Would you consider yourself a good facilitator? In other words, are you skilled at helping a conversation evolve? I was working with a client this morning—a senior engineer in blockchain. He asked if I could give him some tips on how to moderate a panel well. He said he thought his “very chill” nature would make him a natural.
A conversation started: what makes a facilitator effective?
We agreed that the core skill of an effective panel moderator is to be the bridge between the panel members and the audience. A moderator is in service to both—tracking to see if words are forming clear ideas and are landing as intended. If a facilitator—panel or otherwise—does this well, the audience could have an insight.
That’s the whole point of speaking from a stage I think: give your audience a way to think about something differently.
It starts with empathy. We have to care that our audience “gets it”. Sure, what’s being said might go over some heads but if it’s unintelligible to the vast majority, we have a communication problem.
Research shows that listening skills account for roughly 45% of all communication skills. Incredible when we spend so much time worrying what we sound like and almost none wondering what we listen like. Why do I bring up listening? Because listening is the top skill you need as a panel moderator.
You’re listening not only to what’s being said, but also what’s not being said.
You’re listening to how things are being said—the clarity, the tone, whether ideas are actually landing.
You’re listening to how other panelists respond and where that takes the conversation next.
Of course, it’s not all listening. You’re also synthesizing, summing up, and drawing people out. This is conversation. The panel moderator’s tagline is “Let’s keep it going.” My client felt ready for the panel after our session. He seemed excited. I think it had something to do with the nature of his challenge. Guiding people through conversation is a test of emotional intelligence. Hello, soft skills.
THE BIG PRINT: i.e. If you take one thing away from this post it’s that…
Facilitation means having three ears and one mouth.
3 Tips When Moderating a Panel
- Paraphrase what you hear: Do the work of translating complex answers into language the audience can follow. “What I hear you saying is that the main challenge isn’t the technology itself, but getting teams to actually adopt it.”
- Ask clarifying questions: Don’t be afraid to dig deeper when something feels unclear—chances are, half the audience is confused too. “Am I getting that right—you’re saying this approach could cut costs by 30%, but only if companies are willing to retrain their entire workforce?”
- Interrupt when necessary and say why: Great moderators redirect conversations and explain their reasoning, which people appreciate rather than resent. “I’m aware of the time, so let’s move to the next question” or “We’ve gone off track and I want to bring it back to how this affects small businesses.”
TAKE IT FROM… Moira Stuart, English TV presenter and broadcaster. She was the first female newsreader of Caribbean heritage to appear on British national television, having worked on BBC News since 1981.
She maintained that her role as a news person was to be a ‘conduit’ for a story and not make it about her.
Over her four-decade career, she presented on every major BBC news bulletin and later moved into interview formats, hosting “Moira Stuart Meets…” where she facilitated conversations with prominent figures from arts, politics, and entertainment.
What would change if you approached your next meeting as a conduit for the conversation rather than the star of it?
If you’re looking to develop your facilitation skills—whether for panels, meetings, or presentations—I’d love to help. I work with leaders who want to guide conversations that actually land with their audiences.
Book a call here to explore how we can transform your soft skills.
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