Why I *didn't* call my book 'Moderator Magic'

Panel discussions are often dreadful. Maybe that's why everyone involved--the organizer, the speakers, the audience members and even the moderator--finds themselves praying for magic to occur. What’s worse, no one really ever teaches you to be a moderator.

And yet, in this sought-after scenario, the moderator is the magician. Organizers hope your reputation will magically draw more paying attendees, and that you'll be able to keep in line the talkative audience members and the long-winded speakers they felt compelled to book.

Speakers think you can magically stretch the schedule to let them speak as long as they like, or that you'll make the audience and its pesky questions disappear. Other speakers, whose time has been chewed up by fellow panelists, hope you'll pull a solution out of your hat that lets them recover their original amount of time. Audience members trying to get in a question wish you could read their minds, interpret their quirky facial expressions, and notice their imperceptible hand movements, so you'll understand why you must call on them—even when time has run out.

Everyone involved secretly hopes that you'll surprise them with the ultimate magic trick: A panel discussion or conference that starts and ends on time and includes sparkling discussion and debate, engaged audience questions and plenty of time to complete satisfaction surveys.

If you've moderated panels, or just watched others do it, you can sense that desire for magic from moderators. Everyone wants the magician, the wizard, the sorcerer who effortlessly conducts, commands, and charms the speakers, the audience, and the clock. It only adds to the pressure moderators feel, unless they know how to prepare.

The yearning for magic from moderators is so great that I nearly called this book Moderator Magic. But that would be over-promising. The truth is that good moderating doesn’t involve magic at all, and you’ll only be disappointed if that’s what you’re hoping will happen.

That's why the title for my book is now The Eloquent Woman's Guide to Moderating Panels. The publisher has sent the first check for initial sales of the book, and clients and colleagues are letting me know they are among the purchasers. And the book has had another great review on Amazon.com. A.Davis called it a "quick, informative read," and said:

Since I'm going to be moderating a panel soon and this was a short book, I decided to give it a read. I really appreciated the pre-panel advice on what to ask the organizers and panelists, as well as the tips to keeping the conversation moving. It's well worth the money.

That's exactly how I hope moderators will use the book: As a simple, quick way to prepare in advance, and to manage the conversation as it's happening. No magic, just preparation and some moderator muscle.

(Creative Commons licensed photo by the U.S. Department of Education)

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.

A journalist asks: Should we reconsider moderating panels?

In the wake of revelations that ABC News anchor George Stephanopolous didn't disclose his contributions to the Clinton Foundation--a conflict of interest with his political coverage--New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof asked a different question on his Facebook page that got a lot of comments: Should
journalists continue to moderate panels, particularly when the organization has some tie to a politician?

Kristof clarified in response to one comment that the moderator roles he was referring to are unpaid for journalists. But you'll see a wide range of comments, questions, and perspectives in the comments about moderators and moderation of panels, all useful to conference organizers, moderators, and panel speakers, about such topics as whether the moderator appears to represent the organization putting the panel on, and how moderators are selected. Scroll through the comments and get some perspective on this critical public-speaking role.

(Creative Commons licensed photo of Kristof moderating a panel by the UK Department of International Development)

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.

Toward better panel introductions

Introducing the speakers is a major part of the moderator’s role. Smart introductions prepare the audience to listen, bring it to attention, and set the tone for the panel to come. I can't tell you how often, as a speaker, I've had the person introducing me say, "Oh, I forgot to bring your bio, so I'll just say your name--how do you pronounce that again?--and then you just launch into it," or listened to them read my credentials, all of them, without looking up once. Here are do's and don'ts for good speaker introductions:

• Don't put them together at the last minute: Avoid crafting an impromptu introduction. You'll do better by your speakers if you take the time to jot down thoughts a few weeks ahead, revisiting them before you get to the event, and again just before you speak.
• Do ask the speakers for input: I advise speakers to take charge of their own introductions, including having a suite of intros suitable for many occasions. But in case your speakers don't, and even if they do, find out more about her personal experience with the topic, what she'd like to emphasize, what's especially interesting to her about this group, or other details you can use to make the intro meatier. And yes, ask her how to pronounce her name.
• Don't read the introduction: Reading an introduction is no better than reading a speech--and belies your lack of preparation. Remember: Audience interest is highest at the start of any talk, and you are the start of this one. So reward your audience by looking at it, and by delivering an engaging, lively introduction that packs a punch.
• Do add some perspective of your own: When you're standing up front to introduce a speaker, you're in effect building a chance to connect the audience with the speaker. So put yourself in that equation. Just this week, a lovely introduction of one of my speeches noted one of my awards--and the introducer added that a good friend of hers was the current holder of that prize, so she knew just what accomplishments it reflected. That kind of line holds an audience's attention precisely because it's not read off the sheet, and no one else can share it but you. Makes the speaker feel great, too.
• Don't steal the speaker's best content: If you've done your preparation correctly, you'll know a lot of what the speakers will be saying. Don't borrow a speaker’s content for the introduction and steal her thunder. Don't tell the audience what her conclusions are or her position on an issue. Instead, focus on context-setting and expertise.
• Don't skimp: Saying someone needs no introduction is a cop-out and lazy. Set the stage. Share some context. Tell a brief story. Even the most familiar or famous speaker deserves some words to warm the audience to the task at hand....and if you skimp on an introduction, you're just missing your own opportunity to show your speaking skills.

(Creative Commons licensed photo by IFPRI Images)

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.