In a recent posting 10 Tips on Moderating a Panel Discussion I listed suggestions for anyone who has been appointed a panel moderator.

In this companion piece, I’ll list tips for those of you who’ve been invited to speak on a panel. Simple math indicates there’s a greater chance you’ll be asked to be on a panel than moderate one (unless your name is Terry Gross or Jeremy Paxman).

Many of the tips for moderators have a corollary for panel members. Just as the moderator should know the audience; schedule time to participate in panel rehearsals or pre-event meetings; and be aware of the electronic backchannel, so should should panelists. The reverse if also true. If panelists need to learn to shut up, the moderator must make sure to engage less aggressive panelists in the discussion. Not only is this courteous, but it provides the attendees with a more rounded, more interesting discussion. A good panel is a dialog between an intelligent and aware moderator and an engaged group of panelists for the benefit of the audience.

10 Tips for speaking on a panel

1. Know about the panel you are on

There’s a vast difference between participating in a political slug-fest such as Crossfire or light entertainment like Just a Minute. Even if you know that’s it’s an industry panel, be aware, for instance, if you are the sole Microsoft representative on an Open Source panel. Some moderators delight in generating controversy and might introduce an unwary panelist into a hostile environment.

2. Know the other panelists

Use social media tools to find out the scoop on other panelists. Search their names in Google, Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter. Find out what other panels they have been on, read any reports and look for videos of them on YouTube and read about them in blogs.

You should know what positions they’ve taken in the past and opinions they hold. Nothing is more disarming than to reference their Alma Mater (listed in LinkedIn) or an important paper they’ve written in the middle of the discussion.

3. Know your material

It’s assumed you are an expert, but refresh yourself by checking in Google News and doing an advanced search into the Twitter archives to update yourself on the venue, issues and other hot topics. Heck, you don’t even need a Twitter account to do this.

4. Don’t be boring

Remember you are there to entertain, not to inform.

National Speakers Association President Kristin Arnold suggests:

Panel members face the same challenge as all speakers, the need to move from being boring to “bravo!”. Be keenly aware of how much airtime you are using, keep you remarks short and to the point. Be relevant and controversial – a little chutzpa goes a long way!

5. Be prepared – don’t walk into the panel cold

Once you’ve spoken to the moderator and other panel members, sit down and create an outline of the points you wish to make. List the brief stories you can tell to illustrate the points. Remember, an entertaining story includes a great opening line and an obstacle that was overcome. One tool to use to list your points is the Challenge, Action, Response framework.

Media trainer TJ Walker advises:

Treat a panel like any other speaking opportunity. Have an outline with a few points. Make sure you have a story and specific case studies for your audience to make your points come alive.

6. Respect others

Even if you get into a heated discussion with another panelist or an audience member criticizes you, don’t lose your cool. Stay in relationship with the other panelists and audience. This means interacting with other panelists, acknowledging what they say, agreeing to disagree. Be aware of the flow of the panel discussion and sensitive to the mood of the audience, but don’t allow yourself to be bullied. You can see mistakes to avoid and pick up some survival techniques by watching anyone with liberal opinions being interviewed on Fox News.

UK business commentator and experienced panelist Stephen Harvard Davis says:

I always remember that I’ve been invited to join the panel because someone else has views and opinions that are different to my own. When responding to what they say I should never take their words as a personal attack and must always remain calm and pleasant, whilst making my point robustly. After all, it’s not their fault that their opinion is wrong! I always remember that the audience has come to hear all the panel’s opinions and not just my own. The audience wants to see a gladiatorial contest of wits and be entertained by it. A couple of minutes in answer to any one point is more than enough and whilst my opinion may be the only one worth listening to, I must let the audience be the judge of that.

7. Don’t be a show-off

Don’t compete with the moderator or other panelists for time or attention. It’s not a discussion if one person dominates. Keep your bio brief. Don’t promote your company. Get into the topic right away.

Joel Postman, author of SocialCorp, notes:

In school, there was always that guy in the front row who had his hand up for every question, begging to be called on with pleas of ‘oh, oh, oh, oh.’ Well he grew up and he participates in every panel discussion. And he’s still just as annoying as he was in Mrs. Benson’s English class.

