If you're going to be on a panel at an event, do not make these mistakes:
As with any speaking opportunity it's important you make the most of it.
This does not differ if you're going to be on a panel and for many, a panellist role can be easier as its more conversational but watch out for these 5 common mistakes:
1. Distracting the audience.
Nervous energy can sometimes cause you to tap a foot or twiddle a button on your shirt, perhaps to keep changing the position you're sat in every few minutes but this can be majorly distracting for the audience and will pull focus from the person who's speaking in that moment.
Be natural, and of course move if you need to, but try to stay still.
2. Over rehearsing your contribution
Personally, I'm not a fan of running a panel in advance. It's great to have an idea of the talking points/questions and to know what you'd like to cover/need to plug etc but the audience will connect more with what you have to say if it's genuine and that can be ruined if it sounds rehearsed.
3. Not listening or being fully present.
This is a dangerous game to play. If you're not fully present and listening to what everyone is saying you run the risk of bringing up something someone has already said or being suddenly asked a questions and you weren't listening to the previous points.
It can be easy to get distracted onstage when you're not talking but give your full focus to whoever is speaking, concentrate and listen to what's being said as that will create natural flow and genuine contributions.
4. Not knowing where you're going.
When I'm prepping panellists at events I'm always keen to try and find even just 5 minutes with everyone who'll be on stage to check there's a plan. How are you getting on and off the stage, who's sitting where, where do you need to get mic'd etc. These seem like small details but eradicating any confusion well in advance can make it all run much smoother and save any mess when the time comes.
As a panel host I'm always keen to have my panellists totally clued up on the plan so it has more chance of running smoothly.
5. Talking too much (or too little!)
On a panel it's not just you speaking. If you're asked a question try to avoid going too far off-piste or talking for too long. Be succinct, get to the point and try to offer value to the audience so they remember you.
On the flip side, if you're someone more likely to not say enough, remember you've earnt your time up there, you deserve to be heard, make that time worthwhile.
If you know the questions in advance have a think about how you'd like to answer them and what you're aim is with your answer.
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Hi, I'm Nikki.
2 x exited Founder, Speaker Coach at VocoLab former professional actor and newly-back-to-it Vocalist.
Follow me for posts about public speaking, entrepreneurship, confident communicate, apologising less and how to take up more space.
avon rep
1wI was very sad when Avon just dropped Australian Avon like a hot cake, one minute we were collecting our c.4 orders with c6. books already to go after picking up our next orders c.5 when we all just got a big text telling us c.6 would be our last campaign, How do you think I felt along with many other representatives after 45 years selling your products. Not real good. and to top it off we could hardly get any of the Deodorants etc specials that people wanted to stock up on. Oh no we were all left out in the cold so to speak. Avon don't really know how we all felt, not even having the grace to give us at least 6 months notice. The last Manager we had crippled it for us all here in Western Australia. Very disappointed Janice Caplin Western Australia