Most panel discussions hew to a traditional format. Haul three or four experts to the front of the room, add a moderator in the middle, and presto! Instant panel.
That tried and true style can work. But it is important to realize that you do have choices when organizing such a discussion, for the structure of a panel can take many shapes. For instance, I attended a recent event at which audience questions were taken only in writing and not from the floor. Here are some considerations if you should decide to take that route:
- If you are dealing with a contentious issue or a hostile audience, taking questions only in writing allows the moderator to blunt some of the hard edges. It also allows her to avoid certain powder keg issues.
- Use this technique only with larger groups. If the audience is small, taking questions in writing amounts to overkill.
- Advise your panelists in advance that you do not plan to accept questions from the floor.
- It is the moderator's job to make clear at the very beginning that only written questions will be accepted. Otherwise audience members might feel cheated or overlooked.
- Make sure you have an abundance of question cards and that they are distributed throughout the room. People who cannot find one but want to ask a burning question will prove distracting as they whisper to seatmates and shuffle about trying to locate one of the prized cards.
As with any decision about the format of your public speaking ventures, it is important to think through the optimal format any time you organize a panel discussion.
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