10 Actions Moderators Can Do AFTER the Panel Discussion is Over

Congratulations! You have moderated an amazingly successful panel discussion. You met the panel objectives, delivered on the promise, made the panelists look like heroes and the audience received tremendous value.

But it’s not over…yet.

Here are ten things you can do to continue the conversation and build your credibility with the audience and meeting organizers:

1. Stick Around.  Stay in the room or designated area to continue the conversation.  Stay until all the questions have been answered.
2. Seek Out Others. For the remainder of the conference, seek out those people who were highly engaged and connect with them sometime during the conference. You’ll build some great relationships!
3. Thank You’s. Send a personal note or email to each panelist, the meeting organizer and anyone else who made your life easier. Add something specific about what they did or said that contributed to the panel’s success.
4. Summary Report. Using your notes and Twitter feed, provide a written summary of the panel discussion to the meeting organizer.
5. Question Cards. Collect the question cards and coordinated responses from the panelists. The meeting organizer can use this information to continue the conversation.
6. Repurpose Your Summaries.  Post the highlights, key quotes and photos on the event website, social media, etc. 
7. Recordings. If the meeting organizer posts the recording, provide links and excerpts from the transcript to use in follow-up communications.
8. Critique. Within 24 hours after the session, make a few notes about what you liked and what you might do differently for the next time you moderate a panel discussion.
9. Debrief. Chat with the meeting organizer about the session. Review the audience evaluation forms. Ask if there was anything they would have liked you to do differently so you can do a better job next time.
10. Keep Learning. Review your own and others’ performances. Integrate your learning into each subsequent panel you moderate or participate in!

For more tips on what moderators can do to follow up after a panel discussion, listen to this podcast.

Related Articles:

Panel Moderator Checklist for Meeting with Panelists Prior to Panel Discussions

How to Prepare Your Panelists to be Brilliant

How Much Research Should the Moderator Do?

Kristin Arnold, professional panel moderator and high stakes meeting facilitator, shares her best practices for interactive, interesting, and engaging panel presentations. For more resources like this, or to have Kristin moderate your next panel visit the Powerful Panels official website.

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