Use the “Card Swap” to Create Intriguing Audience Questions

Engage the Audience with the Agree/Disagree Game
May 22, 2018
Interject a Lightning Round Into Your Panel Discussion
June 12, 2018

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 talk at their tables or with their seat-mates about what questions they have for panelists.  (You can even challenge them to ask the toughest, hottest, most challenging questions they can think of!)  They can write their questions down on an index card or use www.sli.do to allow the audience to “like” their favorite questions.

Here’s yet another step you can use to ramp up the energy in the room:

After the participants have written down their questions on index cards, ask each of them to pick up one of the cards.  If they didn’t write enough questions for everyone, then they can pick up a blank index card.

 

As them to stand up with their card, and then find someone from a different table.  Share your question with the new partner – and see if they have an answer!  Then, ask your partner about their question, and see if they have an answer!  For those of you with blank index cards, perhaps the conversation stimulates a new question….and then you can write that down on the blank card!

 

So here’s the fun part: SWAP cards!  Give your card to your partner!  You can then do another round OR ask the audience to take their seats.

 

Once the audience takes their seats, ask for the most intriguing questions from the audience.  Here’s the key to making this work:  The person who stands up (or that you throw your Catchbox – a throwable microphone) – is asking on behalf of the audience.  It’s not their question; rather, it is a question given to them from a small group.

 

The “Card Swap” is a fun and interactive way of getting people out of their seats, connecting with each other and soliciting interesting questions for your panel discussion!

 

Related Articles:

Panel Discussion Technique: Question Behind the Question

How to Create GREAT Questions for Your Panelists to Answer during Your Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion Tip #143 with Terry Brock: Visual Do’s & Don’ts for Virtual Panels

Kristin Arnold, professional panel moderator, and high-stakes meeting facilitator, shares her best practices for interactive, interesting, and engaging panel presentations. For more resources like this, or to have Kristin moderate your next panel visit the Powerful Panels official website.

Share This:
Kristin ArnoldKristin Arnold
KRISTIN ARNOLD, MBA, CSP, CPF|Master has been facilitating meaningful conversations between executives and managers to make better decisions and achieve extraordinary results for 25+ years. She's a leading authority on moderating panel discussions and passionate about finding the perfect olive to complement a vodka martini.
Contact Us
Skip to content

Our privacy policy has been updated. By clicking, 'I agree,' you consent to the terms therein. I Agree