In the recently released 2024 Panel Report, we asked about panel discussion pet peeves - and the number one pet peeve should not come as a surprise.

As a panel moderator, your words carry a lot of weight. The audience is looking to you to set the tone, guide the discussion, and keep things engaging. But sometimes, even the best-intentioned moderators slip up and say things that can derail the panel.

Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the top things moderators should NEVER say and what to say instead.

Serving as a panelist is a fantastic way to share your expertise, engage with your industry, and build your visibility. To get there, you’ll need a combination of strategic positioning and proactive networking. Here are some general ideas about how to increase your chances as well as some specifics for the questioner, so you can see how you can implement these ideas!

The 2024 Panel Report shows that while 70% of organizers say they collect feedback, 60% admit it rarely influences their panel design - if at all. Why does this happen? Why ask if you’re not going to act on it? here are some of the top reasons for this feedback-action gap - and a few ideas to turn it around.

Panel moderators should ask themselves, "Will anything the panelists prepare make the audience gasp with delight that they didn't know it, surprise that it provided a new insight, or even astonishment that they had not expected or seen it before?"  Here is the G.A.S.P. acronym to help you prepare to make your audience GASP.

Concluding or summarizing a panel discussion creatively or artistically can leave a lasting impression on the audience. Here are some engaging ideas.

The 2024 Panel Report reinforces the notion that audiences demand more engagement and interaction. Panels are no longer a passive "lean back and listen" format. Here's what you need to know to get your audience to lean forward and engage.

Don’t get me wrong; a compelling title is crucial. It grabs attention and draws in the audience. However, it’s important that the content lives up to the expectations set by that title. Otherwise, you risk leaving your audience feeling shortchanged or misled.

Events producer and "Chief Solutions Officer" Tim Woodring shares behind-the-scenes info on how he generates and catalyzes ideas with corporate clients to produce powerful panels. As co-sponsor of the 2024 panel report with Unbridled, he discusses how anyone, any panelist, any moderator, can influence a panel to improve.

Meetings and events professional Brian Walter shares how to make panel discussions memorable, brilliant, and buzzworthy! He's talking about strategic questions that help panelists divulge the behind-the-scenes details everyone wants to hear.