How to balance the role of the panel moderator when the moderator is very familiar with the subject matter during a panel discussion at meetings, conferences, and conventions? Professional Panel Moderator Kristin Arnold asks Glenn Thayer, Master of Ceremonies and conference moderator to share his perspective.
Video Transcript
Kristin: Glenn, how do you balance your role as panel moderator when you are very familiar with the subject matter?
Glenn: You don’t have to have a panel. If you know a whole lot about it, there’s three other people, you might have four people having a discussion or four people having a conversation and it’s like watching The View, or watching one of these talk shows where you have four or five people around the table and it’s a conversation. And that’s pretty much what you do. Talk and everybody else is involved in the conversation and they were actively watching and listening but they have a voice in that conversation. As long as you’re utilizing some type of technology in some way for them to ask questions.
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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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