Council Post: Speaking On A Panel? Keep These 15 Important Things In Mind

Speaking at a panel, whether remotely or in person, is a great opportunity to share your knowledge with others in your industry, while positioning yourself as a leader. If you’ve been selected to speak at a panel, there are several important things to keep in mind, both before and during the event.

As successful industry leaders, many members of Forbes Business Council have extensive experience in public speaking engagements, including panel presentations. Below, they share 15 important things to remember when presenting or preparing.

Photos courtesy of the individual members

1. It’s Not About You

One of the biggest mistakes when speaking in a panel is to unwilling to keep speaking about yourself instead of the things that are of most interest to the audience. It’s is important to not lose sight of the topic people are there to listen about. Make sure your contributions are aligned with what the moderator is requesting and promote a conversational flow with the other panelists. – Jose Ruiz, Alder Koten

2. You Need To Provide Valuable Content

What is important when either speaking at a panel during the event or in preparation ahead of time is knowing and choosing the right content for the target audience. In public speaking, you always want to provide valuable content where the audience can take away something from your topic, whether it’s inspiration or content that could be applied to their business. – Lorenzo Escobal, Inception Automotive Inc.

3. Authenticity Speaks Volumes

When speaking in front of a panel, remember that the answers you give are not about impressing people or keeping up with what everyone else says. What will come across is your genuine desire to help, add value and make an impact. Be yourself through and through, and think about what message you would like to convey. – Brian Chew, OC Wills and Trust Attorneys

4. Bring New Insights And Knowledge

If we are honest, many panel discussions reveal very little new novel information nor penetrating insights. To avoid hackneyed responses, do your research on the panel topic, the audience and the objectives of the panel discussion. Be prepared to bring new insights and knowledge that will add significant value to the panel. Don’t be average. Stand out! – Scott Amyx, Amyx Ventures

5. Don’t Be Repetitive

One of the most useful tips I’ve ever received about panel presentations is to avoid the urge to repeat what the person before you said. No one in the audience needs to hear, “I agree with Pete,” and proceed to state what Pete said but in your own words. Rather, try to find a different angle for the question or just say, “I think this question has been answered really well so far. Let’s move on.” – Melissa Pepper, Total Solutions Inc.

6. Determine What Makes Your Contribution Relevant And Unique

Panel participation gives us opportunities to share our expertise in tandem with other industry leaders. Knowing in advance something about the other panelists helps us to contribute in a more distinct and valuable manner. The audience expects to benefit from hearing various points of view on topics discussed so differentiate the content and tenor of your soundbites from your fellow panelists. – Denise Caron-Quinn, In Order to Succeed®

7. Remember, You’re Giving Your Audience A Gift

Many speakers use the opportunity to talk about themselves rather than explaining a concept. A public speech is interesting when you can learn something from it and when it opens your mind to something new. Public speaking is about giving to the audience, not taking from it. – Sergio Mannino, Sergio Mannino Studio

8. Be Honest And Vulnerable

The best panels, the best speeches, the best conferences are rooted in people sharing authentic experiences, bringing vulnerability in the form of admitting when things went wrong and the mistakes they made and being completely honest when one is over one’s head. Listeners sniff out when someone is self-promoting or not revealing the whole truth. Be yourself and believe others can learn from it. – Lisa Bradner, Yieldmo

9. Research Your Other Panel Members

The best panels I’ve attended are ones where the information across panelists is complimentary. It improves the whole flow of the presentation. It is good to know the specialty of each panelist so that you can actively contribute to the panel and keep the flow of conversation. It makes everyone on the panel look better and you’re also more likely to be invited back. – Ronjini Joshua, The Silver Telegram

10. Be Prepared And Relatable

In anticipation of speaking on a panel, it is important to be prepared and always be relatable. I like to engage with people and create a sense of curiosity. I always want to be a leader, and most importantly a mentor, when speaking to many different individuals. It is important that people leave feeling they have learned and have felt inspired and motivated. – Susan Levine, Career Group Companies

11. Listen And Be Present

I can’t say enough how important it is to simply listen to the questions and other panelists and go with the flow. So many times we are so focused on what we have prepared to say and miss the opportunity to add a lot more value to the conversation. Listening and being present means stop thinking about what to say, how to say it or what is the “right” answer. Listen intensely without filtering. – Cyrus Hadavi, Adexa Inc.

12. Know Your Audience And What They Want

As a speaker at various conferences, I make sure that I study the overall theme of the conference as well as other participants’ backgrounds. Your topic should resonate with the panel audience which will further engage them with your business mission. Focus on your participation’s objective, and schedule meetings with other participants in advance. Remember to follow up. – Syed Gilani, Safr Technologies Inc.

13. Promote Knowledge, Not Self

When speaking at a panel for business, you must remember the audience is not there to hear about your business acumen. Panelists are often tempted to share their success in a public forum, but self-promotion is poison in that kind of setting. Instead, focus on what you have learned and express it in terms of general advice, versus “this is what I have done.” Share knowledge, not braggadocio. – Rhett Kniep, Centurion 7 Business Advisors

14. Speak From Your Center

Your center is your position of neutrality. It gives you the ability to speak with a listening mind. When you do that, it enables you to get unstuck with your own point of view and listen to other panelists actively. By have an open and calm mind, you come to the same place as the other speakers and can provide a more compelling perspective. – Seema Kalra, The Right Thing

15. Help Yourself By Helping Others

When participating on a panel, remember that the people you are speaking to are there to better themselves. It is not a format for self-promotion or grandstanding. Share your knowledge about the issues confronting the audience; this is not a place to promote yourself or your business. By being on the panel you are being looked at as an expert, so the self-promotion is organic and more respected. – Gino Santos, AMN Distributors




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