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, for tips to pass along to panelists for a panel discussion at a meeting, conference, or convention.
Video Transcript
Kristin: What tips would you pass on to future panelists?
Neen: Very quickly thank your moderator and your panelists. And say, “It’s such a delight to be here with Kristin and my fellow panelists to be able to serve you all. One of the things that I would think about in this particular answer is this . . ” So segway from the thank you to the answer pretty quickly.
We don’t need to make it a big love fest, but people want to know that you appreciate being invited to their important conversation. So, by doing that and acknowledging the moderator, who by the way, the poor moderator barely gets recognition. They are so focused on serving the panel, so focused on serving the audience and creating this experience for them all, that the poor moderator hardly ever gets thanked. So, make sure as a panelist you are elegant and acknowledge the work that they put in.
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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.
And, you can always go back to the playlist for more Powerful Panel Discussion Tips!
