Make Your Team More Cohesive

When you make the shortlist, your client is telling you that your firm and your team are qualified to do the work. Now the panel is focused on people and whether they work together well or not. Good chemistry as a team suggests good chemistry with the owner. Consider ways you can increase your team’s cohesiveness.

1. “Share the stage.” Create opportunities for speakers to present together.Send two speakers to the front or ham and egg it with one standing and one sitting.Your team leader might stand for the entire presentation and interact with each team member.

2. “Coordinate roles” As each team member presents, have them reference a team member by first name and explain how they coordinate work, how they tackle key issues together.

3. “Be enthusiastic and proud.” Pay attention to your team. Smile and nod when they make a good point. Reinforce what they said by repeating one of their key points.Your team lead can give kudos to a team member to display pride.

4. “The panel is watching.” They start watching from the moment you enter the room. Complete your set-up quickly and smoothly. Shake hands with panel members already in the room.Put a smile on your face and give the appearance that you’ve already won.