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Encounters with podiums are frequent occurrences for people giving presentations. However, many people do not understand the benefits and pitfalls of using a podium when presenting. Acknowledging what may be wrong at the podium can be helpful to improve a presenter’s capabilities. This knowledge is further enhanced by learning tips at the podium or alternatives to using the podium. Below are ten points for presenters to consider before their next presentation behind a podium.

1. Swaying back and forth behind podium makes the presenter look nervous and is distracting to the audience. Standing relaxed with legs a few inches apart and the knees not locked may help prevent the presenter from rocking motions.
2. Leaning on the podium can either make the presenter looked too relaxed and casual or so lazy/dizzy that they must lean on something to keep from falling over. Presenters should stand behind or to the side of a podium rather than use the podium as support for their body.
3. If the presenter is gesturing below the top of podium, this defeats the purpose of using gesturing as a visual tool. Gestures should be high enough and grand enough for the audience to see and understand how the gesture emphasizes the presenter’s point. If the podium is too high and the microphone allows, the presenter may choose to move to the side when emphasizing with a gesture.
4. Presenters reading too much from prepared notes on top of the podium prevents eye contact with the audience. The presenter should know their topic well enough to only use notes as an outline for prompts to pick up where they left off after questions have interrupted their flow. If a presenter is uncomfortable with being separated from their notes, they can stand to the side of the podium and move behind it when they need to check notes.
5. Grasping the podium may send the message that the presenter is nervous or angry about speaking to the audience, depending on their accompanying facial expression. If the presenter is prone to grabbing the podium, they may prefer to stand next to the podium, stand in front of the podium, or not have a podium to prevent this.
6. Tapping or banging on podium is irritating to the audience and may send a negative message rather than emphasizing a point if that was the intention. Don’t use the podium to produce sound effects because it is never as effective as expected.
7. Presenter podiums may be in a fixed location or they may be adjustable. If moving the podium is an option, then place it in a location that works best for talking to your audience, which is typically in the front and centered among the group. If the podium is fixed and its location restricts movement or audience interaction, then the presenter should determine if other options exist besides using the podium for their presentation.
8. Hiding behind the podium may reduce some presenter’s fear of speaking; however the podium does separate the presenter from their audience somewhat. If the microphone is placed on the podium then the speaker may have no choice but to stay behind the podium or move the microphone to a preferred side where they will stand when speaking so they may still be heard.
9. If a presenter is small or soft-spoken, they may require a podium with a microphone to amplify their voice. However, a microphone based podium may restrict the presenter or be harder for the presenter to reach. In this case, the presenter may request a wireless microphone or make sure they get to the presentation place early enough to adjust the microphone. The presenter should check with the person arranging the program to determine is a wireless microphone is available instead of the podium one if they prefer to can use it.
10. Often a presenter is introduced by someone who may know little about them and therefore fumbles through their introduction at the podium. The introduction should show the presenter’s qualifications for giving the presentation. So the presenter should prepare some information for their introduction for this person to read. Then before the program starts, find out who is introducing the presenter and let that person know an introduction has been prepared and placed for them to use on the podium.

After consideration of these ten points, the presenter’s awareness is increases and their next presentation behind a podium should be better. A greater understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of using a podium is very helpful for presenter improvement and development of presentation capabilities. Presenters should use the tips and alternatives offered in these ten points to make better presentations and gain greater audience satisfaction as a result.

The gift market is a very competitive marketplace. That is because people everywhere in the world are always giving each other presents. Whether its for a birthday, a festive occasion such as Christmas, Easter or Divali, a special occasion such as an engagement, wedding, anniversary, or something that doesn’t happen too often for example a graduation or an award presentation, people everywhere are always looking to buy someone else a nice little something.

One present that people can buy that has become extremely popular in the last few years is Pandora. This brand of jewellery is one that consumers are able to purchase time and time again, adding to it every time and changing the way it looks. Giving someone this brand as a present is therefore extremely popular as anyone receiving it would certainly be very happy indeed. It may be the case that they already have a set of Pandora charms and a new charm would certainly go down very well. Alternatively, it may be the case that they do not currently own a Pandora bracelet or necklace and receiving Pandora as a new present would be great brand to start walking around with.