8. Remember you are always onstage

Even when not speaking, maintain eye contact with other panelists and the audience. It’s not advisable to look at the moderator, even when you are talking, it’s the audience you are there to address.

9. Hang around afterward

Unless you are a CEO with an entourage and places to go, stick around after the panel ends. Audience members who need some of your time will come up to speak. Exchange cards with them. You never know who you’ll meet.

10. Have fun!

After all, that’s what the audience wants to see. Part of the fun might be blogging or tweeting about your experience and using social media to magnify the impact of the discussion for those unable to attend the event.

I’d like to thank Kristin Arnold, TJ Walker, Stephen Harvard Davis and Joel Postman for their contributions to this blog posting.

Diane gives talks about living with bipolar disorder. Her husband, David (profiled in this series back in March) had to overcome his own struggles with bipolar. It’s estimated that 1 in 50 people in the USA have this disorder.

It is also estimated that 20% of people with bipolar disorder will commit suicide either on purpose or by reckless behavior during depressive or manic episodes. Biploar causes more deaths than aids and most forms of cancer. Bipolar disorder is believed to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and is treatable with many different medications.

However, medication alone is not enough to effectively control this illness. She and David share what else is necessary to live a healthy happy life in spite of having this devastating illness in their book Surviving Bipolar’s Fatal Grip – The Journey to Hell and Back.

Diane’s presentations describe her own story about living with this illness in her family and offers practical advice to others. She shares a success model and encourages the audience to use strategies such as mood tracking; getting adequate sleep; discovering their own triggers and learning how to lessen those triggers; taking their medicines at the same time every day; and other important strategies that will help them avoid depression, mania, and mixed bipolar states.

Pro-Track Profile

David and Diane are the only husband and wife team in the 2010 National Speakers Association of Northern California Pro-Track class.

I asked Diane what motivated her to get into the speaking business. To hear what she told me, click on the podcast icon below.

 

 Interview: Diane Mariant [8:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Guy Kawasaki is a Silicon Valley legend. The erstwhile Apple software evangelist, now a successful VC, has written a string of best sellers from the 1990 The MacIntosh Way to the 2009 The Art of the Start.

He’s currently working on a new book Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. On Thursday he gave an entertaining presentation to an internal sales group at Cisco – where I’m employed in executive communications – based on his new book. From tips on how to smile with sincerity, to ways to enchant the influencers in a group, Kawasaki shared insights on ways to understand and influence change.

I caught up with him after his presentation and asked him to share something about his approach to public speaking and life as a professional speaker.

Click on the podcast icon below to hear Guy reveal:

• what he looks for in an audience to see if his message is connecting with them;
• the reason he likes speeches built around Top 10 lists;
• what he thinks of people tweeting while he’s speaking;
• what speakers can learn from The Grateful Dead.

 

 Interview: Guy Kawasaki [5:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Boring to Bravo: Proven Presentation Techniques to Engage, Involve, and Inspire Your Audience to Action

Kristin Arnold is a speaker’s speaker. Her new book is filled with nuggets of wisdom based on her years of experience as a professional facilitator. She also features guest content from an A-list of contacts she’s cultivated as the current President of the National Speakers Association.

This is not a basic presentation skills book. Arnold encourages readers to step outside the role of the speaker as an authority figure who controls the audience from the front of the room, to someone who passionately participates in an event that is enjoyed by the audience as a collaborative experience. Rather than speaking at an audience you should have a conversation that engages and connects with them. This tracks the move from Web 1.0 (carefully controlled content delivered in a one-way stream for mass consumption) to Web 2.0 (a social media dialog or conversation with mostly user-generated content).

Dynamic tips

In this book Arnold gives us a smorgasbord of techniques we can start using today. Tips range from straightforward suggestions on how to deliver a well-crafted introduction to more subtle hints about which side of the stage to enter (stage right, from the left side of the room).

She lists a range of ways to break the mold of the “boring” presenter and become someone who will elicit “bravos”. Refreshingly, she does not attempt to bake all the references you need into the book. Instead, in current social media style, she links to her dynamically maintained website where references are continually updated and readers comment on their experiences using the book in her lively blog.

