Microsoft Teams is set to introduce a game-changing feature for presenters in virtual meetings and webinars. Starting May 2025, multiple presenters will be able to share control of PowerPoint slides, fostering a more collaborative and seamless presentation experience.
What’s New for Presenters in Teams
The upcoming update addresses a common pain point in virtual presentations: the need for a single presenter to manage slide transitions. With this new capability, presenters can now delegate slide control to fellow presenters, allowing for a more dynamic and coordinated delivery.
Key Benefits
- Smoother Transitions: Eliminates the need to verbally request slide changes.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Allows multiple team members to actively participate in the presentation flow.
- Reduced Pressure: Takes the burden off a single presenter to manage all aspects of the slide deck.
How Collaborative Slide Control Works
When this feature rolls out, meeting organizers and presenters will have new options for managing PowerPoint presentations within Teams meetings.
Step 1: The initial presenter shares a PowerPoint file in the Teams meeting.
Step 2: The presenter can then grant slide control permissions to other designated presenters.
Step 3: Authorized presenters can navigate through slides using on-screen controls or keyboard shortcuts.
Step 4: The primary presenter retains the ability to revoke shared control at any time.
Use Cases for Shared Slide Control
This new functionality proves particularly useful in several scenarios:
Panel Discussions
In virtual panel discussions, each panelist can take control of relevant slides without disrupting the flow of conversation.
Team Presentations
For collaborative projects, team members can seamlessly transition between sections they’re responsible for presenting.
Training Sessions
Instructors can allow assistants or participants to advance slides during interactive portions of a training.
Comparing Teams to Other Platforms
While some video conferencing platforms offer limited co-presenting features, Microsoft Teams’ implementation stands out:
- Zoom: Allows co-hosts but with more limited slide control options.
- Google Meet: Offers co-presenting but without granular slide management.
- Webex: Provides some co-presenter capabilities, but not as integrated with slide decks.
Teams’ approach integrates more closely with PowerPoint, leveraging Microsoft’s ecosystem for a smoother experience.
Setting Up Shared Slide Control
To utilize this feature when it becomes available:
Step 1: Ensure all presenters have the latest version of Microsoft Teams installed.
Step 2: The meeting organizer must grant presenter roles to the relevant participants.
Step 3: When sharing a PowerPoint file, the primary presenter can enable shared control through a new option in the sharing menu.
Step 4: Designated co-presenters will see new controls appear, allowing them to navigate slides.
Best Practices for Multi-Presenter Slideshows
To make the most of this new feature:
- Establish clear roles and transitions between presenters before the meeting.
- Use visual cues within slides to indicate presenter changes.
- Practice the presentation flow with all presenters prior to the live event.
- Consider using Teams’ virtual laser pointer feature for emphasis during co-presented sections.
Potential Challenges and Solutions
While shared slide control offers many benefits, it’s important to be aware of potential issues:
Coordination Confusion
Solution: Designate a lead presenter to oversee the overall flow and step in if needed.
Technical Glitches
Solution: Have a backup plan where one presenter can take full control if shared functionality fails.
Overuse of Control Switching
Solution: Plan natural breakpoints for transitions to maintain a coherent narrative.
Microsoft Teams continues to evolve, adapting to the needs of remote and hybrid workplaces. This new slide control feature represents another step towards more collaborative and flexible virtual meetings. As organizations increasingly rely on digital platforms for presentations, such innovations help bridge the gap between in-person and virtual communication dynamics.