There are many different Pandora presents people can give each other, so many in fact that the brand has created so many different charms to suit so many special occasions. It is these charms that can be bought for special occasions that seem to be some of the most popular.

For example, it is Mother’s Day in just under two weeks and some of the most highly sought after products at the moment are very in tune with this special day for Mum’s. Products such as a sterling silver lots of love bead and others including a silver champagne cubic zirconium love knot bead are a perfect present for Mum this Mother’s Day. Other popular presents include a sterling silver rabbit bead – perfect for Easter which isn’t too far away either, and a sterling silver angel bead which would certainly make for a great Christmas present.

There are many other popular Pandora presents too that are suitable for many different reasons. However, at the end of the day it is up to each individual person to choose what present they think would best suit the person they are buying for. After all, a present should be what someone actually wants. Pandora presents will therefore be popular for many years to come!

Just when you think you have a pretty good grasp of the negotiating process, and after you have been through enough “deals” to gain a comfort level at the negotiating table, along comes one more surprise gambit or tactic employed by the other party. Unless you recognize this one for what it is, it can cost you dearly. I fondly refer to this tactic as “the clock!”

One of the most memorable times this tactic was used against me, I had just arrived in Mexico with the top level management team of the company that I then represented. We had flown in to sign the agreements I had negotiated, and to attend a dinner party to celebrate a joint venture between two highly recognized companies — one from the US and one from Mexico. At that time, I was an employee of the US company and the most junior member of the management group on site to execute the agreements. This was the first time I had been given complete responsibility to negotiate a complete “deal,” and being at the lowest level of the team just added another element of pressure.

As we entered the airport, I was called aside by the VP of Finance of the Mexican company, and was then whisked away to a meeting to discuss “one minor issue” before executing the agreements and proceeding to the dinner party to celebrate the successful “conclusion of the deal.” As it was then only about 4:00 pm, and the dinner party was scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm, I was not concerned about resolving “one minor issue.”

The “minor issue” resulted from a breakdown in communication between one member of my team and one member of the Mexican team relating to a financial schedule that was sent, but supposedly never received. It was not the schedule per se that was the core issue, but it provided the VP of Finance the opportunity to use the issue to open the door to renegotiate one aspect of the joint venture agreement.

As it turned out, the VP of Finance had never supported the joint venture and was looking for a way to gain more financial control over the venture. We ended up talking, reasoning and negotiating until just after 4:00 am the next morning when we finally resolved the “minor issue.” Later, I was told that the rest of the people from both companies ate a very quiet, tense dinner in an atmosphere of “gloom and doom.” As for all of the negotiators, we did not eat until the next morning when the revised contracts were delivered to the “celebratory” breakfast meeting about 10:00 am.

Needless to say, the VP of Finance of the Mexican company recognized that he had everyone in place on “his turf” with the expectation that the “deal” was done, and therefore, he had the perfect setting to extract one more concession from us — the other party. As it turned out, the final concession never compromised the working relationship between the parties, but it was a painful twelve hour session for me especially as I had to keep in mind that the clock was “ticking” in the background and I needed to get the “deal” done before we departed the next day.

Another situation that arose many times resulted from my frequent trips to Japan during the 70′s and 80′s to negotiate a series of license agreements. In many case, the Japanese company would greet me at the airport and deliver me to my hotel so that I could relax before dinner. During the two hour trip in from the airport, my host typically would offer to assist in reconfirming my return flight. During that time frame, most overseas flights required reconfirmation by phone at least 48 hours prior to departure.

Most of the time, I would plan three or four days in Japan as I anticipated spending two or three long days at the negotiating table where a significant number of items could be resolved. Usually, I found myself meeting with the host company for the entire time, but what I did not recognize at first was that the real negotiations did not take place until the last meeting prior to my departure when only a few hours remained.

It was not until this situation occurred several times, that I finally figured out that “the clock” had become a major player at the negotiating table. Once the “light came on,” and I recognized the tactic, I always left my return ticket “open,” and so advised the host company as soon as I arrived. My new tactic was to remain in Japan “until the parties had reached a mutually satisfactory agreement.” Not surprisingly, by eliminating “the clock,” negotiations began after dinner the first evening and continued throughout each day until I departed.

Lessons Learned: Do not let arbitrary deadlines affect your negotiations. Also be careful not to let the fact that you are on the other party’s turf work against you.