Professional Panel Moderator Kristin Arnold asks Elizabeth Marshall, strategist for authors and speakers who want to become recognized thought leaders AND a talented panel moderator, to share her ideas on what make a panel discussion successful.
Video Transcript
Kristin: Elizabeth, what makes a panel discussion successful?
Elizabeth: In publishing we think about these questions, why now? Why you? And why this book? But for here we’ll substitute, why this particular format? And so, the why now, what is happening you know, in your industry in this particular time in the market that needs to be highlighted in the panel. Why you is what can you bring from a curation standpoint including your own expertise and how you see things, and how you can guide the conversation in a unique way and then why that particular format.
Okay we’ve talked about you know, taking this approach to sales and marketing or leadership or innovation panels before, let’s change the structure to change the conversation. So really being intentional about those three pieces and planning and then you know the other half of the coin is you know, who you have as part of your discussion.
Because that chemistry and that collection of individuals makes along with a great you know a skilled moderator makes all the difference between whether the panel is, ‘That was nice’, versus, ‘Wow this was really insightful.’
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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!
