Tuesday, June 30, 2015

6 smart ways for moderators to interrupt speakers

Blogging on Scientopia recently, pediatric nephrologist Pascale Lane gave a glowing review of The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels, and noted "One delightful section presents smart ways to interrupt speakers, primarily so you can shut them up and stay on time, for the win."

Call it the elephant in the room where the panel is being held: Moderators need, sometimes, to interrupt speakers. No one talks about it much. Speakers dread it at some level, or at least anticipate it. And moderators, for their part, often act as if they shouldn't interrupt, even when it's clear that they need to do so. They waggle a hand below the table or behind the lectern, stare at the offending panelist, and will them, silently, to stop. Hardly surprising, is it, that these tactics aren't effective?

Instead, my book offers six smart ways for moderators to interrupt speakers. There's more detail on each of these tactics in the book:
  1. Use their names, as in "George, I hate to do this, but we need to move on." It's specific, and will get the offending speaker's attention like nothing else.
  2. Speak in "I" statements, to avoid sounding accusatory. I give you several ways to wield the vertical pronoun effectively in the book.
  3. Put a hand up, as a visual "stop" sign that all can see.
  4. Pretend to ask permission to neutralize the negative, by starting with something like "Let me ask you to stop right there."
  5. React with a question to interrupt the flow, hear the answer, then respond by drawing the speaker's time to a close.
  6. Get the audience in on the act by inviting a show of hands, discussion, or affirmation. 
Most of all, keep in mind that the audience and the organizers want you to keep the speakers on time--that's the moderator's main job. Don't hesitate to do it!

(Creative Commons licensed photo by Cory Doctorow)

Need more coaching on how to be a better panel moderator? Order the new ebook The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels. At just $3.99 and available in many formats, it's a great back-pocket coach to take on stage with you in your smartphone or tablet. Find more tips on public speaking on The Eloquent Woman blog.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

How to moderate panels to delight & surprise your audience

A great panel shouldn't be so surprising. But because so many speakers and organizers fail to prepare for delighting the audience, the truly delightful panels are few and far between. Far more common are panels that use up the listeners' goodwill and then some. Fortunately, planning a great panel and pulling it off is well within reach--just four basic factors will get you there, with the bonus that its rarity means yours will be a real standout. Here's how:
  1. Ban the bio-reading:  Use creative tactics for introducing your speakers, and forbid the reading of bios. Read Toward better panel introductions to guide you.
  2. Watch the clock: By that, I mean start and end on time. Don't say to speakers, "Just take 5 to 10 minutes." Is it 5 or is it 10? That can mean the difference between an on-time performance and an over-long panel. While you're at it, make sure that, as moderator, you don't let one speaker run on, leaving the others to rush through their remarks...or go overtime. State out loud your expectation to start and end on time, and ask the speakers in front of the audience to help you do that.
  3. Prefer the audience's speaking time: Audience members will always ask the best questions and the questions you couldn't possibly anticipate--and no mistake, the audience came to play. So make sure to give them time to speak and ask questions. Want to really delight them? Let audience questions open the session.
  4. Focus and limit: Inviting too many speakers is the surest way to disappoint your audience, since it means neither speakers nor listeners will have enough time. Got too many great folks? Figure out how to make two panels, do part 1 and part 2 panels, or just get choosy. Yes, you can. While you're at it, consider omitting slides entirely--another great way to focus and limit a panel.
Need more coaching on how to be a better panel moderator? Order the new ebook The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels. At just $3.99 and available in many formats, it's a great back-pocket coach to take on stage with you in your smartphone or tablet. Find more tips on public speaking on The Eloquent Woman blog.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Moderators: Is that the way you look? Optics for panels

When I'm training a team presentation, a set of panelists, or just an individual speaker who's going to be on a panel, I use a time-honored training tactic. While one person is at the lectern speaking and the rest of the panel is waiting to speak, I train the video camera not on the person speaking, but on the waiting panelists and moderator.

