Professional panel moderator, Kristin Arnold asked Diane Hamilton, nationally syndicated radio host, master interviewer, Speaker, and Author about dealing with panelists with negative attitudes during panel discussions at meetings, conferences, and conventions.
Video Transcript
Kristin: Diane, what do you do if the panelist has a negative attitude?
Diane: I find that when people are negative at all like that, I tend to be extra nice to them. That’s just my way of kind of how I am with my students. The ones that yell at you and just tell you that I should have had an “A,” you know what I mean… If you kill them with kindness, they just don’t expect that. They’re waiting for a fight and I think it is better to go the other way and eventually they lighten up.
And usually, people get lightened up as soon as the air comes on, even if they’re kind of uptight to begin with, because they don’t want to sound bad on the air. And usually by a couple of minutes in there really loosened up.
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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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