Stand Out While Sitting Down

A Panel Speaker’s Guide to Sharp, Strategic Answers

You’re not delivering a keynote. You’re not running a workshop. You’re one voice among several.

But the best panelists don’t blend in.

They add clarity, spark conversation, and leave the audience thinking, “That person really knows their stuff.”

And here’s the good news: you don’t need perfect timing or rehearsed lines to do it. You just need a few strategic tools to answer with confidence, structure, and intention — even when you’re thinking on your feet.

This guide will show you how to:

  • Give clear, concise, and insightful answers

  • Add value without repeating what others have said

  • Make your contribution stand out in a crowded conversation

Let’s dive in.

1. Structure Your Answers with “What? So What? Now What?”

Panels are unscripted — and that’s the challenge. It’s easy to ramble or trail off, especially when the moderator throws you a broad question.

That’s why I love this simple, strategic framework.

Here’s how it works:

What?

Start with a clear point or observation. Be specific.

  • “A lot of startups think product-market fit is a milestone. But it’s actually a moving target.”

So What?

Add context or consequence — why it matters, what’s at stake, or what changes because of it.

  • “If you treat it like a checkbox, you risk stopping evolution too early — and that’s where growth plateaus.”

Now What?

Offer an actionable insight, takeaway, or forward-looking idea.

  • “So the question isn’t ‘Did we get it?’ but ‘Are we still in tune with what’s shifting in the market?’”

This structure gives your answer shape. It makes your answers clear, relevant, and actionable. This helps the audience follow you and makes your message stick.

Try This:

Take a recent question you were asked on a panel or in a meeting. Reframe your answer using this 3-step approach. You’ll notice how much cleaner and more memorable it sounds.

2. Respond Without Repeating

One of the trickiest moments in a panel is when someone gives a solid answer… and now it’s your turn.

The instinct? Echo what was said and politely agree. The impact? You blend in.

But memorable panelists don’t just agree. They build, zoom, or reframe. They bring something new into the conversation, even when the topic’s already been touched.

Here are three ways to do that (plus a strategy for steering the conversation with intention):

1. “Yes, and…”

Strategy: Use this when you genuinely agree with what was said — but want to build on it by adding your unique lens, insight, or layer of experience.

This move keeps the momentum going by showing how your thinking complements or deepens what’s already been shared.

Examples:

  • “Yes, and we found that the friction actually forced us to simplify what really mattered to users.”

  • “Totally, and I’d add that this depends massively on company stage. What works at 50 people breaks at 500.”

  • “Couldn’t agree more, and when we applied that in a cross-cultural context, we had to rethink the rollout entirely.”

2. “I’d zoom in on…”

Strategy: Use this when someone offers a broad or high-level answer, and you see an opportunity to go deeper on one part of it. You’re not disagreeing — you’re narrowing the lens.

This helps you sound focused, thoughtful, and sharp. It shows that you’re listening closely and thinking critically about where the value really lies.

Examples:

  • “I’d zoom in on the trust element. That’s usually the part people underestimate.”

  • “That reminds me of a case where incentives got in the way… it’s often a quiet blocker.”

  • “I’d focus specifically on how that plays out in remote teams, because that’s where it gets messy fast.”

3. “I’d flip that…”

Strategy: Use this when you respectfully disagree or want to offer a counterpoint — but want to keep the tone constructive. This move reframes the idea without attacking it.

This adds energy to the conversation and positions you as someone with a clear, independent perspective. It works best when you ground it in experience or evidence (not just opinion).

Examples:

  • “I’d actually push back a bit. In our case, moving slower gave us the clarity to move faster later.”

  • “That might be true in B2C, but in B2B, the longer sales cycles actually made that approach backfire.”

  • “We tried that exact thing, and it didn’t work for us until we reversed the order completely.”

3. Say One Thing That Sticks

You won’t always have time to go deep. That’s why one of the smartest things you can do as a panelist is aim to leave behind one strong, memorable idea. Something people will quote, write down, or remember afterward.

This might be:

  • A punchy line

  • A sharp insight

  • A compelling story

  • A surprising stat with meaning

Tip: Come in with Pre-Prepared Stories

Great panelists sound spontaneous — but they’re rarely unprepared. One of the best ways to make sure you have something sticky to say is to prep 2–3 mini stories or sharp examples that connect to the topic.

These might be:

  • A mistake that revealed something unexpected

  • A customer quote or outcome that surprised you

  • A moment of tension that clarified your thinking

Keep them short, vivid, and specific — you’ll be able to drop them into conversation naturally without sounding rehearsed.

Storytelling Tip: Practice Without Adjectives

Want to sharpen your clarity before a panel?

Try telling a story or answering a question without using any adjectives.

No “amazing,” “disappointing,” or “incredible.” Just describe what happened.

Instead of: “It was a frustrating launch.”
Try: “The app crashed twice before noon. Customer support tickets doubled. We had three internal meetings before anyone touched the root issue.”

This forces you to be specific, descriptive, and real — which is exactly what audiences connect with.

Before Your Next Panel…

Take time to ask yourself:

  • What’s one message I’d love to leave behind in this conversation?

  • Can I practice a few “What? So what? Now what?” answers in advance?

  • Am I ready to build, not repeat?

Panels are unscripted. But that doesn’t mean you show up unprepared.

With the right tools, you can speak with clarity, show up with confidence, and make every answer count

If this resource gave you one new tool, great — use it.

And if you want help sharpening your communication and delivery, I’d love to help you out.

You have something important to say. Let’s make sure people listen.

About Me

Great communicators don’t just share information — they create clarity, spark interest, and make ideas land. Whether it’s in a keynote, a panel, or a high-stakes meeting, the way you speak shapes how others understand, remember, and act on your message.

I’m Amit — a global communication trainer, TEDx organiser, and public speaking coach. I work with leaders, founders, and experts to help them show up with clarity, confidence, and purpose — on stage, in conversation, and everywhere in between.

Over the past decade, I’ve coached high-performers across industries and continents, from Fortune 500 executives and startup founders to Olympic medalists and aerospace engineers. I help people communicate complex ideas in simple, compelling ways — so they’re not just heard, but felt.

My clients have delivered some of the most-watched TEDx talks of their year, won global pitch competitions, and become go-to voices on major stages.

If you’re ready to speak with impact — whether it’s on a panel, in a pitch, or across your leadership — I’d love to help.

Trusted by leaders from:

  • "Amit's coaching is characterized by a level of supportive excellence that surpassed my previous experiences with various international coaches."

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  • "Amit's focus on authentic and empathetic communication really spoke to the kind of environment I wanted to build and foster with my team."

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  • "Amit is an exceptional individual who could stand out from any crowd. It's near impossible not to feel empowered working with him."

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