Public speaking is a lucrative career option for anyone who can capture the attention of an audience with their commendable speaking skills. However, for those of you who are branching out into the field, it can be confusing to navigate your path to becoming a successful professional speaker. 

Becoming a panelist speaker can be a good starting point for someone who sees themself as an impactful public speaker. As an aspiring panelist speaker, you must be adept with information about your field. This goes for all types of public speakers at B2B events. However, in the case of panel discussions, other subject matter experts will surround you, and a lack of knowledge of the designated topic can look very bad if other panel members have done their homework. 

If you are a newbie in the world of panel discussions, here is a definitive panelist guide to help you start your journey to becoming a panelist.

Who is a Panelist Speaker?

A panelist speaker is a subject matter expert on a panel comprising other experts in the same field. They share views, contemplate, and debate crucial issues to educate the audience. Event attendees participate in an engaging and intellectual discussion by the panel.

These opportunities can be paid for or are free, depending on the expertise of the panelist speaker. For someone who is just venturing into the world of industry conferences as a public speaker, it might be difficult to get highly paid. However, over time, once the speaker establishes themselves as an expert in their designated field, then their chances of getting paid according to their expectations go up.

Panel discussions are organized to attract a healthy influx of opposing views. As a competent panelist, it becomes imperative to do the necessary homework on the topic of discussion to present coherent views at the event.

After participating in a few panel discussions, speakers can branch out to becoming keynote speakers and guest speakers who command the stage solo.

Skills Required for Becoming a Panelist Speaker

Here are a few panelist skills every speaker should possess:

1. Authenticity

Look at any accomplished public speaker. What do you think sets them apart? They can be themselves on a stage. Whenever Tony Robbins or Brian Tracy speaks on stage, without a doubt, their energy is infectious. However, it’s their authenticity that genuinely connects with the audience.  As a speaker, you don’t have to wear a mask and be someone else on stage. All you have to do is just be yourself, which will work wonders. 

2. Confidence and Poise

Before you go up on stage, it is essential to get rid of any phobias or inhibitions you might already have. As a professional panelist speaker, you will have to feel and sound confident on stage to make an impact on the audience. The energy you exude on stage will have a ripple effect on the audience, who will be more receptive to your speech.

3. Voice Modulation

Have you ever noticed the voiceover of any ad or short film? What do you think makes these voiceovers impactful? The voiceover artist can change the intensity of their voice and pause at the right time. This is known as voice modulation. A competent speaker can alter their voice throughout their address to stress specific concepts to create the desired effect on the audience.

4. Candid Nature

Your ability to build resonance and a sense of familiarity with your audience is crucial to establishing a connection with them. You cannot expect to sound unnatural on stage and then expect the audience to be receptive to your presentation. Common causes of sounding unnatural are stage fright and lack of practice and knowledge of the topic of discussion. 

What sets a Panelist Speaker Apart From Other Speakers?

As mentioned above, a panelist speaker is a part of a group of subject matter experts. Other speakers include keynote speakers, guest speakers, and plenary speakers.

A keynote speaker is the main speaker of a B2B event and mostly flags off the event. A guest speaker is invited to deliver a special presentation on any topic that is relevant to the event. Most motivational speakers are guest speakers.

A plenary speaker is more or less similar to a keynote speaker. They are often from the organization conducting the event. A plenary session could also be a fireside chat or panel discussion. To understand the difference between a Plenary Speaker and a Keynote Speaker, read our blog on ‘Plenary Speaker Vs Keynote Speaker – Understanding the difference and to understand the different types of speakers in conferences, refer to our blog on A Quick Guide to Understanding Different Types of Speakers at Conferences. 

Tips for Becoming a Good Panelist Speaker

Here are a few tips for becoming a good panelist speaker.

Make an Impactful Start

Your audience is most receptive to information at the beginning and towards the end of an address. To make an impact in the minds of your listeners, you will have to start with a bang. You can begin by using an interesting story relating to the topic and sharing a personal experience or a quote that would resonate with the audience.

Alternatively, you can use humor to get the listeners to crack up and lighten the atmosphere before diving deep into the subject matter. Mel Robbins, among the most popular speakers, starts with a powerful greeting and a mesmerizing smile.

