Public speaking isn’t always about giving your information in a set time. Sometimes you’re asked to take part in a panel, or even to lead one. Today we’re sharing our advice on how to moderate a panel, and tomorrow we will share some advice for taking part in a one.
Of course, all of our presentation skills still apply to taking part in a panel – speak slowly and clearly, simplify your language, and keep it short and sweet. But moderating a panel can be a high pressure situation with potential pitfalls of it’s own. Here’s my three tips for getting you through…
Know Your Guests
It sounds obvious and a little patronising – but you’d be amazed at the weak introductions I’ve witnessed at the conferences I’ve attended in the past year. I went to one conference where the moderator had to be corrected during each introduction she gave, because the information she had about her guests was outdated and incorrect.
Plus, knowing each pannelist’s background and specialty will help you to direct questions efficiently.
Lay Down Ground Rules
As the moderator, both the pannelists and audience will look to you for guidance on how to proceed. It’s often useful to begin by explaining how you want the event to proceed. As the leader, it’s your right and responsibility to make sure everybody enjoys and gets the most out of the experience – don’t be scared about enforcing rules if things are getting out of hand. Think about the following issues you might what to address:
- Who will answer questions? Do you want the audience to direct questions to a particular pannelist, or will you decide who is best suited to answer them?
- Do people need to wait for a mic before asking questions?
- Should questions be limited to a particular topic?
- Will pannelists have a limited time for giving each answer?
Repeat Questions
If audience members don’t have microphones, it’s often useful for you to repeat questions to make sure everybody can hear them. It’s also a chance for the audience member to confirm that’s what they want to know.
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