Professional Panel Moderator Kristin Arnold asks Joe Calloway, Business Keynote Speaker, panel moderator, and member of the US Speaker Hall of Fame to share his ideas on how he likes to finish up a fabulous panel discussion at meetings, conferences and conventions.
Kristin: What’s your favorite way to conclude a panel discussion?
Joe: I love to wrap up a session by having a question with a very short answer that I give to all three of them. I say, “Let’s close with this. What’s the one thing that you think you and everybody in this room should be thinking about that maybe we’re not thinking about? Looking at the next year in your business,” and they know I’m going to ask that question and I told them I want a short answer, and so, they all three give their answer and it’s not necessarily that question but it would be something maybe like that. Or, I might go another direction and say, “This company has got an unusual, special culture. And you know that; you don’t need an outsider to tell you that. It’s part of your great competitive advantage. What’s the best thing about working here? I want to hear from each of you.” Now that’s obviously, you want to leave it on a really high, positive note. I mean something like that, it’s kind of a no-brainer. And then when I hear the last answer, I say, “Thank you, let’s give these folks a hand.” Or sometimes I’ll say, “You know, it’s not easy to get up here in front of 1,200 of your peers and colleagues. Let’s thank these people for doing that.” You know, and just really honor them for what they’ve done for their participation.
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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!
