You want to sizzle, not snooze, at panel discussions
About the author
Penny is an award-winning motivational speaker & event host.
She's the author of Panel Discussions - The Ultimate Guide
By Penny Haslam
MD and Founder - Bit Famous
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Watch my video for my recipe for sizzle, and what I think of the ubiquitous tub chair
Chairing a panel is one of my favourite types of work as a professional speaker because I consider it a privilege to ask business people interesting questions, and a pleasure to host my very own BBC Radio 4 style ’round table’ discussion in front of a live audience. I use my business journalism and direct the themes so the audience gets what they came for. And we have a bit of a laugh too, why not.
So perhaps make panel discussions one of your favourite things too – either as an event organiser, an audience participant or as a panellist yourself. And just say NO to boring ones that cost you resources. Make them memorable, interesting and dare I say, make them fun for everyone involved, whether or not there’s a tub chair about.
I get booked to host and moderate a lot of events every year so I get to see at first hand the hard work and forethought that organisers put into making their events really sing. Generally, the right bass notes are:
- Choosing a relevant topic, so people will want to attend.
- Finding panellists who will energise that topic.
- Encouraging them to share their unique perspectives and opinions with the audience.
And it’s worth putting this effort in, because panel discussions are a good focal point for events that help you connect with customers, colleagues and peers, in a lively and interesting way.
But that’s the key bit – lively and interesting – but the opposite is quite often the case. You know the sort of event I’m talking about:
- Panellist A goes on and on.
- Panellist B barely speaks and panellist C is so nervous they flicker about rather than lighting up the room.
- Q&A falls a bit flat and everyone shuffles off to do the networking bit.
What’s the secret to a great panel discussion?
I’m proud to report that I have never had a dud on my watch, so what’s the secret formula? How do you put on a panel that sparkles so you don’t waste your precious time and money on something soporific?
I reckon there are some basics to consider that will help avoid the snooze and get the sizzle into your event…and they are RAPPORT, ENERGY & (think about your) AUDIENCE.
Panel Discussions Book - Free Resources
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FREE download: Panel discussion script example
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