Marketing & PR Firms - How to Be an Effective Panelist
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Serving on a panel is a great way to establish yourself in your profession or area of specialty. If you make a presentation at a prestigious panel, you will be noticed by people who may not have known of you before. However, this will only work to your favor if the presentation you make is a good one. To be an effective panelist, you need to prepare ahead of time, and get to know the people you'll be sharing the stage with.
1
Prepare notes to guide your talk at the panel. Prepare a series of points that you want to mention yourself. Prepare a separate series of points that other panelists could bring up, and how you plan to address them. For example, if you're an anti-pharmaceutical activist, and you know that one of the panelists will be a pharmaceutical lobbyist, prepare a series of counterpoints to common pharmaceutical-lobby talking points.
2
Use statistics in your talking points. Start your discussion by citing a statistic that supports your argument. Obtain these statistics from credible sources.
3
Acknowledge other panelists. Nod at them as they speak, and ask them questions about the points they raise. If they ask you questions, volunteer answers.
4
Practice speaking clearly. Speak directly into the microphone; don't have your mouth farther than an inch from the mic. Use body language that complements your speech. Speak with your palms open when you make points, but keep your hands by your side when you listen to others talk.
5
Provide reading material for the panel attendees. If you have an academic article, print several dozen copies and put them on the display table in the lobby. If you have brochures, put them on display as well, or hand them out personally when you engage people after the panel discussion.
Tags:
Marketing, Marketing amp; PR Firms
1
Prepare notes to guide your talk at the panel. Prepare a series of points that you want to mention yourself. Prepare a separate series of points that other panelists could bring up, and how you plan to address them. For example, if you're an anti-pharmaceutical activist, and you know that one of the panelists will be a pharmaceutical lobbyist, prepare a series of counterpoints to common pharmaceutical-lobby talking points.
2
Use statistics in your talking points. Start your discussion by citing a statistic that supports your argument. Obtain these statistics from credible sources.
3
Acknowledge other panelists. Nod at them as they speak, and ask them questions about the points they raise. If they ask you questions, volunteer answers.
4
Practice speaking clearly. Speak directly into the microphone; don't have your mouth farther than an inch from the mic. Use body language that complements your speech. Speak with your palms open when you make points, but keep your hands by your side when you listen to others talk.
5
Provide reading material for the panel attendees. If you have an academic article, print several dozen copies and put them on the display table in the lobby. If you have brochures, put them on display as well, or hand them out personally when you engage people after the panel discussion.