You just know from how she writes that she has first-hand experience of all of the techniques she suggests. Checklists and chapter recaps provide an easy way to move from reading to implementation. Oh, and as they’ll tell you in the Twin Cities, the Mall of America is in Minnesota, not Michigan (p. 154).

So, if you are curious about the ways a presenter might use a contractors measuring tape; when it’s appropriate to bribe audience members; how to make eye contact with an audience of thousands; who to contact to license copyrighted music or movies for your event; how to conduct pre-event surveys on the web; or eight ways to conduct an audience poll; and much, much more…read the book.

See Kristin run

If you want first-hand evidence that Kristin walks the walk, check out her own “Bravo” performance on YouTube:

Have you noticed? Panel discussions are replacing keynotes and solo break-out sessions by experts at conferences. Rather than a rock-star presenter, who might disappoint, meeting planners are choosing to put a panel onstage and hear from multiple points of view. It’s a refreshingly democratic approach to conference content – safer than having all the eggs in one basket.

Speakers, corporate types and industry experts can expect to be asked to participate or moderate a panel discussion. This presents unique challenges for participants and moderators alike. I’ll address the best practices in moderating a panel in this post, and follow-up next week with Part II on how to prepare if you are asked to participate in a panel.

Like any blood sport, a good panel discussion needs a referee. The moderator’s job is to be the voice of reason, the champion for the audience and, if necessary, the inquisitor who probes beneath the surface for compelling comments.

So, if you’ve been assigned to moderate a panel, there’s a lot to be aware of. Here are ten things to bear in mind.

10 tips on moderating a panel discussion

1. First and foremost, just as any speaker should, a moderator must know the audience. What are their key interests, needs and concerns? What is it about the panel that attracts them? What questions are they hoping to find answers to? What will be the impact of the panelists’ comments on their work and lives? This helps you to prepare a discussion guide that captures your intention in hosting the panel and will keep the discussion relevant and meaningful to the audience.
2. Allow sufficient time for advance preparation. This includes understanding the purpose of the panel; becoming updated on pertinent/controversial industry issues; researching/contacting panelists; establishing panelist ground rules; writing your own introduction as well as the program introduction and the introduction for each panelist that correctly summarizes their bio and qualifications; verifying correct name pronunciation and title for each person; and creating a list of questions.
3. Choose panel members carefully. Just as you would if planning the ultimate dinner party, you need the right mix of expertise, ability to express an opinion coherently and divergent points of view. If everyone is a senior vice president of blah-de-blah it won’t be as interesting as if there’s a customer or partner from outside the organization included. Research the panelists and know their points of view on the topic, as well as as much as you can about their interests and background. Look for diversity in backgrounds, opinions and vested interests. Be cognizant of the hidden agenda they’ll each have for agreeing to be on the panel.
4. Prepare open-ended questions in advance that are both specific to each panelists’ individual interests and representative of issues the audience will be interested in. Part of the art of moderation is the art of interviewing, and any interviewer will tell you that preparation is the key to asking the most interesting and provocative questions.
5. Schedule rehearsal time for the panel members, ideally in person, otherwise over the phone or via video-conferencing. This helps establish chemistry between panelists. Share the results of your research into audience expectations. Lay out the timeframe and any other ground rules or guidelines they need to know. Review the room logistics and the time you expect them to arrive in the green room or other location prior to coming onstage.
6. Immediately before the event, attend to room logistics (seating arrangement of panel as well as audience, use of amplification, position of moderator, room temperature, lighting, acoustics). If you are hosting a virtual event, such as panel over WebEx, make sure the dial-in logistics are handled and you have a fall-back way of contacting panelists – such as their mobile number – if the main lines of communication have any hiccups.
7. Once the panel is in session, be sure to introduce each person, especially if anyone is a last-minute substitute whose name won’t be in the event program. Start out with an easy question or topic so that they can settle in and relax. Then, raise the stakes, probing into more controversial areas.
8. While the panelists are talking—especially if there’s a part of the panel where panelists deliver prepared remarks—listen very carefully and take notes. Wherever possible, capture important statements verbatim. Then use what you’ve heard to invite other panelists to comment on particular parts of other panelists’ statements. Keep an eye on time; too many moderators let speakers ramble on and on. Be prepared to navigate and intervene with panelists on behalf of the audience as needed. Ask follow-up questions that get to the story behind the canned response: Ask “Why do you believe this…?” “Do we all agree with what Joe has just stated…?” Panels that are too general or full of platitudes tend to bore audiences; controversy keeps it interesting.
9. Rather than field every question yourself, allow the panelists to question each other. The audience will be far more interested in dialog between panelists than every single exchange starting with your question. If you are allowing questions from the audience establish simple systems everyone can access. This might range from an open mic in the aisle to note cards they can write questions passed to your assistants to online systems for submitting questions.
10. Finally, talking of online, be aware of the increasing likelihood of what author Cliff Atkinson describes as The Backchannel. Expect that more and more audience members will be carrying smartphones and PDAs and communicating about what they see and hear onstage on Twitter and social networks while the event is in progress. This has the potential to sow the seeds of conflict. Opinions expressed by the audience need to be taken into account. Atkinson suggests effective ways to incorporate the backchannel into the discussion. Ignore these suggestions at your peril.

