3. If your job is to introduce the speaker.
After you announce his or her name, stay at the lectern until he or she arrives. In the United States, it is customary to shake hands as a professional courtesy. Stay at the lectern and greet your speaker; then gracefully leave without upstaging your guest. Since not all emcees and speakers will have read this article and know what to do, tell them; explain it to them before the event and eliminate a potentially awkward moment.
4. Best practices.
a. Take your time to prepare the lectern.
If you have time before you speak, take a moment and place your outline or notes on the lectern prior to your talk. If not, bring your notes with you and take whatever time you need to prepare them before you utter your first word.
b. How to use your script or notes on the lectern.
If you are going to use notes during your talk, do not staple them together. If you do your audience will see you flipping the pages and it could be a distraction. Instead, fold the top right corner and quietly move your page to the right, revealing your next page. No one will even know you are using notes.
If you need to return to your notes during your presentation, set a glass of water on the lectern before your talk. During your presentation when you need to look at your notes simply act as if you are walking back to the lectern to take a drink of water. Pick up the glass and drink while casually glancing at your notes.
c. How to stand behind the lectern.
It is never a good idea to give your entire presentation from behind the lectern. Why? It blocks you from your audience. This could prevent you from connecting with your listeners. However, in some cases you may be forced to stay behind the wooden blockade due to the need for the microphone or maybe because there is no way else for you to go. In any event, if you find yourself in this position, remember to stand approximately 10 inches away from the lectern and if you need to lay your hands on it, do so at the very edges closest to you and not the audience.
d. How to leave the lectern gracefully.
When leaving the lectern, leave your notes. Do not end your powerful presentation by gathering up your papers as you leave. Instead, end with a bang and enjoy the applause. You can always pick up your notes or props after the meeting has ended.
As mentioned earlier, wait until your introducer comes and takes control of the lectern.
e. When there is not a lectern.
In most business speaking settings there is not a lectern. Often times you may be speaking at a meeting that takes place in a restaurant or conference room. If this is the case, simply ask to be seated near the front of the room and put your notes on the table in front of you.
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