Powerful Panel Discussion Tip #260 – Michael Carnes: What Drives You Crazy about Panels?

Professional panel moderator Kristin Arnold asks Michael Carnes, CEO of Hoka Hey, Inc. specializing in creative media and event production, to share what drives him crazy about panel discussions at meetings, conferences, and conventions.

 

Video Transcript

Kristin: Michael, what drives you absolutely crazy about panels?

Michael: My biggest bug-a-boo for me technically, as for the audience as well, it’s when they’re all jumping all over each other—when they’re just jumping on each other “And what about, no, no, no. And we’re—and no!” And they’re just going back and forth and back and forth, and they’re not getting anywhere other than having their own little argument. It’s like the entire world could stop and they’d still be up there doing their thing. That drives me nuts, and it drives the audience nuts. You see it. 

What is communication? It’s you and I talking and listening and responding to each other. So if they cannot give that communication to the audience, and the audience would be able to listen and take it in, if they’re bantering back and forth, it means absolutely nothing. They’ve lost the whole communication. 

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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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