Moderator Cards: What They Are and How Panel Moderators Use Them

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Moderator cards are an efficient way of keeping your panel discussion on track. You can use index cards as prompts for your welcoming remarks, panelist introductions, key questions for each panelist, and closing remarks.

Simply print each segment on separate 3ร—5 or 5ร—7 index cards and punch a hole in the upper left corner. Keep them together with a small circle ring so you can turn the cards easily and they won’t fall out of order!

Example of Moderator Cards for a Panel Discussion

You can also make each segment visibly distinct by using different colored cards. Don’t forget to give each card a large, bold headline so you can easily find your place.

You can also use a clipboard or aย tabletย to scroll through the questions, yet the principle is the same as using the moderator cards.ย 

Finally, it’s important to stay flexible. Be open to adapting the use of the moderator cards as needed to suit the flow of the panel discussion.

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For more information about how to moderate a lively & informative leadership 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.

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Kristin ArnoldKristin Arnold
KRISTIN ARNOLD, MBA, CSP, CPF|Master has been facilitating meaningful conversations between executives and managers to make better decisions and achieve extraordinary results for 25+ years. She's a leading authority on moderating panel discussions and passionate about finding the perfect olive to complement a vodka martini.
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