February 9, 2023
keep the audience in mind

Panelists – Don’t Forget to Keep the Audience In Mind

It annoys me when panelists solely talk to the panel moderator and their fellow panelists – and never address the audience. After all, it is the […]
July 22, 2020

4 Ideas to Engage the Audience Before a Virtual Panel Discussion

I recently attended a virtual panel discussion that went a bit sideways right out of the gate.  Rather than use the “waiting room” feature and have […]
July 9, 2020

10 Stimulating Variations to Taking an Online Poll

Polling the audience is a great way to engage the audience at the onset of your panel, during the discussion and even at the end.  But […]
May 29, 2019

The Art to Answering TOUGH Audience Questions

Q&A is often the biggest fear for many panelists. What if I get asked a hard-ball question?  What if I can’t answer it?  What if I […]
May 8, 2019

Playful Panels – How to Give Your Brain a Hand with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

It started with a bit of small talk. It was a party of local entrepreneurs and I met a fascinating woman who wrote her doctorate thesis […]
May 6, 2019

Ask Your Panelists an Awesome Story-Question

Everyone likes a good story….especially when it’s a train wreck!  So how do you get your panelists to spill the goods?
April 17, 2019

Ask the Audience for a Verbal Response During a Panel Discussion

An easy way to get the audience engaged early on in your panel discussion is to ask for a verbal response.  Preachers do this all the […]
September 14, 2018

Let the Audience Drive a Panel Discussion with Question Cards

Where does a panel moderator get the actual questions to ask the panel? According to my colleague and Founder of Extreme Meetings, Brian Walter, he says, […]
August 15, 2018

Play Frisbee to Pump UP Your Panel Discussion

Want to add more pizzazz to your audience Q&A during a panel discussion?  Try playing Foam Frisbee!
July 10, 2018

A Rapid-Fire Poll Revs Up a Panel Discussion

  Here’s another technique to shift gears and change the pace in your panel discussion: Take a rapid-fire poll of the panelists!
June 8, 2018

Use the “Card Swap” to Create Intriguing Audience Questions

We’ve talked before about engaging the audience early during a panel discussion.  One of my favorite ways is to turn to the audience and ask them […]
May 22, 2018

Engage the Audience with the Agree/Disagree Game

Want to break up a rather mundane panel discussion?  Try polling the panelists!
April 26, 2018

Not Your Traditional Audience Q&A

You’re conflicted.  As a panel moderator, you WANT to involve the audience. You know that it is important and you want to keep people interested, but […]
April 9, 2018

Hot Seat Question Panel Discussion Format

When the panel discussion consists of the top executives from the organization, it may be a bit difficult to inspire tough, provocative questions from the audience.
December 14, 2017

Innovative Panel Discussion Format: “The P-Cubed Format”

I am attending a national convention that is using an innovative panel discussion format that I am calling the “P-Cubed Format.” Here’s how it goes:
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