An effective presentation requires that you account for all elements. One that can be overlooked easily is the microphone at the lectern. Presenters tend to assume that the mic is set just right for the presentation. You shouldn’t assume that.
If you’re using the lectern microphone, test it prior to your presentation. You’re interested in the microphone’s “working area”; that is, the range at which it will pick up your voice well.
Some mics require you to be rather close. Other times you can stand in a normal posture while you deliver your presentation. (If you can adjust the mic gain or position, do so. Sometimes you can’t make any adjustments.) The performance of the microphone dictates how you stand and whether you are able to move about at the lectern.
During one presentation I attended, the presenter spent most of the time leaning on the lectern with his right elbow. This meant his face was several inches away from the microphone. He didn’t know it at the time – the host never signaled to him – but he was difficult to hear unless he happened to step in front of the mic. Nearly everyone in the room was craning their necks – I included – trying to hear him. One audience member moved to the front of the room to better hear the presenter. It was a real shame, too. From what I could hear, he offered some good material. (I posted a video about this issue, which you can view here.)
Remember that, as the presenter, it’s your responsibility to ensure the equipment you’re using works fine. A corollary to that states that you know the working parameters of that equipment. It takes only a few seconds to familiarize yourself with the microphone. Doing so will ensure that an easily avoidable mistake, like the one discussed above, does not ruin your presentation.
For related reading, see “Public speaking tip – let your hands flow freely.”
If you found value in this post, could you do me a favor and share it with others? You may use any of the links below. Feel free to comment, as well. To contact me, send an email.
Follow me on Twitter.
Follow my Facebook page. (May need to log in.)
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
This is an excellent suggestion and one many presenters overlook. Years ago I assumed the mic worked and it turned out to be a disaster. The mic did not work at all and I tried to shout through the presentation. Though I have good lungs, many points were missed and I had an awful sore throat for days. Now I always check the mic long before the presentation so necessary adjustments can be made.