The 2024 Panel Report: The State of the Panel Discussion
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Panel Report Recommendation #1: Audience Engagement in a Panel Discussion
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Panel discussions are often a go-to play in events, yet the research I conducted in 2014 found that 63% of panels were rated as just okay or worse. Since then, I’ve been working to improve their effectiveness.
Partnering with Unbridled, we launched an online survey conducted in April 2024 to understand the current state of panel discussions—what makes them great, how to keep people interested, and what to avoid.
This report is our attempt to stimulate discussion among those who organize and participate in panel discussions in the corporate, association, and nonprofit worlds.
May the findings spur you to think about and rethink the use of the panel format at your meetings, conferences, and conventions. We hope that every panel discussion hits the ball out of the park, is a home run, gets a standing ovation, and that your meeting attendees are talking about the takeaways in the hallways.
Top Ten Key Findings
Here is a short list of the key findings in the 2024 Panel Report to whet your appetite to read the rest of this report and for your future reference.
- Panels are Improving. Satisfaction with panels has increased, with 84% finding them okay or better and 55% saying they are better than ten years ago.
- Your Audience Wants Interaction. Audience engagement is crucial with interactive elements like Q&A, polls, and feedback now expected before, during, and after panels.
- Panelist Selection is Mission-Critical. Successful panels require knowledgeable and diverse panelists to avoid groupthink and offer comprehensive discussions. Efforts to reflect audience diversity are improving.
- Skilled Moderation Makes a Big Difference. Effective panels need skilled moderators. Only 40% are satisfied with the current moderation, indicating a need for improvement.
- Topics Should Be Relevant & Deep. Panels should cover relevant, timely, and in-depth topics that align with organizational goals and provide value to the audience.
- Design Panels based on Adult Learning Principles. Engaging and interactive formats tailored to adult learning are more successful than traditional, static formats.
- The Wrong Kind of Panel Prep Backfires. Well-prepared moderators and panelists are essential, but too much preparation can make sessions feel scripted. Audiences want spontaneous and authentic interactions.
- Audio/Visual Expectations Have Risen. Audiences expect more from visual presentations, multi-channel use, and set designs that foster interaction among panelists and the audience.
- Incorporating Feedback Could Improve Your Panels. There is an opportunity to better incorporate prior panel feedback, as only 40% typically see it integrated into discussions.
- Extend the Impact of Your Panel. There is a missed opportunity to extend the panel’s impact with follow-up summaries, resources, and content to be repurposed as podcasts.
For more information, download a free copy of the 2024 Panel Discussion Report here.
Related Articles
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For more information about how to moderate a lively & informative panel discussion, check out our free 7-part video series on how to moderate a panel and other resources to help you organize, moderate, or be a panel member.
