Powerful Panels

You've identified your desired slate of D.E.E.P. panelists and now you need to send them a panel discussion invitation by email (or if you're old school, by postal mail!). To have a comprehensive yet crisp letter, consider including these elements:

I’ll tell you what tips off the audience that the panel moderator is NOT fulfilling their role of being “Neutral & Objective.”

So you’ve been asked to be a panelist on a panel discussion and you and your colleagues are wondering, “Why you should be a panelist? Why stick your neck out there?” Here's why. 

Although you have been selected to speak candidly about your perspective as a panelist, you may be wondering how to disagree respectfully during a panel discussion. It's bound to come up...you've done your research on your fellow panelists and you know you have differing opinions. Here are a number of strategies on how to disagree respectfully.

Panel moderator Kristin Arnold shares creative ways panelists can promote a book or other product or service tastefully at a panel discussion.

Should you bring the whole script? Read from the teleprompter? Bring some notes? Here is how panel moderators can strategically keep their script onstage. 

Surprise and impress your meeting organizer by offering to pepper in notices, announcements, and promotions into your panel discussion.

Professional panel moderator Kristin Arnold responds to a comment she received about the audience and the role of a panel discussion.

Professional panel moderator Kristin Arnold shares a simple strategy to help panelists feel valued, engaged, and trusted.

While I have some preferences on how to moderate a panel discussion, there is no ONE way. It all depends on the topic, the venue, the panelists, and of course, the moderator’s own personal style.

My best advice is to make ALL of these small choices on behalf of the audience and the promise stated in the program materials. Listen for more. 

I like to think of a panel discussion in chunks of time or "segments" and allocate the time appropriately.

Let's use an example from this sample script for a panel discussion where the panel is only 45 minutes long.

When sharing a number(s) with the audience, it is much more than the telling of the number or statistic.  The number(s) is important, but it’s the understanding of the situation, the emotion it generates, and the feeling the audience is left with that really matters.

Ever wonder what to wear on a panel discussion? I do - all the time! The answer is not as simple as it may seem. Although I would love to give you a textbook answer, there are several factors you need to consider first.

Professional panel moderator Kristin Arnold interviews keynote speaker Sylvie di Giusto, CSP, on how panel moderators and panelists can make excellent first impressions that last.

As an expert panelist or during any other interview, you can proactively prepare for cage-rattling questions, recognize the gotcha question, and reframe your response so that you can come out looking like a champ!

Don't default to the traditionalists.  You can easily spice up the room by getting rid of that darn long table during your panel discussion.  It acts as a barrier between the panelists and the audience.  Instead, create a warmer climate with these strategies.

Panel discussion topics are more than just one or two words.

To provide a focus for the panel moderator, panelists, and the audience, craft a topic statement (not to be confused with a panel title) that includes these three elements.