Professional panel moderator, Kristin Arnold asks Neen James, an expert on leveraging your focus and paying attention to what matters most at work and in life, on how panelists can answer a question that is just too darn personal during a panel discussion at a meeting, conference, or convention.
Video Transcript
Kristin: Neen, as a panelist, how do you answer questions that are just too darn personal?
Neen: And so, you have to then determine how much of your personal you want to share with that audience. And so for me, I’ve been put in the situation where I’ve been asked incredibly personal questions in very large forums. And so, I always make light of it, and I giggle and I say, “Oh, my gosh, nobody wants to know the answer to that.” And I pivot, and then try and answer something different.
So, I make a joke of it. I never, ever look uncomfortable. So, sometimes you’ve got to trick your face into pretending that you’re okay.
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Kristin Arnold, professional panel moderator, and high stakes meeting facilitator is on a crusade to make all panel discussions informative, interactive, and interesting. Specifically, she wants to help YOU become a better panel moderator. Why? Because 95% of annual meetings have panel discussions – and according to the 2014 Panel Report, it’s a fifty-fifty proposition they are any good at all! Expectations decrease dramatically when your attendees walk in and see the traditional draped head-table with microphones on short stands. There are sooooo many other ways to have a stimulating conversation! So let’s increase the probability of success for your next panel discussion with these resources.
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