I might be an odd bird, but I love a good panel discussion. 50% of my love is for the content being discussed and 50% is for observing how the moderator engages and intertwines the answers of the panelists. Today, as Fern was doing her daily job of looking for any and all drawers to booby trap her fingers in, we started discussing three easy things any moderator can do to host a successful event.
Here is a summary of our video:
OVER PREPARE
If you think the panel only has time for five questions, have ten ready.
Inform yourself on the topic. (Keep in mind that you are not a panelist so use your knowledge to guide and heighten the conversation, not to make yourself the focus.)
Know the panelists and how to correctly pronounce their names. Don’t just read their bios, but communicate interesting (and honoring) facts about them.
ACTIVE LISTENING (and watching)
When someone says something that sparks your curiosity, you can be sure the audience’s curiosity is sparked also. Make a mental note.
Be completely engaged visually with the people on the panel. Nod, verbally affirm and make eye contact.
If they give an eye-roll or have a physical reaction in connection to what they are saying or in response to what another panelist is saying, that’s also important to note.
Which leads to…
FOLLOWING THE THREAD
Follow the verbal and non-verbal moments that peaked your curiosity with a question. Your audience wants you to ask the very thing they are wondering about and you are the one with the mic! Don’t be shy.
If it’s a potential sensitive or difficult thread to pull, you should still ask the question everyone wants you to ask, but always caveat it in a way that would disarm you and put you at ease if roles were reversed. (Fern shares her go-to disarming techniques in the video.)
I have several other how-to and how-not-to on this topic and when someone asked me to share my thoughts on panels recently, I started wondering if there were enough people interested, I could put together a group workshop. Along with panels, I love a good workshop.
Let me know if you would be interested in joining a workshop on this topic or if you work for a company that loves a good panel. I would be happy to prepare the moderators and panelists for their next event.
Additionally, Fern is available for consultations but her email response time is SUPER slow. As mentioned, her fingers are typically stuck somewhere in a drawer which is a real efficiency blocker.
Sincerely,
The Panel Loving Ladies, Joy and Fern
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