Picture this: You’ve been asked to speak on an industry Q&A panel, sitting alongside several other experts that you haven’t met before. What seemed like a distant commitment is now around the corner, and anxiety is starting to creep in. You find yourself lost in how to prepare.
You’re not alone… so many of us sweat bullets heading into a presentation. Discussion panels are a different form of public speaking that require you to think on your feet and improvise responses to a diverse array of questions.
In this article, we’ll look at several practical preparation tips and engagement techniques to shine with confidence, authority and a dash of charm on stage.
Connect with the moderator and other speakers
A good event moderator often arranges an introduction call before the event. This is your chance to acquaint yourself with fellow panellists and brainstorm approaches to the discussion topic. So don’t miss this call! Your input assists in shaping the panel’s direction, making for a more cohesive and engaging session. If not offered, proactively suggest an intro call with everyone involved. It will make for a much better panel on the day!
Strategise your key points
Thoroughly research the discussion topic and gather examples from your industry and organisation. Remember, this is an opportunity for the brand that you represent, so you want to be able to portray it in a positive light. Lean on other team members you might be able to lend insights on the brand’s approach to the topic, so that you can use this as content during the session. Anticipate challenging questions and have some smart responses up your sleeve so you don’t get caught off guard.
Get ready to improvise
Thinking on your feet is your super power here. Keep this simple three-part formula in mind for your responses:
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Problem
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Solution
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Call to Action
Basically you address the issue, offer a solution and then challenge people to get on board.
For example, in answer to a question on how to stop working mothers leaving the workforce:
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Problem – “You are right. This is a big problem and women are so valuable to the workforce. Women need more support and flexibility in their roles”
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Solution – “Retaining working mums is something we as a business are getting better at over time, by offering flexibility in hours, job shares and XYZ”
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Call to Action – But more needs to be done in the industry, and it’s going to require more employees to speak out and challenge their workplaces to modernise their policies and make them more inclusive.
You can respond to almost any question with this format. For example:
Come armed with real life stories
We cannot stress enough how valuable real life examples are to reinforce a point that you are trying to make and win over the audience. Particularly as a leader, if you can share stories of team members or customers, it shows that you aren’t just in your ivory tower making decisions, but that you are tuned in and relatable.
Rehearse your key points and stories
Practice delivering your likely responses. This will help you sound smooth and confident when it’s go time. The more you familiarise yourself with the content, the more natural it should feel on stage.
Speak loud and clear
Speak slowly and enunciate your words so that people can follow along. You may need to speak up, even with a microphone, so the people at the back of the room can hear you. Skip the mumbling and rapid-fire talking – it can confuse and lose people. Recording yourself can help you fine tune your speaking style.
Believe in yourself
Don’t compare yourself to others on the panel. You’re there because you know your stuff! Your unique perspective matters and is valuable to the audience. So use some positive self talk beforehand and back yourself. A panel isn’t a competition; just be the best version of yourself.
Dive into the conversation
Don’t be a wallflower waiting your turn on a panel discussion. Engaging debates and different opinions make for a lively panel. So when someone’s taking a breather seize the moment to share to share your views.
Stay back and chat to the audience
The conversation shouldn’t end when you step off the stage. Hang around, chat with the audience and answer their questions. It’s a great chance to get some insights and see what resonated most from the discussion.
See these panels as a training ground. The confidence you gain from theses public speaking opportunities will spill over when the stakes are higher. Be sure to share your experience on the panel on your LinkedIn and with your colleagues. Your brand will love you for it, and it might just open doors to bigger leadership roles down the track. Because good speakers are perceived as strong leaders.
