What is your strategy for moderating a successful panel discussion at meetings, conferences, and conventions? Professional panel moderator, Kristin Arnold asked this question of Kate Delaney, Emmy Award-winning journalist, and America’s #1 female sports commentator and talk show host.
Video Transcript
Kristin: Kate, what is your strategy for a smooth running panel that stays on track?
Kate: So my strategy was that I would, that first of all, again, I thought of myself as I am an opinionated person, and I am, I am about content but I was not going to be the talk show host or speaker, I was going to really be careful with the words I used and try to use less so I could give my minutes to them. So I got on the stage, I knew what I was going to say, why do we care, relevant, where are we headed in the future? Just a couple quick minutes to introduce everybody, and give a little bit more. Not just say their title.
Why they were extraordinary, why they’re here, boom. Just give them that quick maybe a minute and a half. And so set it up, set them down, started with the first question where are we now? What’s relevant content, and then go from there and getting deeper as to what do we need to do as speakers to get heard, to get our content out there.
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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!
