You’re perceived as important in your field.
Who better to lead a panel discussion?
Keep some crucial elements in mind- and you’ll leave your audience invigorated.
Here are 7 Preparation Tips .
1. Homework- the more you know about your panel members
the better. It gives you ammunition for comments.. follow-up..
questions. This includes personal bios- eg. lesser known facts and
personal interests often come in handy.
2. What
is the goal that you ultimately want to achieve? What might you want
to tease out? What do you want to leave your audience with? Facts,
ideas, changes in attitude? Tell your audience the purpose of this event.
3. Do you intend to show any visuals- ie. a very
short opening video.. pictures or graphics? Might you use visuals to promote
dialogue as you proceed? Make sure you have monitors set up facing the
panelists as well.
Preparing Your Panelists
4.
Ask your panelists for brief introductions they would like used: 3 or 4
brief sentences max. (Remind the audience that the longer details are
in the event program.) What types of questions might they expect from you?
Remind them that new, unexpected questions will be generated as the event
proceeds.
5. Biggest panel mistake: A panel
is not a succession of speeches from panelists! Tell your panelists to
expect an initial question in order to lay the groundwork for the ensuing
discussion- but the event is intended to be an active dialogue- and they
should expect to jump in. The more it moves along with changes in pacing and
sentiment buoying the information and chat- the more stimulating the event.
6. Make sure you have a smartphone or
stopwatch handy during the event.
We are in an impatient, fast-paced
world. Lay out any time-related ground rules to the panelists.
You will cut them off- with a prior warning- after x seconds or
minutes. Will they have [15.. 30.. 45.. 60 seconds] for a
closing comment?
7. Technology!
Have you practiced using your remote for visuals? What’s Plan B for
unanticipated tech problems? Will participants need any
assistance using their mics ? Do you have a cordless mic so you can
leave the podium and walk around?