Powerful Panels

These planning documents aren't just paperwork—they're your backstage blueprint to success. Use them strategically, and you'll transform a good panel into a great one that your audience will talk about long after the session ends.

Even the most riveting panel discussion can become monotonous if it's just talking heads. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to spice things up visually—without turning your panel into a sideshow. Based on ideas from my book 123 to Add Pizazz to Your Panel Discussion, here are eight creative and effective ways to keep your visual learners engaged.

Whether you stumbled into panel moderating by accident or are now getting paid to guide conversations on big stages, one thing's for sure: moderation is a skill that evolves. It's part art, part science, and part stagecraft. Here's a deeper look at how you grow as a moderator — and what it takes to climb to the top.

The concept of a “pre-mortem” was popularized by Gary Klein in a 2007 Harvard Business Review article. The idea? Instead of conducting a post-mortem after everything goes sideways, you get ahead of it — and intentionally plan for what could go wrong before it ever does. And it's brilliant for panels. How to Run a Pre-Mortem for Your Panel

When it comes to allocating budget and resources, panel training often gets overlooked. “It's just a panel,” they say. But you and I both know it's never just a panel. It's a performance. It's a conversation. It's brand experience, leadership visibility, industry relevance, and audience engagement all wrapped up in 45–60 minutes. So how do you convince leadership or your client to invest in making panels better? Here are a few persuasive talking points to get your decision-makers on board.

A great panel isn't about vague concepts; it's about concrete takeaways. As a moderator, it's my job to make sure the audience gets value, not just verbiage. So, next time you're moderating and a panelist offers up a fluff-filled response, don't let it slide. Push for specifics. Your audience will thank you.

With a bit of intentionality, you can take a panel from ho-hum to the highlight of the conference! Whether you're the panel organizer, moderator, or panelist, you have the power to create an experience where the audience leans in—engaged, entertained, and excited to be in the room.

This hot seat challenge technique is equal parts thrilling and insightful. Watching panelists think fast and answer under pressure makes for an engaging, can't-look-away moment. It's a fun way to inject spontaneity while uncovering unfiltered insights at your next panel discussion.

The Pardon the Interruption format is an electrifying way to energize panel discussions, ensuring they remain compelling, engaging, and, most importantly, fun! If you're looking for a way to captivate your audience while covering a breadth of topics, this could be the perfect format to try.

Panel moderators have a variety of tools to keep discussions engaging and lively, but not every format is perfect. Two popular options are the Hot Potato and the Lightning Round—each with strengths and weaknesses. Let's break them down.

A good question in a panel discussion stimulates meaningful conversation, draws out valuable insights, and engages both the panelists and the audience.    

Gamified polling turns passive listeners into active participants by leveraging the natural appeal of games. Done well, it boosts engagement, encourages lively discussion, and fosters community—making your panel the highlight of any event.

The goal is to create a friendly and inviting atmosphere to kick off the audience Q&A. Rewarding the first questioner at the beginning of the Q&A segment of your panel discussion is a great way to inspire great questions for the panelists.

Think back to the last time you attended a concert or sports event. Remember that electric buzz of anticipation as the music started, signaling that something exciting was about to happen? That's the magic of walk-up music—it sets the stage, stirs up energy, and makes people feel they are part of something special. So, why not bring that spark to your panel discussions? Walk-up music is a simple yet dynamic way to kick things up a notch. Here's everything you need to know about why, how, and when to use it effectively.

In the recently released 2024 Panel Report, we asked about panel discussion pet peeves - and the number one pet peeve should not come as a surprise.

As a panel moderator, your words carry a lot of weight. The audience is looking to you to set the tone, guide the discussion, and keep things engaging. But sometimes, even the best-intentioned moderators slip up and say things that can derail the panel. Don't worry—I've got you covered. Here's a list of the top things moderators should NEVER say and what to say instead.

Serving as a panelist is a fantastic way to share your expertise, engage with your industry, and build your visibility. To get there, you'll need a combination of strategic positioning and proactive networking. Here are some general ideas about how to increase your chances as well as some specifics for the questioner, so you can see how you can implement these ideas!

The 2024 Panel Report shows that while 70% of organizers say they collect feedback, 60% admit it rarely influences their panel design - if at all. Why does this happen? Why ask if you're not going to act on it? here are some of the top reasons for this feedback-action gap - and a few ideas to turn it around.

Panel moderators should ask themselves, "Will anything the panelists prepare make the audience gasp with delight that they didn't know it, surprise that it provided a new insight, or even astonishment that they had not expected or seen it before?"  Here is the G.A.S.P. acronym to help you prepare to make your audience GASP.

Concluding or summarizing a panel discussion creatively or artistically can leave a lasting impression on the audience. Here are some engaging ideas.

The 2024 Panel Report reinforces the notion that audiences demand more engagement and interaction. Panels are no longer a passive "lean back and listen" format. Here's what you need to know to get your audience to lean forward and engage.  

Don't get me wrong; a compelling title is crucial. It grabs attention and draws in the audience. However, it's important that the content lives up to the expectations set by that title. Otherwise, you risk leaving your audience feeling shortchanged or misled.

