The lectern is an oft-overlooked piece of office furniture that has an inherent value in successfully communicating business objectives. With a background in Toastmasters / Debating Club, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time behind these fixtures and can attest to the positive influence they have on both speaker and audience. Yes, they offer a convenient and easy-access spot for notes and prompts, but they provide much more than that.
How many of you can remember at least one birkenstock-wearing, semi-bohemian type professor from your post-secondary years? He likely delivered his lecture leaning against the desk, legs crossed and arms propped aback. While your interest in the subject matter may have kept your attention, there were likely more than a few fellow classmates who were decidedly less attentive based on his demeanor.
Conversely, any type of communication that is delivered with the air of authority provided by a lectern is almost sure to be taken in by the audience with a heightened
sense of significance and contemplation. Whether it be in a lecture hall or boardroom, a lectern has a very unique character in the way it commands deference and claims the floor for the speaker. Furthermore, this same quality is equally beneficial to the speaker, giving them a greater sense of confidence and resolve in delivering their communication.
It is this value, attached to the simple fixture standing alone at the front of the room, which makes a lectern such a worthy one for any large boardroom. The speaker’s presence is heightened so dramatically by standing behind the lectern that it buoys his or her confidence and demands the attention of the audience. The value of this type of atmosphere to spoken corporate communications goes without saying, or it should.
Individuals convinced of this reality are recommended to take advantage of the ease and convenience of online shopping and visit www.cymax.com. As a premier online retailer of quality-made and competitively priced office furniture, Cymax delivers with an impressive selection of Da-Lite lecterns to meet the needs of your office. From table lecterns and floor lecterns to multi-media lecterns that allow you to run presentations, you are nearly sure to find one that’s the right fit for you. Pedestal lecterns are popular with those that like to bring an old-world pulpit severity, if you will, to the room.
It’s a common piece of advice for nervous would-be speakers to pretend their audiences are completely naked. I too received this same suggestion, but it was wholly ineffective. In time, however, closing my hands over the top rail of the lectern did wonders for me before I scanned the audience and took a deep breath. You too will likely find the lectern to be a very calming, focusing and empowering “rock” as you prepare to be the center of attention.
No comments:
Post a Comment