When you are organizing a panel discussion, it’s easy to overlook the actual work needed when preparing to talk about the topic. After all, there are many different components involved when organizing a panel discussion.
Yet away from ensuring the venue is suitably arranged and ready to go, and that people will actually turn up to the event, the main aspect of a panel discussion is research and planning for the topic in question.
This is especially the case when it comes to discussing business recycling. Knowing how climate change and pollution are increasingly rising in urgency, recycling is a giant talking point right now. As a result, it is vital to stay up-to-date and informed on the subject when hosting a panel discussion.
With that in mind, below are points you need to remember when hosting a panel discussion that revolves around business recycling – or any subject in general:
Research the subject
First things first, you need to fully research the topic of business recycling. This isn’t exactly an easy part of the process, of course, due to the varied, wide-ranging, and changing nature of recycling. Due to the time restraints in place for a standard panel, you also need to be selective in what you talk about.
As a result, you should focus on one specific aspect of business recycling. This might be, for example, the methods a business could implement for more effective recycling results. Points may include:
- Methods to reduce the waste a business creates. This could be as simple as avoiding the need to print anything that can be shared electronically, or with the use of reusable drink bottles.
- Organize recycling bins in the places they’re needed most. For instance, a bin for electrical components could be kept near printers.
- Offer an incentive to employees to recycle. This might be a reward for whichever team contributes the most recyclable waste over a set period of time.
- Make use of a baler. If a business produces a sizeable amount of recyclables, a baler – along with galvanized stem wire from balingwiredirect.com – ensures the likes of cardboard and plastic can be compressed and transformed into valuable commodities.
Bring in the right experts
Even if you have a well-versed host, this means nothing if they don’t have the right experts to bounce off. Due to this, you need to pay due diligence in ensuring you secure the right panelists for discussing business recycling.
When doing this, try and bring in panelists who each come from a different background. You could, say, recruit a business owner who places a particular emphasis on recycling within his company. In addition, you might want to look at enlisting someone who works directly in pollution control.
Prepare the right questions
You have the right host. You have the right experts. Now what? Well, it’s a case of preparing questions that will generate rich, thought-provoking discussion.
If you’ve done the research, that’s part of the process complete. Yet when producing questions, you should consider the following:
- Write out a list of questions
- Focus on questions that touch upon current-day talking points
- Whittle down the list until you have a definitive set of questions (the best of the best)
- Don’t make the questions overly wordy or bloated (short and precise works best)
- Write the questions onto cue cards
