After you have moderated panel discussions for a while, you realize it is simply a matter of time before some “incident” will occur in the middle of your panel discussion.

Everyone knows that S#!T happens – some of which you have control over (your attitude, the structure and format, your questions), and some simply you do not control (stage or technology malfunctions, external disruptions, or acts of God!)

Meeting Planners International (MPI) has done the work to identify potential issues that could happen in a meeting in their Emergency Action Plan. I don’t think you have to go overboard in your planning, you can put a little thought into how you would respond if such an incident occurred.

Just because your panel discussion is over doesn't mean you can't continue the conversation! Events and media consultant Julius Solaris reminded me how important it is to repurpose your panel discussion content.

As I coach panelists to prepare for an upcoming panel discussion, there are a dozen common misconceptions about panel discussions that I think we need to clarify. To ensure a successful panel discussion, panelists should be aware of these misconceptions and actively work to avoid them. Effective communication, collaboration, and preparation are key to making panel discussions lively and informative.