for the insight and the link Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee

Graham🐝 Edwards

6 years ago #19

#15
Thanks for the valuable insight Anne Thornley-Brown

Graham🐝 Edwards

6 years ago #18

#14
Thanks for the comment Anne Thornley-Brown

Randall Burns

7 years ago #17

Basic rule of Comedians, "Never follow a better act than yourself..."
#11
I received a certification (at a very low level, but still) in DiSC years ago, Graham\ud83d\udc1d Edwards, so yes, I know a little about it (just enough to be dangerous, as they say). And I'm a confirmed D/I myself. No natural C (except in my work), and since I love to be around the S types, I work on that aspect of myself.

Harvey Lloyd

7 years ago #15

Great discussion and i think the argument could be made for either. I prefer to speak or present at anytime. Going first sets the standard of comparison, but if someone comes along with a better presentation/understanding of issues/solutions you can be unseated. The one thing i would say about speaking after first or last, i get to see the audience and their response to speakers. This has two effects, one i get to know them potentially and i get to tweak my ad lib comments towards a "known" audience. In the end i would agree with you in general, your presentation needs to be the dragon slayer that slays the dragon first or after everyone else has just beat it to death
Anyway, I would be always first
When evaluating sequential information (as list of vendor presentation), people might get more influenced by the first presentation and this pattern is known as a “primacy effect“. In some instances, the final presentation has more more influence than the first presentation. Such a pattern is known as the “recency effect“. Now the question is which effect is more dominant and in which situations. Is there a distinct advantage in presenting first versus last? Should you pick an interview slot that is first in line or last in line? Should you speak first or last? You should present, interview or speak first, if the others will follow you immediately and there will be a delay between the series of presentations and the judgment or decision because of primacy effect. On the other hand, you should present, interview or speak last, if there will be a delay between the presentations or interviews and the decision-makers will need to render judgment or decision right after the last presentation or interview because of recency effect. From my sales experience, such scenarios happen quite often, where customers will schedule vendor presentations separated by time and then render judgement fairly quickly after the last presentation. So if you are involved in enterprise sales, think about the recency effect when offered a choice to pick a presentation slot. I found this great info at https://beyondheadlines.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/should-you-present-first-or-last/
Speakers were asked if they would prefer to present first or last? End of day presentations slots are always a problem. It's bad design that makes this spot untenable. Event and meeting planners would be wise to build in a buffer and end the day with a networking opportunity. Let's say your agenda is to end at 5:00, reserve the last 45 minutes to an hour for a networking reception or event. Schedule that to go from 4: 00 or 4:15 to 6:00 or 6:30. So if anything gets cut short, it's the networking. Make it compelling so that people want to stick around. NEVER schedule departure for dinner right after the day's meeting agenda ends. Opt for a 8:00 or 7:30 departure for an 8:00 dinner seating.
Definitely first. Without exception, every time I have presented last, the meeting, conference or event has fallen behind schedule and the compressed time I had to begin with has been chopped down even further. It's an impossible situation, especially when there is a hard stop due to a dinner reservation. On a going forward basis, I will not be accepting any engagements during this time slot.

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #10

#7
Thanks for the comment Ren\u00e9e \ud83d\udc1d Cormier

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #9

#6
Thanks for the comment Devesh Bhatt!

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #8

#4
Thanks for the comment Susan Rooks! It is appreciated. You know DiSC?.... I'm a DI (very small sc)... is that good ?... hahaha

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #7

#3
Thanks for the comment Donna Wood... that makes a lot of sense to me. Relationships are everything in business!

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #6

#2
Thanks for the comment Paul Walters and the insight into advertising pitches....

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #5

#1
Thanks for the comment Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00f3n \u270c\ud83c\udffc L\u00f3pez. Can I ask why neither first or last....?

Devesh 🐝 Bhatt

7 years ago #4

I prefer last unless i know that the concerned few amidst the audience have very tight schedules and deadlines and may walk off anytime. There have been such ocassions.
Interesting question Graham\ud83d\udc1d Edwards poses . . .
Funny how our minds work, isn't it, Graham\ud83d\udc1d Edwards? Mine immediately went to "last," because I love to leave them laughing, as it were. Since all my presentations -- whether they are about American grammar or DiSC or other communication skills -- include laughter, I love being last. I believe that the last speaker has a rare opportunity to build on what others have said (if possible), but definitely has a chance to be the one most remembered. Great question! I wonder who else will weigh in.

Paul Walters

7 years ago #1

@ Graham Edwards In advertising pitches held on the same day , last presenters always seem to win

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