Being asked to moderate a panel is an honor—but no one will tell you it's easy!

If you get selected to moderate an upcoming panel, here are three tips that will help you prepare:

Being the facilitator of a panel is a huge responsibility. It's on you to create a great experience and keep the conversation among the panelists flowing. By keeping the panel light and casual, the conversation is more interactive and the audience and panelists have more fun, too.

Too often, moderators are thinking about the second or third questions they have lined up to ask. Instead, stay present and listen to what each panelist is saying. Then use that to go deeper and ask a follow-up question or bridge it to a different question for another panelist.

I guarantee the next time you hear a moderator say, "That's great," or "That's interesting," you'll cringe, too!