I’d like to thank the members of the Speakers and Panelists Group on LinkedIn who submitted many of these tips. Specifically:

Robert Buccino
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter
Kay Meyer
Dale Klein

Vital Speeches of the Day has a great list of reasons why speechwriters blog, by Cynthia Starks.

Museum artist Allison Massari found peace, purpose and happiness after overcoming two extraordinary personal tragedies. In 1998, Massari survived a near fatal 60 mph car crash where she was trapped and burned severely. Just three years later, she was hit again at 60 mph and sustained a brain injury. The level of betrayal she felt from life seemed insurmountable. She became determined to create an amazing life.

Taking a long, steep climb from ashes into recovery, she learned very clearly how to navigate her way to true healing and to a life beyond anything she could have dreamed possible. The award-winning painter and sculptor added a new medium to her inventive work—the written and spoken word. Her rededicated mission is to share her story of transformation and revitalization to activate visionary change in people and the organizations that nurture and inspire them.

Allison Massari is passionate about igniting the human spirit—the core of her message is courage, heart, happiness and redefining the impossible. “I’ve come to a place where my heart pounds with excitement instead of fear. If I could do this with my own life and under such extreme circumstances—imagine what you can do with yours.”

As a member of the National Speakers Association, Massari’s message is expertly relayed through inspirational keynotes, workshops, audio programs and coaching. Massari effectively weaves awe-inspiring stories and her compelling art images as metaphors for her most powerful insights.

Her professional career is rich with diverse achievements. In 1998 Massari founded programs for teens with severe burn injuries which continue at the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, Colorado. For over 15 years she has been creating, selling and placing fine art with international collectors and Fortune 500 clients such as General Mills, US Airways and Lockheed Martin. She holds a Masters of Arts degree from School of Visual Arts in New York City and a Bachelor of Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida displays her collage work in its permanent collection.

Look for her in the forthcoming international documentary film ReSolve—teaching solutions for those coming through post-traumatic stress.

Pro-Track Profile

Allison carefully researched the National Speakers Association of Northern California before deciding to join. It was the reputation of Pro-Track which convinced her that her already thriving speaking business would benefit from the tips and techniques she learns in the monthly meetings.

To hear Allison’s discuss her speaking business and the way in which she’s finding ways of expressing the essential messages she expressed as an artist in words, click on the podcast icon below.

 

 Interview: Allison Massari [3:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Celebrated keynoter, facilitator, author and ICF-certified business leader coach, Marsha Egan is on a quest to help others save thousands of hours and reclaim their lives due to email mismanagement. She has been a featured guest on ABC Nightly News, FOX and Friends, and NBC talking about the 12 steps to curing email addiction now outlined in her best selling book Inbox Detox – a guide to shifting your e-mail habits that shows you how to take charge of your inbox, your workday, and your life.

Marsha rocketed to national prominence after publishing a simple e-book on curing email addiction. Requests for media appearances flooded in from around the world, as she shared her insights on changing our email culture, one inbox at a time.

