Professional panel moderator Kristin Arnold asks Becky Pike Pluth, Train-the-Trainer expert and President/CEO of the Bob Pike Group to share how to keep the panelists energized during panel discussions at meetings, conferences, and conventions.
Video Transcript
Kristin: How do you keep the panelists energized?
Becky: Besides having caffeinated beverages in front of them, those kinds of things, is having them sit up and lean forward, pretending this is a conversation with their very dear and near friend that they haven’t talked with in 20 years. So, giving them tips in advance about sit up, lean forward, nod your head, give eye contact to the person that’s speaking on the panel, look down at your notes but not for too long, because it doesn’t appear that you care about what your peer is saying. We wanna really focus on one another and make it a really important conversation. You wouldn’t sit back and lean down in a chair when it’s this really important person.
Energizers are so critically important, getting people up on their feet, high five, handshake, thank your neighbor, those kinds of things add energy to the room. And if you want the most energy in the room, you’re gonna have people talk in pairs because that’s gonna create the largest amount of volume and energy. So, if you’re seeing a lull, getting people talking in pairs will have the greatest amount of energy
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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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