Events producer and "Chief Solutions Officer" Tim Woodring shares behind-the-scenes info on how he generates and catalyzes ideas with corporate clients to produce powerful panels. As co-sponsor of the 2024 panel report with Unbridled, he discusses how anyone, any panelist, any moderator, can influence a panel to improve.

Meetings and events professional Brian Walter shares how to make panel discussions memorable, brilliant, and buzzworthy! He's talking about strategic questions that help panelists divulge the behind-the-scenes details everyone wants to hear.

Sitting properly in a chair during a panel discussion helps you project confidence and earn the audience's respect.  They will lean in and listen to you when you have a poised presence.  Here are general tips on how to sit properly in a chair during a panel discussion.

The ideal duration of a panel discussion can vary depending on the goals for the event, the panel in particular, the number of panelists, and the audience's expectations. Here is what to consider.

By using these seven strategies, you can overcome writer's block and create thoughtful, engaging questions for your panel discussion.

Handling aggressive behaviors or inappropriate questions during high-tension panel discussions requires a blend of pre-planning, clear guidelines, respectful interventions, and strategic redirection. By adopting these techniques from seasoned moderators and experts, you can maintain a professional and positive atmosphere, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.

Use this "litmus test" for speakers, moderators, and panelists to determine if they are truly inclusive and focused on the audience. 

It happens ALL THE TIME - the dreaded front-row buffer zone. As your attendees walk into the meeting room, they settle somewhere in the middle, back rows, or even the ends of the rows of chairs. NO ONE typically sits in the front row..which is a problem. Here's why it's a problem, and how to fix it.

Unfortunately, this scenario can happen to a panel moderator: You ask a probing or challenging question to a panelist and .... they got nothin'. They stare at you like a deer in the headlights. What do you do when a panelist cannot answer your question? Actually, you have several options.

The ideal duration of a panel discussion can vary depending on the goals for the event, the panel in particular, the number of panelists, and the audience's expectations.  When deciding on the duration of your next panel discussion consider these factors.

Professional panel moderator Kristin Arnold interviews CPAE Speaker Hall of Famer Joe Calloway on brilliant techniques to insert a panel discussion within a speech.

I have always shied away from using little-known facts and statistics during a panel discussion because it just takes more time to prepare. But these days, all it takes is a query into an AI engine such as ChatGPT. So why not dazzle your audience with some facts that they wouldn't otherwise know?

One of your panelists is missing. The panel is about to start and either they never showed up to the venue or they are now missing in action (MIA). It's easy to freak out. What are you going to do? When a panelist is missing, you can take several steps to manage the situation effectively.

I was recently asked what to do when a panelist's opening comment is a volatile hypothesis - that they hadn't talked about during the planning session. Other than being surprised, here are some ways to respond to this verbal grenade to maintain control of the conversation and ensure it remains constructive and on track.

Having a standing-room-only crowd for your panel discussion is fabulous - especially if you manage it appropriately! Here is what you will need to keep in mind. 

Use this simple technique for panel discussions to entice your audience to lean into the Q&A segment.

After-dinner panels need to be more edutaining – educational/informational/inspirational AND entertaining. Here are best practices to ensure your after-dinner panel discussion is much more lively, informative, and engaging:

For the first quarter of 2024, these are the top ten trending topics for panel discussions at business events in priority order based on social media mentions and internet activity. These topics reflect current global concerns and interests, particularly in business, technology, and society at large.  

Here are seven reasons why these three words are the most powerful words to use in a panel discussion.

In this day and age, you may be alienating a part of your audience. Why do that? There ARE other ways to address your audience AND use more inclusive language!

A panel discussion involves more than a panel moderator and panelists. Consider involving these 10 players in a panel discussion:

Even though you tried to influence the meeting organizers to limit the number of panelists, you might have been unsuccessful. You can't change it. So what do you do when you have too many panelists? Here's my short list of what to do when you have too many panelists - and can't change the number!

As a panelist in a panel discussion, how do you know you've done a good job? What is the ultimate litmus test of panelist success? Here is something unexpected that you want to achieve.

A few things to consider to personalize your clipboard as a panel moderator for a panel discussion that won't break the bank.

There are some unique instances where the panel moderator should dip their toe into the content to get the conversation on track and back on track. Once a contribution is made, then the moderator should resume the role of facilitator. Here's what you need to know.

Here is my favorite polling platform to use during a panel discussion. You can also find a more comprehensive list of platforms, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each here.

Yes indeed - you can use AI/ChatGPT to prepare for a panel discussion. In this blog post, I will not only give you some ideas on how to use AI/ChatGPT to help prepare for a panel discussion, but I will also share prompts I have used to get the best results. As you query AI/ChatGPT, keep these things in mind.

During one of my coaching sessions with a panel moderator, my client asked, "Can you plan too much for a panel discussion? Seems like there is a lot to do here!" Fair question. For a novice panel moderator that is true. As you get more comfortable with the role, there is still a bit of prep work, but not as extensive. So my answer is this . . .

What can a panel moderator do when a panelist has an on-stage, unexpected crisis? Here is how to handle it with grace and professionalism.