When it comes to presentations, there is often one style that comes to mind: lectures. You know, when the presenter stands in front of his or her audience and proceeds to speak on a topic for the next 45 minutes. This format is most often used when presenting a pitch or a keynote address. But there is format of presentations that can be just as effective. In fact, according to a study completed in 2015, this format has actually been proven to the more effective than the traditional lecture. That format is the Panel Discussion.
The panel discussion is most often utilized when you have multiple experts available to present on a topic or when you are looking for open debate about a subject. While the panel discussion has been proven to be the most effective way to increase information retention and to increase audience participation, it doesn’t come without a risk.
You see, the key to a great panel discussion is a great moderator which is no small task to find or to be. Here are a few keys I have learned along the way that will help you moderate your next panel.
It’s all about the seating.
The first panel that I ever facilitated was a miserable failure. People didn’t talk, the audience was disengaged, and we were counting down the minutes till we could call it a day and slink off stage. When I went back to evaluate why that discussion was such a failure I realized that I had made one fatal flaw, and it took place before anyone stepped on stage. I had set up the chairs in such a way that they were in a straight line. I mean so straight and perfectly measured that geometry teachers would be impressed. I thought this would create a clean and professional look, which it did. But it also created a barrier to conversation. No one could talk or interact because when they looked to their right and to their left all they could see was their immediate neighbor’s shoulders.
The next time you are going to employ a panel discussion, learn from my mistake. Rather than worry about the overall look and feel of the stage create a space that is conducive to discussion. When I am setting up panel discussions now, I try to recreate a living room feel. This allows the audience to feel like they are part of the discussion thus increasing engagement and attention.
Consider This: When it comes to setting up your “living room” consider going so far as to adding living room furniture. Rather than sitting on a stool sit on couches or comfortable chairs. This will further the welcoming feeling and subsequently boost the audience’s connection.
Begin with the end in mind.
As a panel facilitator it is extremely important that you are paying attention at all times. It is your job to tie each participant’s answers together and create the through line of the presentation. The best way that I have found to ensure this happens is to begin with the end in mind. Before each panel, I decide where I want the discussion to land. I keep this idea in the back of my mind at all times and am always steering the discussion in this direction. The art of steering discussion does take time to learn but the more panels you moderate the better you will get.
Inevitably you will have one person on the panel who feels like they are not even in the same room as far as their content. When this person engages don’t panic, just be ready to tie whatever they say back in to the overall narrative, even if it is a stretch.
Consider This: Panels are meant to be discussion based so don’t allow one person to monopolize the time and steal the show. It is important to have a broad base of ideas and opinions that feel balanced overall.
Embrace the silence.
One mistake I see panel moderators make time and time again is that they refuse to embrace the silence. As soon as a question hangs in midair for more than 10 seconds they immediately jump in with an answer or move on to the next question. The reality is, it’s not as awkward as it feels. Silence is ok; it’s just a sign that people are thinking and formulating an answer. A good discussion is based on good answers and you must allow people the space needed to come up with those answers.
Remember, this is a fine line. If you allow for too much dead air the discussion will drag and you will begin to lose your audience. As the moderator you must find this balance and walk the line. All it takes is one question to spark the conversation and your panel will take off, don’t risk smothering that discussion because you were afraid of waiting.
Consider This: A great way to judge how long you should wait is by simply counting to 15 in your head after each question. For me I use the old childhood counting method of adding “one thousand” after each number to ensure I don’t rush.
Prepare, prepare, prepare.
Just because the panel discussion is not your typical lecture presentation does not mean you can throw preparation out. In fact, this format requires more preparation than the traditional lecture style as you are responsible not just for your content but also ensuring that your participants have all that they need to prepare as well.
Preparation starts by creating the questions you will use to facilitate the discussion. This is the very first thing that I send once someone has accepted the invitation to speak. Don’t neglect this step or wait till you are a week out from the discussion. You want to ensure your participants have ample time to digest and research their answers. While this may feel like an extra step it will help reduce dead time and keep the discussion moving once you are into the discussion.
The second step to preparation falls solely on your shoulders as the moderator. As I said earlier you must be ready to recap and pull the whole discussion together and that means you must know your stuff. When getting ready to lead a discussion, I prepare almost the same amount of content that I would if I was presenting alone. This ensures that if things go sideways I am ready to pull things back together and still deliver a useful presentation.
Consider This: Outlining your panel discussion the same way you would outline a lecture provides a backup plan if you are not getting the answers you had hoped for.
Panel discussions are a great resource for a presentation. They improve engagement and help increase the attention span of your audience. But they come at a cost. Don’t assume that a panel discussion means less work, instead put in the time to prepare and create space for great discussion. If you do, your audience will thank you!
Looking for help on an upcoming presentation? The Ethos3 team would love to get you the resources you need to make a splash in your space. Contact us today for more info.