For this exercise, no one actually gets to see herself speaking--just waiting to speak. And those silent behaviors of panelists speak volumes. Eyes roll at the statements with which they disagree, or they make faces at the audience. We see only the tops of their heads (and sometimes, their bald spots) while they surreptitiously check email or tweet. Yawns, doodling, hair-twirling, finger-tapping, and bored consideration of the ceiling and its delights all happen.

Here's the thing to keep in mind: You may not think you're "on" until you are speaking, but if you're not paying attention to how you look while you're waiting to speak, you're giving the audience an unintended preview. It's one more reason to embrace video practice (and my list of what to look for when you're recorded as a speaker).  But to help you really improve, here are my suggestions for the panelists-in-waiting:
  • Use active listening: Turn your attention to the person speaking, visibly. You can look away to pen a note to yourself, but focus on that speaker--that way, your eyes aren't sending other messages to the audience. Practically speaking, it means you can better inform your own remarks. From an optics viewpoint, you'll look attentive and respectful. Far better than rolling your eyes or drumming your fingers. Want to scan the audience? Smile while you do so.
  • Breathe and relax:  You're not speaking, but you can use this time to breathe (inhale and exhale through your nose to make this less visible). You'll lower your tension level, stay calm and feel better prepared once your turn comes up.
  • Control your hands: You can lean forward slightly on your elbows and lace your fingers together to keep them under control, if you have fidgety fingers (and practice that breathing). Be sure you aren't inadvertently gesturing or moving--it will be distracting to the audience.
  • Consider the table, or lack thereof: Skirted tables for panels were created precisely because panelists also fidget from the waist down. Be sure to notice, however, whether you have any screen between you and the audience. If not--perhaps when the entire panel is seated in chairs--cross your legs or otherwise position them comfortably and correctly. Remember that pointing a shoe at the audience is as offensive as pointing a finger in many cultures.
All that goes double for the moderator, the person on the panel who will spend most of her time in listening and waiting mode. Are you ready for the inadvertent spotlight?

Need more coaching on how to be a better panel moderator? Order the new ebook The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels. At just $3.99 and available in many formats, it's a great back-pocket coach to take on stage with you in your smartphone or tablet. Find more tips on public speaking on The Eloquent Woman blog.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Using panels and moderation as stepping stones to larger speaking gigs

Not ready for a keynote speech, big presentation, commencement address? Finding it hard to get booked for a speech or get on the program at a conference? No worries. If you're not ready for a prime-time slot as a speaker, but still want to get some practice, try these smaller stepping stones on your path toward public speaking. Serving as a panelist and moderating a panel are among them:
  • Ask a question when someone else is speaking. As an audience member asking a question, you have the goal of getting the speaker to speak more, rather than yourself. You can plan your question ahead of time, whether that's hours before or while the speaker's talk is happening. Stand up, ask it, sit down and listen. Easiest speaking role ever, but also a good way to stand out--albeit briefly--at a major presentation without having to give the talk yourself.
  • Offer to be master of ceremonies or event chair: Unless you're Ellen DeGeneres hosting a major awards show, this tends to be the most scripted and brief role at an event. You'll open and welcome the group, make any housekeeping announcements, introduce presenters or speakers, thank them when they're done, perhaps note there's just time for one more question. This role offers great visibility without requiring a long talk, and you'll be thanked roundly if you limit your remarks and keep the trains running on time.
  • Step up to moderating a panel: Does this sound similar to emcee or event chair? Not really. For one thing, moderators often are treated as one of the panel and remain up front during the panelists' presentations, so this role may be a more visible practice opportunity. Moderators often are chosen for their own depth of knowledge on a topic, as well as the ability to make those speakers stay on time. Take it a bit further to show your expertise by weaving in your own observations--but do so only briefly--when making a transition from one panelist to the next. "Joe has just shared with us the first steps you take in this process, and in my experience, those are formidable. Now I'd like to ask Ann to take us to the next level: How can you excel at these tasks and advance your career?" Also remember that moderators lead the question and answer session, so you can practice moving your eye contact around the room to call on people in all areas of the space. You also can take the moderator's prerogative to sum up several identical questions, pose a question to the audience to take some heat off the panelists, or simply guide the discussion.
  • Be a panelist: Think of being a panelist as a shared-speaker role: You're only responsible for one-third (or less) of the talking. This takes extra preparation, and you should ask your moderator to organize a planning call with the other speakers, or at least a clear idea of the role she wants you to play. Panelists always wind up with Q&A sessions, and you should practice joining in an answer, or leaving others to the other panelists--there's no need for everyone on the podium to respond.
Use any of these stepping stones to get more comfortable--and noticed--as a speaker. Using moderation of panels to get started in your speaking was part of my recent Twitter chat with the Association for Women in Communications. Check out the discussion and tips!

