What’s the difference between live and virtual panel discussions at meetings, conferences, and conventions? Professional Panel Moderator Kristin Arnold asked this question of Terry Brock, technology trends expert, virtual panel moderator, and member of the US Speaker Hall of Fame.
Video Transcript
Kristin: Terry, what is the difference between a panel discussion in the real world versus a virtual world?
Terry: There are a few other layers that you’ve got to be aware of in the technical side, making sure the video is working, their audio, and be aware that occasionally those things don’t work. So you kind of adapt to it just like if you’re doing a physical panel. Let’s say you’ve got three people at the table and you’re moderating this, facilitating it in front of a thousand people. Things can happen either way; you just want to be aware of what can happen within that environment, be sensitive to and be aware of what’s going on, being contextually sensitive which is important whichever controlled field you’re operating in virtually or in the physical world. And I think a lot of principles that we learn from facilitation like you do so well, and moderating panels like that can come into the digital world, and I think we’re going to see that more and more because of two reasons: one, we can do it now much better than ever; we have got bandwidth that’s stronger worldwide. So we have the tools for that there, the tools of using features like Google Plus hangouts and Skype like we’re doing right now gives the ability to do that, and more people are familiar with it. As Steve Balmer said before Microsoft bought Skype, hey, Skype has now become a verb. When a word, a service, a company becomes a verb, you know it’s very popular, and I think we can do a lot with that. So taking those skills that we have from the physical world, dealing with panels, will really help us as we move into the virtual world.
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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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