Powerful Panels Blog
June 15, 2021
Dsicover the 6 attributes of a good panel discussion question AND the 7 Issues with Non-planned panel discussion questions.
June 9, 2021
17 different types of questions posed to panelists during a panel discussion
June 3, 2021
During a recent interview with Sarah Michel, VP of Connexity at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting, she mentioned a technique she uses when moderating a panel discussion: The […]
May 26, 2021
The typical panel consists of seven tasks that are performed in the following order:
Welcome
Panelist introductions
Panelist presentations and/or initial remarks
Moderator-curated questions directed to the panelists
Questions from the audience directed to a panelist(s)
Summary
Thank you and final administrative remarks
The panel moderator may opt to do all seven tasks, omit some, combine a few, or design a unique format to achieve the overall desired results.
May 19, 2021
So you’ve been asked to moderate a panel discussion for the very first time. OR, you haven’t done one in a while and are wondering about how to moderate a panel discussion.
As a leading expert in moderating panel discussions, here is the recipe I use to prepare for and moderate a lively and informative panel discussion:
Clarify the vision with the meeting organizer
Select, invite, and confirm the panelists
Prepare an engaging format
Start with a strong opening
Facilitate a lively conversation
Sprinkle in audience Q&A
Finish with a clarion call to action
May 13, 2021
If you are asked to serve on a panel discussion as a panelist, there are some things you should DO and some things you definitely should NOT do to be successful. Here's my list collected over the last ten years of moderating panel discussions:
May 6, 2021
Let’s say lots of people want to ask a question during audience Q&A during a panel discussion on Zoom. When you use the “reactions” button (see […]
April 21, 2021
To create a brilliant virtual panel discussion, you gather a handful of smart people and pray for scintillating conversations to spontaneously happen. When your panelists know […]
April 14, 2021
One of the core values for all moderators is the notion of “fairness.” Every panelist should have roughly the same number of questions asked of him/her, […]
April 7, 2021
Thank goodness the pandemic ice storm is beginning to thaw and we’re starting to venture outside and meeting in person again. Most agree, we cannot “go […]
March 31, 2021
I get disappointed when a moderator selects a more traditional “initial remarks” format. Why? Because they do two things that drive me nuts: 1) They allow […]
March 24, 2021
As a leading expert on moderating panels, I am often asked to watch a panel discussion and provide the organization and/or moderator feedback – what went […]
March 17, 2021
Bob Pike, Chairman and Founder of the Training and Performance Forum, shared this panel discussion format of “capturing the question” using small groups during a panel […]
March 11, 2021
#BestPanelEver. It was, literally, one of the best virtual/hybrid panels I’ve seen all year. And I wasn’t the only one who was thinking that – the […]
March 3, 2021
I would be rich if I got a dollar for every time I am asked how to tactfully cut off a panelist who talks too long. […]