Need more coaching on how to be a better panel moderator? Order the new ebook The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels. At just $3.99 and available in many formats, it's a great back-pocket coach to take on stage with you in your smartphone or tablet. Find more tips on public speaking on The Eloquent Woman blog.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Moderating panels gets a look in AWC's Twitter chat (#AWCchat)

Last week, I guest-hosted a Twitter chat with the Association for Women in Communications, and moderating panels was our first topic of discussion. From leaving out slides entirely (keeps panels on time and into discussion) to getting started as a moderator, this was a lively start to the chat, which covered all sorts of public speaking topics.

AWC collected the chat in Nurph, which plays each tweet out in the order in which it appeared. Click on the link below, then click the speed-it-up button to load the chat faster.

Among the tweets, you'll find links and resources to help advance your public speaking career.

#AWCchat Replay

(Creative Commons licensed photo by tylerhoff)

Need more coaching on how to be a better panel moderator? Order the new ebook The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels. At just $3.99 and available in many formats, it's a great back-pocket coach to take on stage with you in your smartphone or tablet. Find more tips on public speaking on The Eloquent Woman blog.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Juggling organizer, speaker, & audience wishes: Moderators' challenge

I suspect many people hesitate to moderate panels in part because they sense the juggling act they'll have to do with competing expectations. The moderator stands between the organizers and the speakers, and between the speakers and the audience. They all must want something from you....but what?

Here are some of the roles, views, and motivations of people involved in panel discussions, all of which a good moderator may need to juggle:
  • The organizer wants to meet the content and timing promises made to and paid for by the audience, and to share compelling content on timely issues. But organizers also may view speaker slots as rewards, and fail to pay attention to what can be realistically accomplished in the time allotted. 
  • The speakers want to feel as if their preparations will pay off in time and attention and audience, and that their work will be highlighted to advantage. They want to maximize their time and feel their time to speak is fair, compared to the other speakers. Speakers don't want a moderator who is the enemy, though some approach moderators with that in mind. 
  • The audience wants the chance to hear a lively, thought-provoking discussion and get in a question or three. Audiences can get frustrated when moderators pander to speakers without questioning them, fail to produce a good debate or discussion, let the speakers drone on too long, or fail to let the audience contribute the tough second question or follow-up challenge to what’s just been said. They also dislike moderators who are overly self-promoting or who hog the microphone.
I think it's important to evaluate invitations to moderate panels with these expectations in mind. They also can shape your preparation: After all, if you sense that audiences will get frustrated without time for questions, you can plan for that when you're working with the speakers. Find more ideas in my ebook at the link below.

(Creative Commons licensed photo from the World Bank photo collection)

Need more coaching on how to be a better panel moderator? Order the new ebook The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels. At just $3.99 and available in many formats, it's a great back-pocket coach to take on stage with you in your smartphone or tablet. Find more tips on public speaking on The Eloquent Woman blog.