Panel discussion A panel discussion, or simply a panel, involves a group of people gathered to discuss a topic in front of an audience, typically at scientific, business, or academic conferences, fan conventions, and on television shows.[1] Harry A. Overstreet, an American educator, first coined the term “panel discussion” in a short article “On the Panel” published in the October, 1934 issue of The Trained Nurse and Hospital Review.[2] In essence, Overstreet envisioned the panel as a “glorified conversation [with] all the delight of generous give-and-take. And if it is a genuinely good conversation, it sends people away with a warm feeling not only that their own ideas have been clarified but that their understanding of other points of view has been broadened.” In that article, he emphasized “that no one, under any circumstances, is to rise and make a speech. To do so, he indicates, will be the one unforgivable offense.”[3] Panels usually include a moderator who guides the discussion and sometimes elicits audience questions, with the goal of being informative and entertaining.[4][5] A panel discussion is a specific format used in a meeting, conference, or convention. It is a live (or recorded), in-person, virtual, or “hybrid” discussion about a specific topic amongst a selected group of experts who share differing perspectives in front of an in-person, virtual, or geographically dispersed audience.[6] Serving as a PanelistThe main purpose of a panel discussion is for the panelists to share their wisdom and provide insights to create real value and takeaways for the audience. It’s an “up close and personal” discussion among the panelists and with the audience. It’s the part of the story that you can’t find on Google, YouTube, or TED.[7] Serving as an expert panelist is an honor and a method for showcasing an individual’s expertise beyond their traditional network. A successful panelist should concisely communicate key points to the proposed questions or discussion topics in a manner that amplifies others and contributes to a collaborative session.[8] Film panels at fan conventions have been credited with boosting box office returns by generating advance buzz. While you may be asked to prepare some initial remarks, there is more to being a strong, engaging panelist than just showing up and presenting your wisdom. You may or may not know your fellow panelists, the questions in advance, or the direction of the conversation. Knowing that your reputation or your company’s is on the line, it is worth taking the time to prepare to be a powerful panelist.[9] Moderating a Panel DiscussionFollow these tips to moderate a lively and informative panel discussion:[10] Select, invite and confirm interesting panelists. If panelists have not yet been selected, round up “DEEP” people who can sufficiently address the topic:[11] Diverse. Make sure the panel represents the demographic of the audience while ensuring a diversity of opinion and thoughts. A group that is in complete agreement can make a discussion boring. Expertise. Invite a recognized authority or thought leader in the industry who possesses strong credentials. That person must establish credibility with the audience quickly via a biography or a 30-second introduction. Eloquent. Panelists should be good conversationalists. Do they speak well on the phone? Did your interview with them produce a monologue or a discussion? Review video footage of your potential panelists to make sure they can keep the audience engaged and interested. Prepared. Panelists must be willing to make a few key points and tell stories that illustrate those points. Preparation makes the difference between a mediocre panel and an amazing one. Research. It is your job to facilitate the conversation so the audience draws value from the panel’s expertise and perspectives. To do this effectively, you must be familiar with the panelists, the topic and the expectations of the audience. Create a panel format. You don’t have to settle for the typical long, draped table. Why not spice it up using a popular television-talk-show format? At a recent sales meeting, we did a spoof on the American TV talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and had the moderator come out in a tie, vest and sneakers, as host Ellen DeGeneres does herself. Write the welcome and introductions. Make them short and snappy—after all, panelist biographies are printed in the program, so you don’t have to repeat them. Try projecting one slide showing each panelist’s photo (in the same seating order as in the event) along with a headline and Twitter username for each person. Then say something interesting about each one. Compile great questions. Get the conversation started quickly with well-prepared questions. Start with broad questions to raise a conversation about current events. Next, move to stating the reasons the audience should care, and then ask specific questions to spur the panelists to share anecdotes, concrete examples and implementation ideas. Be willing to let go of your planned questions when an interesting discussion emerges. Select the Q&A format. You don’t need to save your question-and-answer session for the end. You can take audience questions as you go, or dedicate specific times to take them. Determine how you will entertain those questions: You can have audience members line up at the microphone and take “live” questions, or you can assign microphone “runners” to go to inquirers who have their hands raised. As moderator, you can also roam the audience to take questions. Another option is to “screen” queries and prioritize them in the moment using question cards or texting or tweeting (I love using sli.do for this). Another approach is to form small groups from the audience and ask each one to discuss ideas, and have a group representative present the best question. Arrive early. Meet briefly with each panelist and review the agenda and ground rules. Do a walk-through of the room. Check the microphones and your slideshow. Keep the conversation moving. If you have prepared the panelists appropriately, and you kick off the discussion with a few good questions, the conversation will start to flow on its own. Encourage each panelist to comment on particular parts of other panelists’ statements. Put a bow on it. Let the audience know the program is coming to an end by saying “We’re almost out of time. There are a few key things to wrap up.” Then, summarize the discussion (or have your panelists do it), and offer opportunities to extend the discussion beyond the session. Share each panelist’s contact information and promote their agenda (now is the time for each one to make one short plug for their company, product or service). Make final announcements and conclude with heartfelt words of thanks and a round of applause. Format.jpg) The typical format for a discussion panel includes a moderator in front of an audience.