Keep the Audience in Mind

Be it a panelist or any other type of speaker, you cannot just dissociate from the people you will be speaking to. For example, if you’re addressing a bunch of developers and software professionals, then you need to do your research to find words and phrases that resonate with them.

Once you sign the contract to participate in a panel discussion at an event, you can start enquiring about the demographic of the audience, understand their needs and intent to attend, and accordingly prepare your speech for the panel. This is perhaps one of the most crucial panel discussion tips to remember.

Use Interesting Narratives

Everyone loves a good story. It is one of the easiest ways to build a connection with an audience. What does a story or a narrative do? It enables the listener to imagine scenarios and live them in their minds, which in turn allows them to experience a plethora of emotions.

Humans innately need to feel and develop connections, and narratives provide the perfect opportunity to fulfill this need. The moment a speaker starts narrating a story, the level of attention in the audience increases. So, make it a point to share personal stories or narratives that resonate with your audience.

Avoid Overshadowing Other Panel Members

As public speakers, it is natural to get carried away on stage and steal the spotlight. However, in a panel discussion, you have to be respectful of fellow panelists who are there to contribute to the debate just the way you would.

Avoid wasting too much time while delivering your speech; allow other speakers to contribute equally. If another speaker takes up your time, you can subtly notify the panel moderator or tactically maneuver the discussion differently.

Be Respectful of the Moderator

The moderator is part of the panel for a reason. They direct and redirect the discussion occasionally to ensure that panelists don’t diverge from the main topic and to provide a healthy influx of views from different people.

You should never argue or be disrespectful to the moderator. Nobody appreciates rude behavior, and as a public speaker, that’s not the image you want to build. 

There could be times when you might feel like disagreeing with fellow panelists or with the moderator. At such times, just put your point across respectfully and assertively without appearing aggressive. Remember at the end of the day, it’s not about a momentary win but rather a longtime one.

Keep the Energy High

Some of the most sought-after speakers in the world, such as Tony Robbins, Nick Vujicic, David Goggins, and Simon Sinek, have one thing in common—their powerful oratory skills. These speakers manage to keep the overall energy of the audience high simply by being highly energetic themselves. 

Take a look at the video below:

You can see how candidly Nick Vujicic addresses the audience and manages to hold their attention with his speech. His energy is almost infectious; people leaving the event premises are bound to take back fond memories of the speaker.

As a panelist, you are surrounded by other speakers too. While you don’t want to come across as aggressive, you don’t want to be overshadowed. Be confident, positive, and energetic while delivering your speech.

Is Becoming a Panelist Speaker a Viable Career Option?

The first step to being a panelist is bagging the right opportunities. As an aspiring public speaker, you will have to create a strong digital presence and reach out to as many event organizers as possible to find speaking opportunities at global B2B events. Prepare an impactful speaker proposal and share it with relevant stakeholders. 

Refer to our blog on The Ultimate Guide to Preparing a Speaker Engagement Proposal Template.

There is a possibility that in the initial few events, you may not get the kind of pay you wished for. But these events would add to your speaking experience, enhancing your chances of bagging big-budget events in the future. Like any other career, you will have to work through the mesh of countless public speakers and stand out in the crowd to make it to the top. Read our article, How to Find Paid Speaking Gigs? Here are 13 Sure-Shot Ways to know more about paid speaking gigs.

Join speaker groups and networks to stay informed about industry trends. Stay updated in your area of expertise and share mini anecdotes on your social media profiles.

Enlist yourself at our Speakers Directory at Eventible, where event organizers from across the world can reach out to you.

Key Takeaway

There is no one way to become a successful panelist or general public speaker. However, starting out as a panelist can give you the proper exposure and opportunities to further your career in public speaking. Once you establish yourself in the field, there is no stopping you from having a prosperous career. Many speakers started their speaking careers while managing their regular jobs and eventually pursued public speaking full-time.  

If you have what it takes to grab an audience’s attention and make a lasting impression on their minds, polish your skills and march towards making a name for yourself in the world of public speaking.