Handling aggressive behaviors or inappropriate questions during high-tension panel discussions requires a blend of pre-planning, clear guidelines, respectful interventions, and strategic redirection. By adopting these techniques from seasoned moderators and experts, you can maintain a professional and positive atmosphere, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.

Use this "litmus test" for speakers, moderators, and panelists to determine if they are truly inclusive and focused on the audience. 

It happens ALL THE TIME - the dreaded front-row buffer zone.

As your attendees walk into the meeting room, they settle somewhere in the middle, back rows, or even the ends of the rows of chairs.

NO ONE typically sits in the front row..which is a problem.

Here's why it's a problem, and how to fix it.

Unfortunately, this scenario can happen to a panel moderator: You ask a probing or challenging question to a panelist and .... they got nothin'. They stare at you like a deer in the headlights.

What do you do when a panelist cannot answer your question? Actually, you have several options.

The ideal duration of a panel discussion can vary depending on the goals for the event, the panel in particular, the number of panelists, and the audience's expectations.  When deciding on the duration of your next panel discussion consider these factors.

Professional panel moderator Kristin Arnold interviews CPAE Speaker Hall of Famer Joe Calloway on brilliant techniques to insert a panel discussion within a speech.

I have always shied away from using little-known facts and statistics during a panel discussion because it just takes more time to prepare. But these days, all it takes is a query into an AI engine such as ChatGPT. So why not dazzle your audience with some facts that they wouldn't otherwise know?

One of your panelists is missing. The panel is about to start and either they never showed up to the venue or they are now missing in action (MIA). It's easy to freak out. What are you going to do?

I was recently asked what to do when a panelist's opening comment is a volatile hypothesis - that they hadn't talked about during the planning session.

Other than being surprised, here are some ways to respond to this verbal grenade to maintain control of the conversation and ensure it remains constructive and on track.

Having a standing-room-only crowd for your panel discussion is fabulous - especially if you manage it appropriately! Here is what you will need to keep in mind.