On Cue with Kafui Dey: How to handle panel discussions like a pro

Panel discussions are fascinating.

When handled well, they are dynamic, insightful and engaging.

Ideas collide. Perspectives emerge. The audience learns something valuable.

When handled badly, however, they become a public group chat with microphones.

One panelist speaks endlessly.

Another disappears completely.

Someone answers a question nobody asked.

A fourth person starts discussing an issue so far removed from the topic that even Google Maps would struggle to find the connection.

Meanwhile, the audience quietly regrets attending.

Some begin checking their phones.

Others stare thoughtfully into the distance while mentally planning dinner.

At this point, everyone looks toward the moderator.

Because the moderator is usually the difference between a great panel and a painful one.

Strong moderation is not passive.

It is leadership in real time.

The moderator is not simply the person holding the microphone and introducing names.

The moderator is responsible for the pace, flow and quality of the conversation.

Here are three ways to handle panel discussions like a professional.

1. Control time

One of the quickest ways for a panel discussion to collapse is when a panelist mistakes the session for a personal TED Talk.

You ask a simple question.

Five minutes later, they are still answering.

Ten minutes later, they are providing historical background dating back to independence.

At this point, the audience is wondering whether lunch has been cancelled.

Good moderators understand that time is not just a logistical issue.

It is an audience issue.

Every panelist deserves an opportunity to contribute.

And the audience deserves progression.

This means the moderator must occasionally do difficult things.

Such as:

• Shortening long answers
• Moving discussion forward
• Politely interrupting when necessary

Notice I said politely.

Moderation is not combat.

You are not trying to defeat the panelist.

You are trying to protect the conversation.

A simple:
“Thank you for that insight. Let me bring another voice into the discussion.”

can save an entire session.

This requires confidence.

Not aggression.

Confidence.

2. Direct the conversation

Many people think panel discussions succeed because the panelists are knowledgeable.

Knowledge helps.

But direction matters more.

Without direction, even brilliant experts can produce confusion.

A good panel feels like a journey.

Ideas connect logically.

Topics build on each other.

The audience understands where the conversation is going.

The moderator creates this structure.

That means:

• Pulling quieter panelists into the discussion
• Redirecting drifting conversations
• Preventing one person from dominating
• Connecting ideas between speakers

Think of yourself as an air traffic controller for ideas.

Every contribution must land safely and on schedule.

Without guidance, discussions become chaotic surprisingly quickly.

One speaker is discussing technology.

Another is discussing regulation.

A third is discussing something entirely unrelated.

Now the audience is trying to assemble meaning like a puzzle with missing pieces.

Professional moderators create order.

3. Summarize key points

One of the most underrated moderation skills is summarising.

Audiences appreciate clarity.

After several contributions, people need help identifying the important ideas.

This is where the moderator steps in.

A brief summary can:

• Reinforce learning
• Maintain structure
• Transition smoothly
• Refocus attention

For example:

“So what we’ve heard so far are three key themes: innovation, leadership and accountability.”

Immediately the audience feels grounded again.

The conversation feels coherent.

The panel feels organised.

And the next question lands more effectively.

The hidden challenge

Many moderators become obsessed with asking questions.

Questions matter.

But listening matters more.

Some moderators are so focused on their prepared list that they miss the most interesting ideas emerging naturally from the discussion.

Great moderators listen actively.

They notice:

• Energy shifts
• Audience reactions
• Unexpected insights
• Opportunities to connect viewpoints

Then they adapt.

That flexibility separates professional moderation from scripted hosting. 

Final thought

Moderating is not simply sitting in the middle with a microphone.

It is active leadership.

The moderator controls:

• The pace
• The flow
• The quality of discussion

And when done well, the audience barely notices the effort involved.

They simply experience a conversation that feels intelligent, organised and engaging.

That is the paradox of great moderation.

The more skilled you are, the less obvious your work becomes.

If your organisation would like support training moderators and event teams professionally, send an email with the subject “PANEL.”

Stay on cue.

The post On Cue with Kafui Dey: How to handle panel discussions like a pro appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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