I sat down with Marsha at the recent National Speakers Association Convention in Orlando and asked her the details about what she tells audiences about the steps to free up and time and attention from email. In the podcast (click on the icon below) you’ll hear Marsha:

• Share shocking stats on how much time an average employee wastes on email – and what this translates to in terms of the bottom line.
• How much is wasted annually by needless email interruptions (hint: it’s greater than the GDP of 38 nations in the world).
• Suggest one effective tip on reclaiming your life from email addiction.
• Let us in on the secret as to how many emails she reads a day!

Now, if only there was a similar book for Twitter and Blogging addiction!

 

 Interview: Marsha Egan [8:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rory Vaden is a Self-Discipline Strategist who relates profound truths coupled with humorous anecdotes empowering professionals to conquer their fears and take immediate action in their businesses and their lives. Consulting with organizations, companies and individuals on leveraging self-discipline to create extraordinary performance, he has shared the stage with John Maxwell and conducted special programs for both Dave Ramsey and Zig Ziglar’s companies.

His insights on overcoming procrastination, creative avoidance and personal setbacks have been shared on shows such as Oprah radio with Dr. Oz and featured in print media such as SUCCESS™ Magazine. As the Co-Founder of the multi-million dollar public training company, Southwestern Consulting®, his pragmatic advice has been field tested by thousands of professionals from all different industries and he has personally coached clients such as Chad Goldwasser, the former #1 Keller Williams Real Estate Agent Worldwide.

In 2007, Rory became the World Champion of Public Speaking first runner-up for Toastmasters International out of 25,000 entries worldwide. He is the author of the book No Laughs Know Laughs How to Be Funny to Make More Money, and the audio series entitled, “The Audience is NOT in their Underwear: How to Craft Truly Compelling Presentations and Deliver them Like a Champ”. His groundbreaking book “Take The Stairs – Success Means Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do” is set for tentative release in within a year.

Today in addition to being an author, speaker, and entrepreneur, Rory is leading a rapidly growing international social movement called the Take The Stairs World Tour in which he is raising money for charity by climbing the 10 tallest buildings in the world. Combining a hilarious and compelling delivery with unprecedented expertise, Rory energizes audiences into action with his signature program: Take the Stairs – Success Means Doing Things You Don’t Want To Do.

Selling with Social Media

Rory’s presentation at the 2010 NSA Convention was titled Selling with Social Media – Nine Techniques for Using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to Get Coaching Clients, Book Deals and Keynotes.

Now that the social media craze and rush to popularity is here, the question remains, how do you actually make any cash from all this hoopla? Rory shares practical advice, pragmatic techniques and straightforward methods for maximizing your time online. He shows clients how to get referral business on LinkedIn and how to use Facebook to turn fans into coaching clients.

In this podcast interview I asked Rory where he sees social media going over the next year or two, what it means to generation X/Y and, finally, why anyone in their right mind would want to climb the 10 tallest buildings in the world. To find out why, click on the podcast icon below.

 

 Interview: Rory Vaden [7:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Michelle Cullison is a social media speaker and an expert in web technology. Together with her colleagues Myra Corrello, PhD and Jennifer Ledet she presented at the 2010 National Speakers Association Convention on How Social Media Can Help You Successfully Co-Produce a Major Public Event.

Michelle successfully uses social media and technology tools to organize and plan events, secure strategic partners and sponsors, generate product, gain long-term publicity and attract attendees. Michelle knows what it takes to recognize and understand how these virtually free communication tools can help you coordinate, collaborate, promote, connect, publicize, recognize and, ultimately, monetize your time and investment.

As she tells it, it all comes down to the numbers. Social media allows, as never before, event planners to demonstrate in clear quantitative terms the reach a sponsor will have for each level of sponsorship.

In this podcast interview I asked Michelle to outline the precise advantages of social media to gain event sponsorship, how she employed the tools, and what she would do differently if she had to do it all over again.

She tells me about the one indispensable tool she now recommends as the key to success in social media. To find out what this is, click on the podcast icon below.

 

 Interview: Michelle Cullison [5:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download