Panel Report Recommendation #1: Audience Engagement in a Panel Discussion
The 2024 Panel Report: The State of the Panel Discussion
September 26, 2024
Sample Panel Agenda to Send to Panelists
October 7, 2024
The 2024 Panel Report reinforces the notion that audiences demand more engagement and interaction. Panels are no longer a passive “lean back and listen” format.
Report respondents recommended: “You don’t always have to wait until the end to take questions from the audience.”
Respondents want: “Audience involvement, not just from questions taken during registration.”
“Follow-up actions which engage the audience.”
My particular bias is that you do something that makes the audience lean forward, get engaged, and even involve the audience every 6-10 minutes.
So please take a good look at your agenda/script. Note the times you are truly engaging (attracting their attention) or involving the audience (where the audience is DOING something). It should be something you do intentionally every 6-10 minutes. You don’t have to wait until audience Q&A. That’s too late.
Don’t know what to do to engage or involve the audience? Here’s a shameful plug for my book 123 Ways to Add Pizazz to a Panel Discussion. You’ll find a ton of ideas!
Think about the ways to engage the audience before the panel as well as after the panel is over. In fact, dong more follow up after the panel is a recommendation as well! Report respondents recommended:
“Follow-up summaries for the audience of the key relevant points made.”
“Resource guide post-session with items referenced by panelists.”
“Turn them into podcast recording conversations in a living room or talk show setting.”
Here’s a quick list of what you can do to reinforce your panel and keep engaging and involving the audience even after the event is over.
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For more information about how to moderate a lively & informative panel discussion, check out our free 7-part video series on how to moderate a panel and other resources to help you organize, moderate, or be a panel member.
