“Don’t worry, I am going to be brief,” she said, as she interrupted me. She went on for another 5 minutes. And then another person jumped in and went on for 7 minutes. And then the panel ended because time was up.

In the last 16 months, I have had the privilege of being invited to speak at a number of seminars, panels, workshops and conversations. There’s usually the invite, followed by the request for the bio and a headshot, and there’s a document including the topics and questions that will be covered. There’s a tech check, accompanied by a meet and greet with the moderator who will guide the conversation, and a slate of panelists.

For all the checklists of items virtual conversations are getting right, there’s one thing so many conversations keep getting wrong.  The one thing I have not had enough people explicitly say to me when preparing for a conversation.  A simple reminder to all those participating: just be brief.

Be brief. Get to the point. Be short, be quick, be concise. And please, just pass the virtual mic and give someone else a chance to speak.

Here’s my plea to all those showing up for virtual panels and conversations: Please don’t take up so much space. Don’t ramble. Don’t keep talking without taking a breath. Don’t cut, interrupt and talk over others repeatedly. Just for a minute, please just stop talking.

For a panel discussion I was invited to participate in earlier this summer, I was mesmerized at how long winded two panelists were. When asked a question, they talked and talked, and talked some more. Their stories seemed to never end, and just when one story ended, they brought up another point.

There were 4 panelists in total.  Myself and the other panelist who hardly spoke looked at each other through the screen wanting to scream “Just please stop. Stop talking!”  The moderator had lost control and was unable to get concise and actionable answers from the two other panelists who went rogue.

This went on and on, eating into the Q&A portion, and the panel abruptly ending. Instead of music pushing us off stage, the host with a click of the keyboard ended the meeting.  I think I was able to contribute to maybe one question, speaking for a total of 2 minutes. I was astounded by the lack of self awareness and the little regard they had for fellow panelists.

Next time you are invited to speak on a panel, follow these three tips to ensure you allow space for other voices to be heard:

Make your introductions brief       

Please don’t share your entire life story, your entire work history, or every last detail on your LinkedIn profile. Now is not the time to talk about the significance of your dog’s name, the details of your favorite Netflix show, or your experience as a Lacrosse player in high school.

Share your name, where you are Zooming in from, what your day job is, and one thing you are excited to contribute to today’s discussion. The longer you take to introduce yourself, it gives your fellow panelists less time to talk. Also, the longer your introduction is, those who follow will feel like they also have to talk about their failed attempt at playing soccer and their new hobbies in this pandemic and have just as long an introduction.

Keep you answers concise

In my case, there were 4 panelists, a moderator, and 45 minutes for discussion with a 15 minute Q&A section. So if you do the math, that doesn’t mean one panelist can get 25 minutes to talk, talk, and talk some more. Managing your time and how much you speak allows the room for other panelists to speak and contribute.

Keep your answers concise. That means responding with one story, or sharing three key points. This is why prepping for panels is key. Review the questions you will be asked ahead of time, and strategize on your answers. Thinking about your responses during the live panel is another pitfall leading to taking up too much space. Remember that one of the secrets to being brief on a panel is preparation.

Don’t answer all questions

When it comes to the Q&A section of a panel, please don’t be that panelist who answers every single question asked. Give your fellow panelists an opportunity to chime in with their expertise. Pick one or maybe two questions to respond to. If you feel you have additional advice to share, use the chat function to share your thoughts while a fellow panelist shares their response.

So please, when participating as a panelist, please don’t take up so much space. Please allow for other voices to participate. Please just be brief.