Skill Series: How to Moderate a Panel

1.  Contact Panelists Ahead of Time. 

Usually the event organizer will share the contact information of the other panelists.  It is your responsibility to contact panelists, introduce yourself, and suggest a flow for the panel.  This includes timing for the speakers and a delineation of who will discuss which specific aspects of the topic.  You might need to suggest a way to organize the discussion.  One first-time moderator at an event a few years ago was nervous and went straight to Q & A without allowing panelists to speak.  It was awkward for everyone involved.

You need to know about the panelists and enough about the topic in order to intelligently answer questions or refer the question a specific panelist.  Be sure to read the other panelists’ most recent work in advance.

Do not read the biography directly from the website!  Excellent moderators take the time to prepare introductions that make a connection to the audience and focus on 2-3 key facts about the panelist that are relevant to the discussion.  Try to find a personal connection or other small item that will make the introductions even better.  For example, does the panelist have an interesting hobby worth mentioning?  You should also ask the panelists what they want to be highlighted and verify the information.  One time a moderator used an outdated biography and it was embarrassing when the speaker said he was no longer employed where the moderator said.  Another time, the moderator was reading a long bio verbatim and the panelist interrupted to say “no one cares where I went to high school!”

Discuss the time limitations with panelists in advance and have a system to notify them when their time is almost (1 minute left) and completely expired.  It will be less awkward if you make clear in advance that they only have a certain amount of time to speak.  It is your job to enforce this and unfair to other panelists when one person speaks for an inordinate amount of time.

There is usually an awkward silence at the end of the panel while people approach the Q & A microphone or think of their questions.  You need to have an interesting and relevant question to kick off the discussion.  However, do not ask several questions without taking audience questions.