A podium is a raised platform that someone stands on to be seen and heard more easily. When a conductor leads an orchestra, she stands on a podium so every musician can see her gestures. At the Olympics, athletes stand on a three-tiered podium during medal ceremonies, with the gold medalist on the highest level, silver on the second-highest, and bronze on the third.

Today, speakers at graduations, political rallies, or conferences often stand behind a lectern with a microphone attached. People sometimes confuse podium with lectern, but there's a difference: a podium is the platform you stand on, while a lectern is the stand you place your notes on. Sometimes they're combined into one piece of furniture, which explains the confusion.

Podiums serve a practical purpose: height creates visibility and authority. When your principal stands on a podium during an assembly, everyone in the auditorium can see her, and her elevated position signals that she has something important to say. Standing on a podium literally and symbolically elevates the speaker above the crowd.