I am currently a public relations intern at Communiqué PR, working toward a BA in marketing and management at Seattle University (SU). In addition to school and work, I am nurturing leadership opportunities by running for executive positions, making connections with professors and community leaders, and taking full advantage of public speaking and panel opportunities. Various conferences and retreats have provided me firsthand panel experience, so I can learn from other experts and share my insights on professional opportunities, Filipinx empowerment, and workplace diversity and inclusion practices from a POC perspective.
Participating in a panel is a positive opportunity for people who have not had the chance to speak in front of large groups. While I am still early in my career, I have spoken at several events and panels. Below are some tips and best practices for you to consider for your next panel opportunity.
- Prepare your speaking points as if you are creating a TEDx talk. Although panelists aren’t responsible for the entire presentation, the audience will benefit the most from their engaging content, including thoughtful anecdotes or stories to which audiences can relate, positive tone toward the subject, interacting with other panelists’ or audience’s input, and more.
Another best practice is to avoid winging your speech or messaging points at the risk of sounding unprepared and letting down fellow panelists. Audiences can often tell a panelist is unprepared if they hear filler words such as “oh” or “um,” long pauses, or incomplete thoughts. When preparing for a panel, it’s better to prepare by rehearsing your points a few times in front of a mirror or with peers or family members. Rehearsal is essential for preparedness, so it’s helpful to think through a compelling opening and closing statement, bring personal anecdotes to spark discussion, and write down the main points you want the audience to take away from your speech. - Connect with your co-panelists and panel moderator before the event. Often, if schedules allow, moderators will convene the co-panelists before a presentation to connect and prepare to help ensure that the group’s points don’t repeat, overlap, or slow down the proceedings. These meetings also allow panelists to learn from one another, sharpen each other’s speaking points, and hopefully help foster long-lasting professional relationships.
Panel moderators play a valuable role because they bridge the panelists to the audience. Therefore, building a connection between the panelists and the moderator is vital because it fosters a productive and familiar space where individuals feel comfortable sharing ideas. - Keep the energy high throughout the panel. The success of a forum stems from the compelling energy moderators and panelists generate. An energetic and engaging speaker actively supports and listens to their co-panelists, is conscious of posture, projects when speaking, reacts, and builds onto the panelists’ and moderator’s points.
If you serve as a panel moderator, you help set the tone and energy level for the discussion. Best practices for the moderator include creating questions specific to your seminar and making the dialogue unique, lively, and helpful for your audience. An effective moderator can carry positive energy for the whole event, facilitating exciting back-and-forth, supporting healthy and respectful debate, and checking back with the audience to maintain crowd engagement.
These seemingly small details can make the difference between an average panelist and a transformational speaker; one who inspires humble leadership, is conscious of their co-speakers, doesn’t dominate the conversation and strives to connect their experiences to the audience and facilitate panelists empathy.
Pursuing and taking advantage of speaking opportunities can dramatically improve your public speaking skills, help make new connections, and aid in learning how to foster an engaging environment. My panel sessions have provided me with confidence, insight, and growth that I will take into my post-grad and future endeavors.