Use AI to Craft Your Panel Discussion Questions

Last week, we let AI draft the blog about the “biggest panelist faux pas.”

That got me thinking….how can we use AI to craft panel discussion questions?

So I played around with OpenAI.com and discovered four questions that would yield a veritable treasure trove of potential questions to ask your panelists.

Sample Questions to Ask AI to Craft Your Panel Discussion Questions

• What questions should I ask when moderating a panel on [topic]?
• What concerns does [the audience] have around [topic]?
• What are the key issues that need to be discussed/addressed around [topic]?
• Create some questions to ask on a panel discussion about [topic]?

Just to give you a sense of how powerful this tool can be, last year I did a blog series on specific questions to ask on topics ranging from leadership; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); LGBTQ+; and much more. “Leadership” appeared to be one of the most popular topics, so I took that topic as my trial balloon. Check out the answers below. You’ll be blown away by all the possible directions and questions you can take your panel!

Given the power of this search engine, I encourage you to use AI to craft your panel discussion questions.

Question posed to OpenAI: What questions should I ask when moderating a panel on leadership?

OpenAI Answer: Here are some potential questions to ask when moderating a panel on leadership:

1. What does leadership mean to you?
2. Can you describe a time when you had to make a difficult leadership decision? What did you do and what was the outcome?
3. How do you define success as a leader? How do you measure it?
4. Can you share a time when you had to lead a team through a major change or crisis? How did you handle it?
5. What are some common mistakes that leaders make? How can they be avoided?
6. How do you cultivate a culture of innovation and creativity within your team or organization?
7. How do you balance the needs of your organization with the needs of your team members?
8. How do you stay motivated and maintain your own leadership skills and knowledge?
9. Can you talk about a time when you had to lead a team with diverse backgrounds and perspectives? How did you handle it?
10. How do you build trust with your team members and earn their respect?

Remember to tailor the questions to the specific panelists and their areas of expertise, and to keep the discussion focused and engaging for the audience.

Question Posed to OpenAI: What concerns do mid-level managers have around Leadership?

OpenAI Answer: Mid-level managers often have concerns around leadership related to:

1. Balancing their own workload with their leadership responsibilities: Mid-level managers often find themselves in a difficult position where they have to balance their own individual work with their leadership responsibilities. This can be challenging and can lead to burnout if not managed properly.
2. Dealing with conflict: Mid-level managers are often responsible for dealing with conflicts that arise within their team or between other teams. This can be a difficult task as they need to maintain a level of objectivity while also ensuring that the issue is resolved in a satisfactory manner.
3. Managing difficult employees: Managing employees who are difficult to work with can be a challenge for mid-level managers. They need to balance the needs of the individual employee with the needs of the team and the organization as a whole.
4. Building trust and credibility: Mid-level managers often have to work hard to build trust and credibility with their team members, especially if they are new to the role or if they are managing a team for the first time.
5. Communication: Communication is a critical component of leadership, and mid-level managers need to ensure that they are communicating effectively with their team members, other managers, and senior leadership.
6. Managing change: Mid-level managers are often responsible for implementing changes within their team or department, and they need to ensure that these changes are communicated effectively and are implemented smoothly.
7. Developing leadership skills: Mid-level managers often have aspirations of moving into higher leadership positions, and they may feel the need to develop their leadership skills to prepare for these roles.

Overall, mid-level managers have concerns about balancing their workload, managing difficult situations, building trust and credibility, effective communication, managing change, and developing their leadership skills.

Question posed to OpenAI: What are the key issues that need to be discussed/addressed around leadership?

OpenAI response: There are many key issues that need to be discussed and addressed around leadership. Here are a few of them:

1. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI): Leaders need to ensure that their teams and organizations are diverse and inclusive. They need to create a culture where everyone feels valued and respected, and they need to take action to address any biases or discrimination that may exist.
2. Emotional intelligence: Leaders need to have a high level of emotional intelligence, which involves being able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as being able to empathize with and understand the emotions of others.
3. Ethical leadership: Leaders need to lead by example and set a high ethical standard for their teams and organizations. They need to make decisions that are in the best interest of the organization and its stakeholders, and they need to be transparent and accountable.
4. Communication: Effective communication is critical for leadership. Leaders need to be able to communicate clearly and persuasively, and they need to be able to listen actively and respond to feedback.
5. Innovation and creativity: Leaders need to foster a culture of innovation and creativity within their organizations. They need to encourage their teams to think outside the box and to take risks, and they need to be open to new ideas and perspectives.
6. Change management: Leaders need to be able to manage change effectively. They need to be able to communicate the need for change, and they need to be able to lead their teams through the change process.
7. Talent development: Leaders need to develop their own leadership skills, but they also need to develop the skills and capabilities of their team members. They need to create opportunities for their team members to grow and develop, and they need to provide feedback and coaching to help them improve.

These are just a few of the key issues that need to be discussed and addressed around leadership. Other important topics include strategic thinking, decision-making, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Question posed to OpenAI: Create some questions to ask on a panel discussion about leadership.

OpenAI response: Here are some questions to ask on a panel discussion about leadership:

1. What qualities do you think are essential for effective leadership?
2. How do you handle conflicts within your team or organization?
3. What strategies have you used to build trust and credibility with your team members?
4. Can you describe a time when you had to make a tough decision as a leader? How did you arrive at your decision?
5. How do you promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization?
6. How do you balance the needs of your organization with the needs of your team members?
7. What strategies do you use to communicate effectively with your team members and other stakeholders?
8. How do you encourage innovation and creativity within your organization?
9. Can you describe a time when you had to lead your team through a major change or crisis? What did you do and what was the outcome?
10. How do you develop the leadership skills of your team members?
11. What advice would you give to someone who is new to a leadership role?
12. How do you ensure that your leadership style is aligned with the culture of your organization?
13. How do you measure the success of your leadership?
14. What are some common mistakes that leaders make? How can they be avoided?
15. How do you balance short-term goals with long-term vision as a leader?

Remember to tailor these questions to the specific panelists and their areas of expertise, and to keep the discussion focused and engaging for the audience.

Related Articles

Research Every Panel Moderator Must Do Before a Panel Discussion

24 Questions to Ask in ANY Panel Discussion

How to Structure a Panel Discussion

For more information about how to moderate a lively & informative leadership 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.