[12] Kristin Arnold, MBA, CPF, CSP thinks panels should be more inspired. She offers the following 10 Tips to Improve Panel Discussions. Television shows in the English-speaking world that feature a discussion panel format include Real Time with Bill Maher, Loose Women, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, as well as segments of the long-running Meet the Press.[13] Quiz shows featuring this format, such as QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, are called panel games. Stick with the traditional format and you’re likely to bore your audience. Instead, try these 10 tips to add more pizazz to your panel discussions.[14] 1 Set the stage. You can tell that a panel is going to be duller than dirt when you walk into the room and there’s a long draped table at the front and a lectern to the side. Yawn! Create a warmer, more intimate setting with comfortable chairs set in a shallow semicircle and a small table in front or to the side. Have a welcome sign at the door and post intriguing pictures, phrases and quotations on the walls. Play upbeat, popular, age-appropriate music. Show a continuously looping slideshow with panelist bios and interesting tidbits of information about the topic. 2 Engage beforehand. Why wait for the panel to start? Ask those registered for the event to submit questions and comments about the discussion topic through social media channels, a blog or a web-based survey. Then weave the comments and questions—as well as the names of the people submitting them, if appropriate—into the panel discussion. 3 Get them mingling. Rather than have the panelists huddle at the front, encourage them to mingle with the audience. Suggest that they ask audience members easy questions such as, “What brings you here today?” or “What’s your biggest challenge relating to this topic?” You, as a moderator, can ask the audience questions too. You’re establishing rapport with the audience and gathering valuable information you can incorporate into the discussion. 4 Start strong! Grab the attention of the audience with a video, poll, relevant fact, statistic, quotation or anecdote. After you review the agenda with the audience to give them an idea of how the program will unfold, keep the momentum going with an “opening salvo,” where you give each panelist an opportunity to launch an idea, position or challenge. The purpose is to frame the ensuing discussion, not deliver answers. Here are some ideas for those opening salvos:
5 Vary the format. Shake things up with an entertaining format. Take a cue from television talk shows. American talk-show host Phil Donahue used to walk through the audience and reflect the questions and conversation back to the guests (panelists) on the stage. Or you can tone it down to a chatty, conversational style, like the popular U.S. talk show The View. The possibilities are endless! Virtual Panel DiscussionsHere are a few tips to moderating a lively and informative virtual panel discussion:[15] 1 Prepare.Research the topic, the panelists, and the audience beforehand, and consult the meeting chair and planner to learn more about the event format and how much latitude you have to be creative. 2 Know your platform.Don’t expect to just “hop on” to whatever platform your meeting organizer has scheduled. Learn the platform capabilities—e.g., chat box or polling features—and figure out if you want to use them. If your audience is brand new to virtual panels/webinars, then keep it simple. Don’t try to use every feature available! 3 Select, invite, and confirm interesting panelists.If panelists have not yet been selected, round up DEEP people who can sufficiently address the topic. See "Moderating a Panel" section. 4 Craft great questions.Get the conversation started quickly with well-prepared questions. Start with broad questions to set the tone for the discussion. Next, move to stating the reasons the audience should care, and then ask specific questions to spur the panelists to share anecdotes, concrete examples, and implementation ideas. Be willing to let go of your planned questions when an interesting discussion emerges. (For more on preparing questions, see the sidebar on the right.) 5 Have a backup plan.Consider what could go wrong and try to prevent it from happening. Here’s my go-to backup plan for virtual panel discussions:
Fan conventionsPanels at sci-fi fan conventions, such as San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con, have become increasingly popular; there are typically long lines to get access to the panels.[16] The panels often feature advance looks at upcoming films and video games.[17] Panels and the early screenings at conventions have been credited as increasing the popularity of blockbuster films in recent years.[18] One of the earliest film panels was at the 1976 San Diego Comic-Con, when publicist Charles Lippincott hosted a slideshow—in front of a "somewhat skeptical" audience—for an upcoming film called Star Wars. Five years later, the Blade Runner panel at the 1981 San Diego Comic-Con featured a film featurette, before featurettes were popular. At the 2000 event, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring preview panel ushered in today's era of hugely popular panels.[19] Manels A manel is a panel whose participants are all men. The term is a portmanteau word deriving from the man and panel. The Oxford Dictionaries and Cambridge Dictionaries teams both published blog posts on the word in 2017, suggesting the term was new at that time.[20][21] In the second decade of the twenty-first century, such panels, in academia, the private sector, the media, government, and beyond, became the object of feminist critique and of extensive media discussion,[22][23][24] as well as academic research.[25][26] Commentators challenged conference organizers and speakers to refuse to present manels. Organisations responding included The Financial Times, whose board decided in August 2017 to end men-only conference panels, and encouraged its journalists not to participate in these elsewhere.[27] See alsoReferences
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